Can’t stop talking about it!

11 days out at sea with 17 other youth crew and 8 staff. That equalled 11 days of the most incredible memories, 17 amazing friends and 8 people who inspired you and taught you life-long lessons. I cannot be more grateful to have had this insane experience and everyday I wish I could be back setting some sails! The memories and take-aways, you will remember for the rest of your life. When you are facing a tough day, you think back to these 11 days and everything you achieved and the lessons you learnt and it makes it so much easier.

The 24hr command day with no sleep, crazy winds of 30knots (when we hadn’t experienced anything stronger than 20knots from the rest of the voyage) and the east Australian current to battle with, it was the most challenging 24hrs I have ever faced, but without a doubt also the most rewarding. You discovered how important every single person on that ship was, as these were the people that you were waking up at 3am for the third time because you had figured out that you were going too fast or not fast enough, so you needed to set or furl some sails.

A lesson that emerged from this was that you were all part of the one big team, and as an individual you didn’t need to know all the answers, just know how to be a part of the team and be willing and comfortable to ask others to help. Something that absolutely applies back on land. Everyone is literally in the same boat, and your all facing the same sleep-deprivation, coldness and trying to stay on your feet as the boat pitched up and down. Yet it was all so worth it and there was something so special about being surrounded by these amazing people and sharing the feeling of accomplishment and pride when you hand the boat back to the captain and looked back on all that you had somehow achieved together.

You will never forget the feeling of staring out to the horizon as the sun rises above the water, staring up at the stars at 1am, playing (and winning) tug-o-war on Fraser island, climbing up to the top mast in the dark to tie sails, sunset BBQ’s on deck, impromptu disco’s, eating lunch whilst watching whales, playing endless rounds of card games and talking at all hours of the night. These moments are ones that you will never forget and be talking about for years to come.

It’s like entering a new chapter of your life, at the beginning of the voyage you are faced with the unknown, which can be scary, but it’s this unknown that is also the most thrilling and amazing part of it all. By stepping into that experience with willingness to get the most out of it that you can, and I can promise you, you absolutely will. You really grow a new appreciation for those around you along with all the small things.

This was an experience like no other, each voyage is unique, but each filled with some of the best memories and take-aways. It was insane, absolute best 11 days of my life.

Amedy Buchanan