COMMAND DAY PART 2

Hi Everyone,Please find attached the second edition to the Youth Crews Command Day Captains Log, I am sure that you will enjoy itYours AyeCaptain GavCAPTAINS LOG PART 2Ahoy!Life has certainly been busy in the last few days. Limited contact with the world makes memories of a world that doesn’t move a little hazy. We have sailed, cleaned, worked, climbed and generally done everything you can possibly do and now find ourselves near the end of the voyage. A day in the life of us consisted of being woken by the incredibly bored and underskilled morning watch who think that they can sing at 6.30 AM! The other day we were serenaded by a bunch of drumming Mexican hat dancers who weren’t dancing and weren’t Mexican. They made up for these downfalls with enthusiasm that was lost on the rest of the sleepy crew. Breaky (a great way to start) and morning brief (which indefinitely displayed the irrepressible dramatic talents of the staff) were always more welcome tasks, however, this is closely followed by the incorrectly named happy hour which consists of mops, brooms and disinfectant.Sailing the boat is absolutely brilliant. The sea, the waves and everyone pitching in to make this ship go where we want it is inspiring and entertaining to say the least and leaves one with a great sense of accomplishment. Ropies, the part of the day where the staff expel their boredom at the expense of the youth crew, is always a good laugh. We have found many new things about ourselves through these inspiring activities, such as how fast we can eat icypoles, apples and hoist our shoes towards the heavens.Those things that drew us to the ship are the same things that have made us friends. Those things that drew us, scared us and were the same things that attracted us to the challenge of partaking in a voyage on this ship. Those things we have now conquered and I believe we are better for it in many ways and on many levels. After conquering Command Day and surviving, we feel as if we could conquer the world. You never know, we may very well do so. Pity we don’t have any cannons.P.J.Command Day NaviguesserPart 3G’day my name is Ryan, about half way through the command day we decided we would claim a small part of land for the youth of Australia. So to do this we were asked to join the beach assault team and any kind of team that has assault in it’s name I was up for. So we set out in our little row boat towards the beach. About halfway to the beach, the professional rower (Martin) broke the paddle in half but it was all good we had a spare. Once we got to the beach we had to find a place to raise the flag, I thought the fish and chip shop looked pretty cool. So we went inside and asked the owner if we could raise a flag on his top veranda. So I walked up and raised the flag while the others rounded up people to sing the national anthem.Now right next door was a of group very patriotic beer garden dwellers. Who sang with some gusto, all I all there was about 40 people there singing the national anthem which is a pretty awesome sight.Now we just had to row back to the ship. So we walked back to the beach where our row boat was waiting. So we were about to push it off when four of us get stung by sea jellies (jellyfish don’t have a spine therefore can’t be fish according to taffy) except for Christian who just has mad tentacle dodging skills. So we got a lift back instead of rowing. Thank you sea jellies.Ryan Thurbon (Percival the Third)Part 4Ahoy there!As you’ve probably already heard, us young endeavourers took control of this 20 million dollar beast for 24 hours yesterday. During that time we were all expected to sail the ship by ourselves and complete a number of challenges set down by the infamous Staffies.The day proved to be difficult and stressful at times, especially when the wind decided to change, but a lot of fun was had amongst the crew, making the day an experience never to be forgotten.BEACH ASSAULT TEAM ROCKS!!!!Sailor Beth (Guinevere the Second)Part 4 section IICommand day from the perspective of a watch officer: trying to hold the world at the correct angle as the ship rocks violently on the worst weather of the trip. Also, doing navigation fixes every 15 minutes and watching the course zig-zag slowly away from the target zone, strait into WARNING: MILITARY EXERCISE AREA�all the while writing poems and alternate tunes for the Australian national anthem for a task due the next morning. All in all, it was the most fun you can have outside a jellybean factory, and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. Lesson learned: you haven’t lived till you’ve been a watch officer on the young endeavour.Hi to all my friends and family, and to the rest of the redskins for keeping me laughing for 10 days.Tony D.Part 5diggelbee