Command Day 2 – Wind at last

By Captain Will ‘we have a problem’ Houston and Sail Mistress Em Good evening salty seadogs, As was anticipated by the YC Command Team (cough) the sacrifice made earlier in the week to Brother Nutsie finally paid dividends with the wind cracking 20 knots overnight. This meant the YC watches were tested , with sail changes, waves (which had not featured previously on our voyage) and a midnight wear, testing the crews skills and motivation. As dawn broke, YC crew were thrust into action with many flung from their racks. Many had to surface quickly to ensure that “chunky rain” all fell from the leeward side of the boat. Waves crashed over the bow and sides of the boat. With crew dropping like flies, watch leaders needed to adapt quickly and find spare bodies to ensure the overbearing commands from the bridge were complied with. Needless to say the training we had been given earlier in the week becoming familiar with over watches at tacking stations ensured eventual success. The ambitious breakfast menu created by the chefs had to be modified for the high seas, as it was quickly discovered that liquid breakfasts were impossible and scrambled eggs could be created without a whisk. Due to the break neck speeds we had been making throughout the sleepless night (hitting 8.7 knots at one stage), the navigation instructions had to be changed 30 minutes from Mackay. Our new final destination was the ironically named Refuge Cove. A wear was performed amongst a sea of anchored container ships with textbook precision and the new target was sighted. Morning briefing was had as per usual, with Nanna being replaced by Grandpa, who even managed to show that the staffies didn’t quite meet the high standards of tidiness required onboard. Happy hour quickly followed as the boat careered towards the Scawfell Island. The ship rounded the island and into the cove just after 1130 and anchored before a Mexican themed lunch was devoured. The meal provided everyone with the energy to complete our final few tasks (drawing a mural of the trip on the deck, polishing the brass, creating a slideshow of our adventure so far and getting all 26 YC aloft on the foremast). All of these tasks were successfully accomplished before the ship was handed back to the staffies at 1430, before an afternoon debriefing on the 86 nautical mile trip and some hilarious skits and breathtaking solo performances from many onboard. Congratulations YC for the successful day we had in command. We managed to accomplish every task, successfully navigate to our final destination and return the ship in one piece to Captain Gunna and his crew. Clear eyes, full hearts…CAN’T LOSE! Captain Will and Sailing Mistress Emma