Towards our first destination

Ahoy one and all, Well what a day we have had…after a cool but clear start to the day we departed HMAS Moreton at 0900 and commenced our lengthy transit of the Brisbane River and Moreton Bay, finally making to the open sea around 1600 this afternoon. We are currently just of Noosa Heads motor sailing north in light and calm conditions. Day 2 is always a busy day as we commence an intensive period of sail training, primarily setting and furling fore and aft sails, culminating in tacking stations late this afternoon. These skills are imperative to ensure the crew are familiar with the basics of sail setting and know their positions when tacking the ship, very important as we commence our open sea passage. In near perfect conditions (sun and 15-20kts of wind) they have performed exceptionally well…I have high expectations of this remarkable group of Young Australians! They have now settled into their watches and will familiarize themselves with watch on deck duties, and consolidate skills learnt today. And before I forget…you will be pleased to hear that everyone made it up the foremast last night…a great effort. We are expecting the wind to shift to the south overnight and remain relatively light (10 knots) for the next few days…a bit more would be nice but it makes for comfortable conditions as we head towards our first destination…Lady Musgrave Island. I’ll hand you over now to Red Watch for a Youth Crew perspective. Until tomorrow…stay safe Captain Kenny Hi from Ally and Shellie,What a day at sea!  Our first day truly sailing, and what an extraordinary experience it has been. After climbing the masts until midnight on the first day, we had retreated into our bunkers after a steaming cup of hot chocolate. Everyone made it up and over the Topsail, a challenging but surprisingly fun achievement. Music rang through the Cabins for a fresh start at 0630 (a time which I am told is quite the sleep in!) and it was up to midships in the morning sunshine. After a quick debrief and a huge breakfast, the age old tradition of colours (i.e. raising the flags) saw the Australian flag flying high and the beautiful choir of over thirty sailors singing the national anthem. “Captain Safety”, the ship’s safety super hero, made an appearance, we received an introduction from Salty, and then work started with the happiest-happy-happy hour of the day – cleaning hour! Because, as we all know, a happy ship is a … Clean ship!After the lower decks were sparkling, we sailed off into the horizon under the Gateway Bridge. It was certainly an uplifting moment. The day was dominated by learning all the ropes (or lines, if you will) aboard STS Young Endeavour, the crew as yet unaware of the hard work to come. Chefo Zac made sure no one was hungry with a spread fit for a king at lunch – and then the work really set in…Tack. Tack. Tack. And tack again. After learning how to furl and set the sails, we put our new found skills into practice. With blistering hands (not really) and wind-chapped lips (but smiling lips, nonetheless) the crew hauled, and 2, 6, Heaved, and checked away, and stoppered, and knotted and faked and made lines until the sun went down. We tacked one way, tacked another, then, tacked that way again, and for good luck we did it once more. It was a tiring but exhilarating experience. Just as the last tack had finished and all the braces were well, the sun set blood orange on the horizon and whales breached metres from the ship, raising their flippers in greeting. Amazing!It has only been a day and a night but already the crew feels almost like a family. Our first watch (Last Dog – 1800-2000) has just started, the same Red Watch, keen to start their next one at 0345- see you at sunrise!Quote of the Day:“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do then by the things you did.  So throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from the safe harbour.  Catch the trade winds in your sails.  EXPLORE.  DREAM.  DISCOVER.”- Mark Twain.