Day 6 – Favourable Winds

Hi Everyone,
Welcome to day six of our voyage. Well finally the wind gods have smiled upon us and we are now getting some favourable winds and some good sailing. These improved conditions have meant that we have been able to set our squares today and in doing so put the ship under a full press of sail for the first time for this voyage.
Our young mariners have been kept busy throughout the day we plenty of sail work and climbing of the mast and we also managed to fit in a good set of rotational tacks. This activity gives everyone the opportunity to go to other crew members tacking station so that they develop a better understanding on how everything works when we tack and wear the ship.
We are currently located 51nm to the west of Cape Grim (North Western point of Tasmania) and are back in the Roaring 40â€™s for the first time since completing the World Voyage. We do expect the wind to strengthen overnight so I am sure that as we get further south the Youth Crew will get to experience a little rough weather which I am sure they expected when they chose this Adelaide to Hobart voyage.
Overnight we will continue to make best speed down Tasmaniaâ€™s West Coast with the current intention to anchor in Port Davy late tomorrow evening.
Kindly volunteering to write tonightâ€™s Captains Log is Red Watch, please enjoy!
Until tomorrow, take care.
Yours Aye
Captain Gav

CAPTAINS LOG â€“ Sat 13 Feb 16
Ahoy maties from the wild west coast of Van Deimenâ€™s land!
The sails be full, the weather be lovely, the crewâ€™s be cheerful with bellies full and we be making great progress towards Olde Hobart Town.
As the sun went down, red watch put to use their great teamwork skills to set all sails as we endeavoured to speed up our journey. And sail ahead we did, today progressing completely under sail! Overnight we traversed almost 60 nautical miles towards Port Davey and have now ventured into the roaring 40s. Setting out square sails gave some of us an excuse to climb (again) and provided some welcome forward speed and stability, enabling a few members of the crew to regain their sea legs. The sight of all sails set was a beautiful sight (just like on the brochure!). It was a really special feeling. It served also as an excellent photo opportunity and we couldnâ€™t help but feel the all excitement of being â€˜certified blackbelt sailorsâ€™. Now we were really doing what we came here to do â€“ SAILING!!
This morning we were treated to another wonderfully informative lecture by our resident nautical guru, Professor Kenny Saltdog, explaining the origin of the â€œdogwatches.â€ Perhaps we will be able to provide a more in depth explanation in personâ€¦
Rope races (progressing from friendly to wildly competitive) were again held by Black Betty himself, Horto, with very little separating the three watches, and the overall winner being safety (according to Black Betty, who is, by the way, THE MAN).
Every day a lucky crewy from each watch is selected to see the Master Masterchefâ€“ Marcos â€“ create the delicious gastronomic delights that fuel us through each and every day. We all eagerly await our turn to help out in the Galley and delight in not only the food, but Marcosâ€™ sterling personality and his banginâ€™ kitchen beats.
Today was also the day on which we gathered into our watches to reflect on our voyage so far, and the goals we had set ourselves. It all came out very positive, and we are all agreed that this experience has been a most amazing one so far. Weâ€™re all downheartedly counting down the days we have left. We are also counting down the hours to command dayâ€¦ look out staffies!!
Bon Voyage, ye scurvy dogs!
(love, Red Watch)
Shoutouts

Salut TasMob! We made it to the roaring forties and are on our way home! Iâ€™m looking forward to sharing all of the war stories. Port Davey and Hobart await. Love you! Dylan xx
Cheers Territorians! I bet youâ€™re all melting up there while Iâ€™m getting used to being an icicle! (not looking forward to getting back to that by the way. Not that I donâ€™t miss you!) Really having a swell time (see what I did there) smashing personal goals, loving every minute. Iâ€™m now addicted to climbing and you can hardly keep me off the mast! See you in a week. xx p.s. Happy birthday for the 17th Dad!! – Peta .M
Hello ye with steady footing. Swells keep the boat rockinâ€™ and many personal encounter with the walls has been made. Loving every second and dreading the fast approach of reality. Happy 18th Birthday Em!!!! Hope ur partying it up and remember it all tomorrow!! Even with the land and ocean separating us u can still be my valentine Liv, missing u all while Iâ€™m away. Canâ€™t wait to share all my stories. Lots of love Ezz XxXx

Latitude/Longitude:

40 43 S / 143 32 E

Conditions:

Currently located 51nm to the west of Cape Grim and experiencing moderate to strong 15-20kt WSW winds with a 1.5m SW swell. Our current speed is 7kts and the temperature is 16 degrees.

AUTHOR: Commanding Officer STS Young Endeavour

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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

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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

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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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Day 6 – Favourable Winds

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