A whale of a time in Albany

We had some great sailing overnight as we progressed eastwards into the Great Australian Bight. Early this morning we sighted Albany and it’s spectacular surrounds. The weather was great as we neared the rugged coastline and conducted some demo tacks so the YC can understand in more detail how to go about tacking the ship. From there it was all hands aloft to furl the sails as we enterd the Sound. From aloft the YC sighted an extremely playful humpback whale and we passed it at about 50 metres. Shortly after we anchored off Whale World and the crew went ashore for the afternoon to be tourists and regain their land legs. Albany is a great place to visit and I would come here again.This afternoon the Watches held mid voyage talks to discuss their progress and the Voyage so far. Tonight we are going to watch a short movie about rounding Cape Horn in a Tall Ship and have peaceful night at anchor before we head to sea again Sunday morning. Youth Crew entry by Kim Fletcher, from Gresford NSW.Hi Poppy and everyone else. The sea sickness tablets prevented me from getting sea sick for a while, but after I climbed the fore mast I got just as sick as most of the youth crew. Being in the twelve berth in the bow of the Young Endeavour did not help. However I am over the sea sickness now and am enjoying every second. I am geting allong well with the members of my watch, White Watch, and everyone else.Today was the hilight of the trip so far as we neered Albany we climed the fore mast to tye up the sails and we were entertained by a whale. Eventually we anchored and went ashore to visit WHALE WORLD to learn all about how useful whales were.Well, being on the land again was different.I hope Poppy is being looked after as well as I look afeter her. I miss you all. BYE 🙂 Catherine Mayer, 23, from Wandin Victoria.It is difficult to comprehend that so much can happen in such a short space. What I have learnt about sail craft and team work is mind boggling. I have enloyed the lectures various member of the Staff have given us. Their attentiveness and enthusiasm seems quite boundless and their efforts to motivate the Youth Crew during the first days of our voyage when most of us were suffering the terrifyingly debilitating seasickness phenomonal. I was not one of the lucky ones. I even began to ask myself why I was here at all. I’ve answered that question. I’ve never been on a tall ship before, all that rocking and lurching about is a big strain on these bodies, and I’ve never had to absorb so much important imformation quite so quickly. That is the challenge. And the reason I’m here is because I wanted one.I was not afraid of climbing. It was the sitting out on the yard arms and actually stopping to do something there that terrified me. We climbed to the topgallant yards the first night were we on board. It was dark. Climbing during the day is even more of a challenge for me because I can see around me. This morning I was rewarded. As we sailed into King George Sound a whale was sighted of our port bow. The day was glorious, and there was a whale. That is a sight I have wanted to see all my life.The next few days will be the most challenging, I think. The word is Command Day is Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on the weather. We are a-buzz with excitement. Everything is good. Our knowledge and understanding of sailing builds constantly. Our Watch Leaders are confident of our abilities. Bring it on.Pee hoo to you, Dad in the glorious paradise of KNX. You would turn green if you saw how high up I’ve been. I’m looking forward to the nice fire at home in Wandin with Mum, Alison and Grandma and the amazing Nova. Na-ni, Stuart. I love you all and am missing you all heaps. Love C. xoSuzanne Clemo, 23, Bibra Lake WAWell as you can all see everyone has nothing but great things to say about this voyage and I am going to be no different.I was one of the unfortunate few who was struck down by seasickness, quite badly. After three very hard days of lets say ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½a lot of stomach heaving’ and low consumption of food and water, I received the life saving needle to the butt (for want of another word – twice) Since having the needles, I have recovered quite radically and am now enjoying every second spent with all of the youth crew here on the ship. We are creating memories and hopefully friendships that will last for a lifetime…… Everyone in my watch the Reddie’s is bloody fantastic. Mum, Dad, Jason, Laura, Michelle Jessie and Holly I miss you all and will fill you all in on my return. Clint miss u heaps and can’t wait to see you. Love you all Suzy (Runt)Leif Therkildsen, 21, Heathcote (Gods Country) NSWThis journey just doesn’t stop getting better. From the day we got on we weren’t quite sure what to expect, a boot camp , a fun trip – it was anyone’s guess. The first night for me was great. We were at anchor and climbing mast’s and having a ball. We then headed out to sea and I fell victim to the sea sickness plague. You can never really understand how bad you will feel until your there. To be honest I don’t think I felt much worse in quite some time but amongst other goals you have when you step on board, getting over sea sickness becomes a high priority and you soon learn to deal with it. The youth crew have been through a lot together now. But i’d have to say we’re pretty much a tight nit little family. From setting off from anchor to windy squal’s we’ve covered a vast range of situations. The highlight for most youth crew came today where we came through the head’s of Albany the sun a blaze, wind in our faces and then the whales came to out to play. A beautiful humpback whale surfaced to show off for a while and then dissappeared. Coming into some of the most picturesque scenery i’ve seen with a group of people I now class as great friends has topped my voyage so far. Soon to come Whale World. A special Hello to my parents who sent me on this great voyage, Big nose, Silky and Yowie. Miss you all heaps, see you back in GOD’S COUNTRY (The Shire) Ciao.Stay tuned,Andrew Davis

