Command Day
Ahoy shipmates,The big day is finally here…we have handed Command of the ship to the Youth Crew of Voyage 12/18. It’s essentially theirs anyway, as STS Young Endeavour came to Australia as the Bicentennial Gift of the United Kingdom and was accepted by the Prime Minister of Australia ‘on behalf of all young Australians’. My desire to let the Youth Crew speak for themselves continues to bear fruit, as evidenced below. So I’ll keep it short and hand you over to the ladies.Fair winds,Captain KennyP.S. Please send more wind! Hi from Ellen and Jacinta,Wow, what a day! Command Day dawned off South Percy Island and we wiped the grit of success from our eyes! We were up bright and early for another fantastic teak deck BBQ breakfast provided by our amazing chef Zach and talented Youthie cheffos. Happy hour was extra happy today due to a baby humpback whale circling close to the ship – an absolute treat. Captain Kenny tested the waters and they were deemed safe for the opening of the boatside “poolâ€! Rope swinging, jumping off the bow sprit and swimming in the glorious blue ocean was one of the best activities so far. After some deck games and relaxing, Command Day began at 1300. Kenny, Harry, and the rest of the crew took themselves off on holidays, leaving the Youth Crew in Command of the ship. The ceremonial passing over of the historic telescope meant our new CO (Ayden), Sail Master (Raife) and Nav (Jenny) were in charge, and worked out a plan for the next 24 hours. The first of many challenges for Command Day was having as many Youthies lay aloft as possible-what a way to say goodbye to this beautiful corner of the Great Barrier Reef. Weighing anchor at 1630 we made slow progress out of the Percy Islands towards Scawfell Island, our destination for tomorrow. It was a very busy watch for the new Green Watch, casting gaskets off 4 sails (climbing both masts), setting and furling sails and generally doing all required to have our majestic girl underway. A gentle forecast should make for smooth sailing overnight. The staffie crew are enjoying their holiday whilst the Youthies are hard at work above and below decks, with plenty more challenges to come. Jacinta would like to shout out to her family, especially her little brother Charlie! Ellen would like to shout out to her Mum and to John – you would be so proud of all the fearless climbing she’s accomplished today. Lachlan wants to say hello to his Mum! ‘Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success’Henry FordÂ
Latitude/Longitude:
Conditions:
Course:  263 degrees Speed:  3 kts (tide assisted)Wind:  Easterly at 6 knots    Swell:  SE at 0.5 metres   Weather:   Fine
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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