Captain's Log

V09/25, Thursday Island to Darwin

26 May 2025

Day 01 – V09/25, Thursday Island to Darwin

We’re back for another Voyage of self discovery and adventure sailing from Thursday Island to Darwin for Voyage 09/25. This one promises to be very special with the ship starting Day One at anchor in the Torres Strait in-between Thursday Island and Horn Island. We have a vibrant mix of Youth Crew with a number of Navy Cadets from all over the country, including from the islands of the Torres Strait, along with a mix of Young Australians from a variety of places throughout the Australian mainland. The fact that this voyage commences at the same time as National Reconciliation Week is significant and we are going to make the most of it.

You wouldn’t think it should be that tricky to get 35 odd people into one boat for transport out to our beautiful sailing ship – but you would be wrong! We attempted to embark 15 Youth Crew and 18 guests from the two islands at 1500K and then 1530K but a series of complicating factors delayed us until about 1630K. Kate, our resident Australian Navy Cadet chaperone, rustled up a number of guests (youth from the local Colleges) who were all eager to see the ship and experience the thrill of our first day onboard. Many of these youngsters are a few years away from being eligible for a Youth Crew voyage but that’s OK because they have been onboard, they’ve fallen in love with the ship, and I am confident they will be back. Some as soon as next year!

Mr Belford Liu also joined us and shared some inspirational words with our Youth Crew and, as the resident Harbour Master of Port Kennedy, also received a vote of thanks from myself and the crew for looking after us during our stay. A shout out must also go to Sonia, owner-operator of Rebel Catamarans, who has shuttled us around the islands often at short notice. Tomorrow we will re-victual and it will only be with the help of Sonia’s team that we will secure the shore to ship transfers.

There is an amazing energy onboard as if we all know we are about to do something that we will never forget. The voyage from TI to Darwin covers some very remote and very beautiful land and seascapes. All of us are looking forward to sailing into the wilderness and developing our own connection to country. The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2025 is “Bridging Now to Next” and calls on all Australians to step forward together.

We will do just that as we weigh anchor, cast ship’s head to the West and set our sails for the sunset.

Watch this space!

Captain Leups Out +

Latitude/Longitude:

10 34.835 S / 142 09.524 E

Conditions:

Weather: Overcast Wind: 20 KN SE Temp: 27 C

AUTHOR: Peta Binns

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12 January 2026

Day 10 – V01/26, Hobart to Hobart

Our final day of Voyage 01/26 was bittersweet. The sun was shining as we awoke at 0630 and our thoughts immediately went to the celebration that was. Slideshows, laughs, memories, reflection and friendships made at sea through shared experience. There is something very special about life at sea that our salty sea dogs now have some appreciation of. Those that sit ashore looking out to the deep blue can only imagine. In these last 10 days the crew of the STS Young Endeavour have taken 24 strangers, young Australians, aged 16-23 and shown them the magic of both the hardship and the beauty of life at sea. Dolphins swimming through bioluminescence, some of the most intense we have ever seen, a whale blowing spray over the deck as it's huge head came up to take a look at the team driving the ship, countless seabirds, schools of tuna and the rest. The ocean, both calm, serene but also furious and angry, has given our youth a taste of the salty sea spray - the tranquil and the terrifying. Most importantly though are the 24 brave adventurers who dared to cross the gangway and take on this once in a lifetime challenge. They prevailed together, shoulder to shoulder, laying aloft in the yards and singing sea shanties as the ship made her approach to the dock for the final approach. As lines are passed and farewells are said these are friendships that will endure into the years to come. To mark this significant achievement Her Excellency, The Governor of Tasmania, Barbara Baker, attended the ceremony to award the Young Endeavour Achievement Award to our worthy recipient, Abby, who characterised her voyage by uplifting those around her, offering a steady hand and a strong shoulder, and always being the first to volunteer to help out her fellow shipmates. A fitting end to a rewarding voyage. All the best Youth Crew of V01/26. The staffies are incredibly proud of how far you have come, each and every one of you are inspirational in your own right; see you out there when we next sail over the horizon! Dare to dream and expand your horizons!! Captain Leups Out +

