A Real Adventure

Situation at 20:00-Just because we had completed all of the Australia Day events and had cleared Sydney Heads did not mean that we were in for a quiet night. A Southerly change came through just as forecast and brought with it 45 kt winds requiring that all plain sail be handed and the storm jib be set. This kept the watch-on-deck busy and made the watchfly by.At morning brief today, Salty Sea Dog Luke explained the nautical origins of the term ‘two-six, heave’. This proved to bequite a colourful event that involved Vikings, the French and tropical fruit. After Engineer Stewy made a very sizeable haul with his scran bag, Captain John led those guilty of having gear sculling in paying the piper. Happy hour was a shorter version than is usual and just before lunch YOUNG ENDEAVOUR anchored off Hungry Beach inBroken Bay.After lunch, Captain John delivered the command day brief. This outlined the command day process and the mission that the YouthCrew have been assigned. They were then ferried ashore for an afternoon on the beach where they played sport and conducted theircommand day elections. All this activity had sharpened everyone’s appetite and once back onboard all hands were treated to another ofChef Stony’s culinary masterpieces. The Youth Crew have just announced the results of their command day elections and are nowtalking to the Staff Crew in order to glean the last bit of advice prior to starting their mission.Command Day will commence tomorrow at 09:00 and over the following 24 hours the Youth Crew will sail YOUNG ENDEAVOUR fromBroken Bay to Hunters Bay. This represents a huge challenge for a group of 24 young Australians who were strangers to each other, and the sea, only eight days ago.YOUNG ENDEAVOUR Fact File: A voyage in YOUNG ENDEAVOUR is designed to assist young Australians to develop skills and attributessuch as communication, teamwork and self-confidence by taking part in a real adventure. On each 10-day voyage there are berths for 24 Youth Crew, 12 males and 12 females. The voyages are open to allAustralians aged 16 to 23 years. Youth Crew members do not need to be sailors and most people taking part have never sailed before. Youth Crew members are selected by ballot, or they can be sponsored by a community organisation or a company.YOUNG ENDEAVOUR Glossary: Bunt Lines- Lines attached to the foot of a square sail and running up the forward side of the sail tothe yard and then back to deck. The lines assist in gathering the sail to the yards prior to furling. ‘Full-and-By’ -The condition of a ship when she is sailing as close to the wind as possible (by the wind) with her sails full and drawing.Thought of the Day: Public opinion is a weak tryant compared with our own private opinion. What a man thinks of himself, that it is which determines, or rather indicates, his fate. Henry David Thoreau.Yours, AyeJohn CowanLCDR, RANA message from youth Captain Tom : It seems amazing that just over a week ago this entire youth crew had scant knowledge ofsailing and in a few short hours are to sail the Ship without the familiar help of a frienldy Navy crew. Each day thus far we have pushed ourselves (and been pushed by the Young Endeavour Staff) a little bit harder to overcome our fears and meet the challenges presented to us. Because this occurs incrementally, the things we have learnt seem less daunting then they would otherwise be. I am sure that it is only once we disembark this wonderful voyage that we will be able to begin to appreciate all that we have achieved. Until then we will be busy avoiding sunburn, straining hard while changing sails, making fun of our sleep deprived antics, and swinging from theyard arms.Tom McEwin, Canberra