Latitude/Longitude:

35Â° 5' South / 117Â° 57'

Conditions:

Current situation at 1800: At anchor King Georges Sound, Albany, off Whale World. Wind Nor'west at 12 knots. Temp 13C.

AUTHOR: Commanding Officer STS Young Endeavour

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V04/24

19 February 2024

Day 11 – Last Day of the Voyage

Good morning Shipmates, Sailmaster Sara's final Wakey Wakey song was pumped through the Ship’s speakers to jar the crew of YE from their deep slumber after a particularly tiring day of the Community Day Sail. Activities included end-of-voyage chats for the watches, harbour furling the square sails, eating as much home made pizza, cooked by master chef Ash, as we possibly could and knocking over final command day tasks including the Slide Show. It was up on deck for a quick head count to make sure everyone was out of their ‘racks’ and ready for their final day onboard. Breakfast was followed by the morning brief on the plan for the day and then the Staff Crew weighed anchor and got us underway while the Youth Crew laid aloft for a quick harbour cruise. Navigator Seb piloted the Ship from our Athol Bay anchorage, past Fort Dennison under the Harbour Bridge, where we fired the Ship’s saluting cannon, and then into Balls Head Bay to our berth. We berthed at HMAS Waterhen at 1000 to the warm welcome of friends and family of the Youthies, waiting on the wharf for us. Once we had secured the ship alongside we invited our guests onboard, allowed them a walk around the ship to see where the Youthies had lived and worked for the last eleven days, and then we gathered everyone at midships. Sail Master Sara spoke about our adventures during the voyage and then I presented the Voyage Completion certificates to the youth crew and the Young Endeavour Award to Liv for her outstanding hard work on in undertaking the voyage and her dedication to helping her fellow youth crew members to achieve their voyage goals. We then farewelled the Youth Crew of V04/24 after a fantastic challenging and enjoyable voyage. Thank you for following our adventures and hope you enjoyed hearing about them. Yours, aye, Captain Mike

