Exploring Dunk Island
Situation at 20:00 – Overnight the Youth Crew practised setting and clewing the square sails as we made ground to the North towards Dunk Island.There were lots of opportunities to climb aloft, as well as carry out the other duties of the watch-on-deck.At morning brief Navigator Luke showed us the progress we have made down the Queensland coast. The ‘Spewometer’ is reading zero now that all hands have found their sea-legs. The Salty Sea Dog regaled us with yet another description of the nautical origins of a commonly used saying. Engineer Stewy made a respectable harvest forhis scran bag, which saw the guilty parties singing loudly about Rocket Ships. The Youth Crew are quickly learning the tricks of thetrade when it comes to happy hour. In no time at all all hands were reporting their areas ready for XO Chooka to inspect. At 10:30 the Ship anchored off Dunk Island.By 12:30 all hands had been ferried ashore and were enjoying one of Chef Polly’s famous picnic lunches. This was followed by beachsports and then a chance for the Youth Crew to enjoy a swim and explore the Island. All hands enjoyed the chance to stretch theirlegs in such a beautiful setting.Supper was an Indian theme. Chef Polly and today’s ‘Dish Pigs’ prepared a magnificant array of delicacies, topped of with amouth-watering Pavlova. After the Cafe and Galley were cleaned, the Youth Crew were dividen into groups of three. They were allowed 30 minutes to learn the life story of the other two members of their group before being required to role play the life of one of the members.The purpose of this activity is to learn more about thepeople in the other watches. This was a great fun and showed the Youth Crew are a very talented and imaginative group. Overnight the watches will keep anchor watches. These are only 75 minutes in length instead of the usual 4 hours so the Youth Crew will be able to catch up onsome sleep.YOUNG ENDEAVOUR Fact File: THe Ship is fitted with 2 cast steel Stokes anchors each weighing 444 kg. They are attached to 5shackles (450 feet) of 17.5 mm anchor chain with a breaking load of 18.3 Tonnes. The Ship has anchored safely in winds up to 50 knots.YOUNG ENDEAVOUR Glossary: Hawse Pipe- The opening between the upperdeck and outboard the Bulwark through which the anchor cablepasses. Naval Pipe- The pipe leading from the cable lockers to the capstan on the upperdeck, and through which the anchor cable passes.Thought of the Day: When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could nothang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time the tide will turn. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Yours, AyeJohn Cowan, LCDR, RAN
Latitude/Longitude:
Conditions:
At anchor off Dunk Island. Wind: Sou'East at 5 kts, Temp: 23c, Cloud:8/8 inrain squalls
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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