Day 1 – Cairns to Fitzroy Island.

Ahoy shipmates…welcome to Voyage 9/19, Cairns to Airlie Beach…yeeha! We love sailing around this part of the world…islands everywhere and so many places to explore! Well, after spending the last 10 days in Cairns (rained the entire time!) for some minor maintenance and crew respite, we are itching to go. The staff crew for this voyage are: Captain – Kenny, Sailmaster – Dion, Navigator – Darren, Boats Officer – Ivanka, White watch leader – Blake, Assistant White watch leader – Molly (UK Sail Trainer exchange), Red watch leader – Karly, Blue watch leader – Horto, Assistant Blue watch leader – Reggie, Engineer – Sumo, and Chef – Zac. With 26 youth crew embarked we have a full ship…the more the merrier! Today at 1500 our intrepid young adventurers embarked at Trinity Wharf No. 3 in Cairns and after a quick welcome and introduction of the staff crew, we departed around 1600 for the 2 1/2 hour trip over to our overnight anchorage at Fitzroy Island. During the transit the youth crew settled in, completed some quick ice breaker activities and tours of the ship, and enjoyed a delicious meal from Chef Zac. We arrived at anchor just after 1830 and were pleased to find a fellow tall ship, the South Passage, also at anchor. After Dion gave the sailmaster brief (rules and regs…bad cop!), I gave the Captain’s brief (expectations and opportunities…good cop!). As I type Dion is giving the harness and safety aloft brief in preparation for the youth crews first challenge of the voyage, laying aloft on the foremast (climbing). Early indications are that they are looking forward to this first opportunity, although a few were a little hesitant! Good news is the passing showers seemed to have eased and the stars and moon are out. I will leave it there for now…duty calls. I will let you know how everyone went tomorrow…until then, fair winds, Captain Kenny (Cap K).
Latitude/Longitude:
Conditions:
Wind: SW at 6 knots Weather: Fine/Passing showers Sea: Calm Location: At anchor Fitzroy Island
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ARRRGH, ahoy there from the spectacular Jervis Bay! We’ve all been taken A-back by the crystal clear blue waters and snow white sands.
After a well deserved sleep in these sheltered waters which was a refreshing change to clinging to our bunk racks for dear life for the past few days, the ship rose to another banger of a morale tune “sung” by Blue Watch. Brekkie was fun after the early morning activity to get us all up and moving. We held another round of competitive not-competitive rope races which culminated in smashed eggs on deck and the mummification of said egg smashers.
Roast lamb for lunch was prepped by the staffies in the absence of our culinary wizard Steve. Once cleaned up, we took the RHIB’s across to Captains Beach bordering HMAS Creswell which was a mind-blowingly beautiful little spot. Pretty much everyone had a dip in the drink and a roll in the sand and played some creative beach games run by our Suitability legends, Speedy Sam and Eggs.
A few hours at the beach made everyone ready to head back home and attack a teak deck barbeque, devouring cheese platters, steaks, sangas, and salads. With our full stomachs, us youthies initiated the highly anticipated elections for our command day roles. Which will commence sometime around midday tomorrow. We held a vote for each available role that all willing youthies put themselves forward for.
The following roles were voted as follows: Captain – Warwick, Sailmaster – Hugh, Navigator – Ruscoe, Officer of the Watch – Dan, Watch Leader – Nick, Ben, Bridget, Master chef – Emily, Mackenzie, Alyshia
We were greeted after our elections by a low flying anti-submarine MH60-Romeo Helicopter which did a cool fly around our ship. *Thanks Squizz!!* And then watched an amazing film about the rounding of Cape Horn back in 1929 on a 7 story tall sail ship.
Signing off from our anchor watch, Ben and Giles.
“I believe that positive energy and optimism help us to take up any challenge in life and to succeed in even the most difficult tasks. I also believe that positive energy is contagious: We can transmit it to others”


After a rather nonchalant guts watch with the Bluies, Reddies came in guns a blazing, setting our beautiful square sails preparing us for a speedy and eventful day at sea. Scaling (laying aloft) the Foremast, whilst the ship swayed kept the Reddies on their toes, holding on for dear life as they let out the gaskets for the Topgallant and Topsail Yards. A challenging activity to start off our day rewarded with a beautiful sunrise over Starboard.
During the day we participated in a Meteorology Brief led by our resident Nav guru TOMO, learning everything there is about fluffy, rainy and stormy clouds. This was followed by Lunch and a needed Siesta.
Whilst some slumbered, Bluies kept watch. They had brave volunteers to climb both main mast and to the topgallant yard to sea furl the sails.
In the afternoon, our Watches came together to have Mid Voyage Chats, where we had the opportunity to reflect on our voyage goals, experiences and discuss our hopes for Command Day. There were some very heartfelt talks, from overcoming fears, to gaining confidence in working as a team, and we set our eyes upon what we want to achieve in the rest of the voyage.
The first dog (Reddies) (from 1545 to 1745) was full of excitement, with over 50kn winds and up to 50 degrees on the OOOH AAAH meter (heel). Watching the waves break higher than the rails was an exhilarating experience and kept us holding on tight. Sites of sharks and a Cargo ship kept our lookouts entertained, while Callum lead an engaging activity on Charts. At the end of the first dog watch, Nick and Phil braved these treacherous conditions to lay aloft on the mainmast to wrangle the mainsail!
Rockin and rolling, Youthies (the newest salty sea dogs) Hugh, Bridget, and Nick!!