Day 03 – V17/25, Adelaide – Geelong

Ahoy there shipmates,

Welcome to the Captain’s Log for Friday 26 September – Day 3 of Voyage 17/25, Adelaide to Geelong. Thanks go to Charlotte, Cesare and Paddy for writing tonight’s log:

We welcomed the day with the ending of our first overnight watches. We were feeling tired, but were excited to start our new day with this ship’s most well-known delight; Steve. Some of us overcoming our sea sickness, the rest enjoying a spirit-lifting hot display of bacon, eggs, hashbrowns and fruits. We followed this with our morning brief at 0900, learning the history behind some important nautical terms, and being left on a historical cliffhanger by our Navigator Jack. All of the Youth Crew look forward to learning the rest of the context behind ‘Australia’s Shipwreck Coastline.’

Then it was all hands to the Tacking Stations for the Youth Crew. We went back and forward setting and furling our nearly-learnt sails; the jib, the forestaysail and the main staysail. Following our hard work with a delicious pastry lunch, then staff hands on deck as they dropped anchor, while the Youth Crew furled (brought in) the sails

As they say, a clean-ship is a happy-ship. Us youthies experienced our first happy hour; not a shelf was unwiped nor a corner unswept, but us youthies had a bigger motivation than a clean ship – going ashore. Once the ship was deemed clean, all hands back on deck to release the two boats. Following a group icebreaker demo, Youth Crew and Staffies boarded the boats, and made our way onto the very wet Granite Island in the beautiful South Australia. While on the island, the Youth Crew enjoyed luxuries such as chocolate milkshakes and plastic souvenirs. This high was short-lived, as we returned to the Young Endeavour completely soaked. The breaking waves were consistent. We thoroughly enjoyed our hot showers – 90 seconds or not.

Dinner was enjoyed as a close family with some happy tunes. The lovely Steve brought a BBQ up to the main deck, and we enjoyed a sanga by the sunset. Some of our brave crewmates climbed aloft to the mainmast. The second biggest one on ship, towards the back, to adjust the gaskets. Shoutout to our climbers, Rye, Hamish, Will, and Min. We also celebrated a birthday on board! Happy 20th Birthday to our crewmate youthie, Tom. We presented our three-way chats ice breaker demo, where we leant facts about each other and performed them to the general group. Our Navigator Jack returned to teach us about anchor watches; vastly different to at-sea watches. Youthies lent over the deck, learning about placements of the anchor and the weight of the anchor and chain holds us in position. After that- bedtime! An early night starting at 2030, with first watch commencing at the same time.

Some shout-outs to family from some of the youth crew:
Zahra – Hi mum! We are doing well.
Hamish – Family, don’t open my fishing rod.
Ethan – I much rather this than schoolwork. So much to do when I get back- but bugger that.
Charlotte (Eales) – Missing my loved ones, thinking of you. I am doing super well 😊.
Cesare – Saying ahoy to my friends and family.

Thanks again to Charlotte, Cesare and Paddy.

The plan is to remain at anchor off Victor Harbour overnight and tomorrow until after lunch to allow some adverse forecast weather to pass to the east of us. We will then weigh anchor and continue our passage to Port Phillip Bay.

Until tomorrow evening.
Yours, aye,
Captain Mike and his able-bodied crew.