Day 04 – V11/25, Darwin to Broome

Day Four and White watch was woken at 0400 for their bridge watch and at 0545 we made landfall at first light. We brailed the mainsail and furled the gybe as we approached to slow down the ship. Around 0730 we rounded the point into the bay, and crew rushed up on deck, some skipping brekkie for a moment to catch a glimpse of something deep blue and rolling under their feet. As the sun caught the cliffs, what seemed like breakwaters just off the bow turned into full fledged cliffs still a ways away.

Once anchored and rejoicing the lack of harnesses above deck, the ships first happy hour was called. Watches were divided between cleaning fore, aft and midships. Everything from the ships bell to the heads were thoroughly cleaned and inspected for the first time this voyage.

White and Blue watch stayed aboard the ship for the day much to our dismay, whilst Red watch went ashore for a hike and a swim. Red watch climbed aboard the RHIBs and cruised for about an hour and a half up the King George River and into King George Sound. We were struck by the beauty of the cliffs and the water. When we arrived in the sound we had to test the temperature of the waterfalls from the boats which included everyone getting soaking wet. We then dried off with a rock scramble up to the top of a cliffs and then got wet again by going for a dip in the swimming hole. Red watch had a great adventure. White and Blue watch are more than ready for their turn tomorrow.

While Red watch had a luxury river cruise, Blue and White climbed the ratlines of the foremast to tie down the gaskets of the square sails, then hung out to soak up the sun and calm weather. Both watches went through a navigation briefing from Jack in preparation for command day.

Once Red watch was back onboard, Dan cooked up a storm of lamb chops, pork chops, steak and kebabs for dinner on the top deck. Then it was time to secure the boats and then we rolled into three way chats and charades. After lots of laughs we retired for the evening.

Anchor watch tonight, so only three people required rather than a whole watch on deck, enabling a long sleep on calm seas for us all tonight.

Signing off,

Youth Crew: Deacon, Michaela, Hayden