V04/24

19 February 2024

Day 10 – Community Day Sail Sydney Harbour

Good evening shipmates, After a well-earned quality night’s sleep at anchor in Hunters Bay, Sail Master Sara woke us with another of her soothing tunes to get us on deck for a quick early morning activity. After breakfast the staff crew weighed anchor and conducted the transit to HMAS Waterhen, at Waverton. We berthed there at 0900 and prepared to embark our guests for the Community Day Sail. At 1015 we cast off our berthing lines and departed with our 34 guests and commenced our 3 hour tour of the harbour. Our Community Day Sailors were a group 30 members and staff from the Windgap Foundation. We also embarked some defence personnel as well. We again passed under the Harbour Bridge and then proceeded into Rose Bay where we set some sails and commenced sailing back towards Waterhen. Whilst on the harbour our fantastic youth crew helped us host our Windgap special guests. They encouraged our guests to participate in setting the staysails and a square sail by helping to pull on the sheets and clewlines. The youth crew also helped Chef Ash to prepare and deliver the food to our guests on deck. At 1300, after 3 fun-packed hours on the harbour, we berthed back at the southern wharf at HMAS Waterhen. Once we had farewelled our guests it was time to commence our end-of-voyage activities and preparations. The staff crew managed to organise a visit to the RAN Ship MATV Sycamore, which is crewed by a mixture of civilians and Navy staff, is a multi-role aviation training vessel. The youth crew embarked with their watch leaders and were given a 45 minute tour of the ship by some of the Navy crew. On completion they returned onboard and Young Endeavour sailed and proceeded to our anchorage in Athol Bay, which affords a great view of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. During the transit to the anchorage the Youthies undertook their end-of-voyage chats, facilitated by their watch leaders, to examine if they had achieved everything in their full-value contracts they had completed at the start of the voyage. After the traditional last voyage dinner of home made pizzas, Sara gave the Youthies the Harbour Furl brief, who then donned their climbing harnesses and laid aloft to undertake the ‘Harbour Furl’ of the square sails to make them look immaculate for our ceremonial arrival at the end of the voyage tomorrow. Once that was completed, the youth crew then finished off their final outstanding Command Day tasks, which were planned for the last night onboard. These included the Voyage Slide Show compiled of photos taken by everyone. This was excellent and provided a touching reminder of what we had experienced and the beautiful coastlines and islands that we had visited during the voyage. The final activity of the day was the end-of-voyage administration, which for the youth crew included a feedback questionnaire asking for feedback on their experience of the voyage, as well as a letter for each crew member to write to themselves on their experiences during the voyage, which the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme will post to the youth crew in 6 months time. The aim of this is to help reinforce what the youth crew have learned about leadership, teamwork and about themselves from the experience of the voyage. Once these were completed the crew were encouraged to go to bed. The Ship will remain in Athol Bay overnight and weigh anchor and sail in the morning at 0900 and undertake the transit to HMAS Waterhen, where family and friends will meet the Ship on arrival at 1000. Until you hear from me tomorrow for the final instalment of Voyage 04/24. Yours aye, Captain Mike

V04/24

19 February 2024

Day 9 – Command Day Part 2

Ahoy from Sydney! For today’s Captain’s Log: the Youthies took over and completed several tasks including singing the national anthem in three different tunes as well as giving salty sea facts to start the day in a nautical way. We finally made it! After a long and weary effort of the command team and watches, we were able to fully sail into Sydney Harbour. At approximately 11:50 we anchored in Hunters Bay. To celebrate we had a groovtastic disco in the 12 berth due to excessive rainfall but the youthies made it work, having a blast dancing to Billie Jean. Afterwards, the youthies as well as the staff reflected on our efforts during command day, following the handover of the ship to the Staffies, where we highlighted what we did well, what we could improve on and what lessons we can take back to our normal lives, of which there are many. Continuing on from the previous log, with command day still ongoing. We encountered multiple problems. One of which being that mother nature didn’t bless us and gave us little to no wind to work with. However with the efforts of the Youthies we were able to successfully gather up to 8 knots of speed after a 4am tack in which the youthies persevered despite a lack of sleep enabling us to make our way into Sydney. Before our reflection the Youthies finished their day strong with a ‘Happy Hour’ cleaning session and one final dance. The afternoon was spent relaxing and recharging from ‘Command Day’, going aloft and furling the square sails. For dinner, Ash prepared a barbecue with steak, sausages, chicken kebabs with buns and an assortment of salads with a delicious chocolate cake for dessert. The Youthies are looking forward to the Community Day Sail tomorrow which will be a great opportunity to give back to Australia and put our sailing knowledge to the test. We have learned many lessons during ‘Command Day’, we pushed ourselves out of our comfort zone and together a crew of 24 youth were able to sail a tall ship into the harbour of Sydney. Today’s score: 9 camels and a donkey (Amazing) Until next time Rock on! Tarvi, Kaeden and Matt. P.S. Happy Birthday for tomorrow little bro, love Lil xx P.S.S. Kai, sorry I didn’t do the thing for Meg. I just remembered and will do it when back.

Thank you Tarvi, Kaeden and Matt for your narrative of today's events. Intentions are to remain at anchor in Hunters Bay, just off HMAS Penguin, home of the RAN Diving School, a place close to my heart, having spent many a day there under training as a young Officer! The plan is to weigh anchor and proceed to HMAS Waterhen, in Waverton, to pick up our Community Day Sailors from the Windgap Foundation and take them for a sail around the harbour for 3 hours. The Youth Crew will help us host our visitors and give them an experience of Young Endeavour. We will drop them back to Waverton and then proceed to anchor in the harbour where we will have a good view of the Bridge and the Opera House for the Youth Crew's last night onboard. Until tomorrow. Yours Aye, Captain Mike

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A whale of a time in Albany

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