V01/26

11 January 2026

Day 9 – V01/26, Hobart to Hobart

Day 9 of Voyage 01/26 - and the day started with the Youth Crew still in command of their beautiful ship. The weather gods turned on an experience with consistent 20-25kn winds overnight. Youthie Navs James and Zoe did a fantastic job plotting our course as we zigged and zagged through Storm Bay. The seas were relentless but the crew soldiered on through the night and prevailed. Captain Matt and Sailmaster Zoe worked with their tenacious team and completed tasks, set sails and got stuck into the challenges ahead of them. At 0330 and a strong gust assaulted the ship was sailing on a broad reach with only Forestaysail and Mainstaysail set. The helmswoman, Caitlin, battled the rudder as she fought to keep ships head from falling off the wind. The route was surrounded by fish farms characteristic to this part of Tasmania and it was imperative that we maintained our safe distance at all times. The Navy Watch turned to for their 0400 watch and immediately set about handing in some sail to rebalance the ship. A dedicated team effort and order was restored. Some thrilling sailing memories that the crew will never forget. As the sun rose the winds abated to 15-20kn which felt quite civilised as we made our way Northward up and in to the Derwent River. By 0800 we were at anchor in Sandy Bay - back where it all started 9 days ago! After a siesta through lunch the team worked through some profound reflection activities and re-lived the experience. Teasing out the good, the bad and the lessons to be taken with us as the team departs the ship tomorrow and returns to their homes throughout Australia. Each and every member of the crew put in a huge effort and left nothing in the tank over the last 24 hours. This is all we can ask of them as we build up to Command Day and the freeplay, choose your own adventure, style challenge it presents. Well done V01/26 you all did yourselves proud! Tonight we eat pizza, celebrate our victories and laugh about our losses. Friendships made, memories forged by the sea, our beautiful old STS Young Endeavour and crew have once again worked their magic. Tomorrow the ship will berth at the UTAS Wharf (where we departed) at 0950 ready for our 1000 farewell ceremony. We have some very special guests coming down to visit us but the ones we are most looking forward to seeing are our friends and families after 20 days away. I finish these voyages truly humbled and inspired by the intensity, character and genuine enthusiasm that the Young Australians that are brave enough to come and sail with us present. Thank you Youth Crew (and Staffies - you know who you are!!) - you have made the start of 2026 one to remember!!! Captain Leups Out +

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10 January 2026

Day 8 – V01/26, Hobart to Hobart

Command day on STS Young Endeavor V01/26; a big day for us today as us youthies took over the ship at 1000, Matthew, our elected captain wore the pirate hat with pride as he stepped into the role with me (Sailmaster Aurora), James the Navigator, Zoe the Officer Of The Watch, and Cara, Dylan and Wil, our three Watch Leaders. We huddled ourselves into the cramped chartroom around a giant Tasman map with a list of task… 31 dot points of hard work. We listened with increasing horror as we the wind outside howled and debated the best course for both the boat itself and the crew within. However, as things always do at sea the conditions changed and it was unsafe for us to go ahead without plans, trying to keep up with all our necessary duties and inform the rest of the crew of the very little we knew, we spent hours pouring over charts and activity lists to create the best day we could despite the weather ahead. We are currently setting up for a very long cold and rainy night of sailing in Storm Bay, excited, despite the long, brutal night watches, to spend time together as a cohort. I’m so happy to be trusted with this position and grateful to my fellow youthies for the constant support - particularly my fellows at the helm, Captain Matt, and Navigator James. Love you all, wish us luck - Sailmaster Aurora. The Captain, Sailmaster and Nav had a hard day because the strong wind kept us in our anchorage into the evening. Explaining the situation to our team, and the constant replanning, was hard work, however the Nav sharpened his pencils and refined the plan. Our elected chefs, Abby, Ash and Katie, made a beautiful meal for lunch and dinner. The garlic bread was particularly delicious! Today has been a big day and will be a massive night, due to the heavy wind forecast. The team and I have focussed on making sure we know how to look out for each other and handle the sails in the strong conditions. We have done mock tacks to ensure everyone in their new watches knows their position and follows their elect watch leaders, (Rainbow watch - Dylan, Pink watch – Cara, Navy watch – Wil) and Nav James has come up with a course that allows us to use the sails available with the wind speed to reach our destination points given to us by Captain Leups, Sailmaster Sarah, and Navigator Benny. Tonight will be a big night with high windspeeds, high swells and late night tacking and waring unlike what we’ve ever done before. I am incredibly honoured to be elected as Captain of the STS young Endeavour by my crew. Check in on tomorrow’s log to find out how we went – and more importantly – if we made it to Iron Pot Lighthouse on time!! This is Captain Matt – signing off on behalf of the Youth Crew of V01/26.

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