COMMAND DAY PART 1

Howdy land-lubbers! Youth Crew Captain Paul Cleary and Sail Mistress Lauren Wilton here with today’s latest dramas.This morning began at six thirty to overcast skies, rain, rain, more rain, and Yak’s promise for sunshine at 10.10am. After a quick brief in the caf� – with Lisa singing about whales – and happy hour taken care of, the youth crew cut a rug in the staff mess, with DJ Taffeta laying down some phat tunes and Bouncer Chooka looking surly. We might be on a boat but we still know how to party like it’s 1999!!The frivolities were quickly halted to get down to business. The selected Command Team chatted with their respective specialist staff in a last ditch effort to gain some insight into how on earth we were supposed to sail the approximate 120 miles to Sydney harbour in just 24 hours. This was followed by the official handover ceremony and we were then left to our own devices.For those not in the know, Command Day is when the Youth Crew cry mutiny and are given the keys to the 44m long tall ship for 24 hours. Starting in Jervis Bay, we were given a list of 20 tasks to complete, the most important of which being to arrive in Sydney Harbour before 10am the next morning with ship and crew relatively unharmed.Handed over at 10 o’clock, the sunshine promised to us by the staff navigator failed to show up. Instead, we successfully managed to weigh anchor and leave Jervis Bay in our wake on only one tack (the afore mentioned navigator had bet we would use seven). No faith!!!Unfortunately, the initial 1pm success of leaving the bay was overshadowed by waves reminiscent of the movie “A Perfect Storm”, accompanied by 30-40 knot winds outside the heads. Our navigator Matt plotted a trillion paths, none of which we were actually able to take due to adverse conditions. Driving rain and a return of “chunky rain” (chunder) did not manage to dampen our spirits. We held together like poo to a blanket (with a little assistance from the staff, who after all were rather concerned for our ongoing safety� or perhaps just the ship’s!!).Ex-Captain Gunna made a return appearance at the helm as the sea reached force 12 on the Beaufort Scale� which usually only goes up to ten. The afternoon was spent hauling in the mainsail because we just had too much power. A stellar effort all round.Writing this, it’s 9pm and after a full on day we can gladly report we have covered 50 miles (only 20 of which is actually in a northern direction� but that’s ok!) and are steaming straight on up towards Port Jackson at a steady 6 knots down from 8 knots earlier in the day. No motors, of course , and all on just one tack and one wear! (Take that, staff gamblers).And so to bed. Love to all the folks back home and we look forward to seeing you all on the weekend. Look forward to Captain Jez and Sail Mistress Kate heading up tomorrow’s log.Paul and Lauren.Happy Birthday Mummy!  See you on Sunday. G’day Ben, Cait, Chris and Bee!I am having an absolute blast, truly awesome bunch of folks and some amazing scenery too. Also just wanted to send my sympathy and best wishes to Gemma and Richard, I hope you have received all the support you need and wish I could be there to lend a hand after the fires. Thanks again Lucas for the room in Tas. See all you landlubbers at Goldfields Revegetation Native Nursery on Monday.Cheerio, Tim Young.Captain Gunna here; well the YC certainly had a baptism of fire this afternoon and they have handled it well. Not quite force 12 but rather thrilling all the same.Chat tomorrow.Carpe Diem