CORAL SEA

Ahoy there everyone, Welcome to day three on our adventure under sail. The ship continued motor sailing at seven knots overnight rounding Moreton Island and making ground to the south 20 miles seaward paralleling the Gold Coast assisted by the East Australian Current. Weather conditions provided light northerly winds and isolated showers, the two metre southerly swell proved challenging for the Youth Crew ensuring the first night at sea was a baptism by the elements. Though each person acquitted themselves with distinction most notably those who had never been to sea before often battling motion sickness and those who climbed aloft during the night.With the rising of the sun in an overcast sky, a cheerful wakey wakey song from the on watch Youth Crew, Breakfast was a very quiet affair followed by the morning brief, after tidying and cleaning the ship from the previous nights pitching and rolling. After lunch Engineer Leon conducted round one of non-competitive Rope Races enabling the Youth Crew to challenge themselves by remembering and identifying different items of safety equipment located around the upper decks.Sail Master Tug then presented a lesson on setting the square sails and the topsail was duly set in the light conditions. A rain squall on the horizon produced a rare water spout before Watch Officer JB presented an intriguing maritime Rules of the Road lecture, an important component of safely navigating the ship to avoid colliding with other vessels or running aground by correctly identifying various lights, shapes and navigation markers before the ship crossed the QLD/NSW border and passed Cape Byron the eastern extremity of the mainland Australia.During the remainder of the afternoon and night the ship continued parralling the north coast.Until tomorrow evening, take care.Yours AyeCaptain Damien‘Happy Birthday Dad. Have a good day’ love Allycia