Day 1 – Welcome Aboard, 18′ Skiffs…and Rose Bay!
Ahoy shipmates… welcome to Voyage 02/21. Our return to youth development voyages (with the appropriate COVID protocols in place) continues! Voyage 01/21 was a raging success, and I’m confident this voyage will be much the same… hopefully with more consistent winds! At 1500 this afternoon our 17 young adventurers joined Young Endeavour at HMAS Waterhen, and after bags were stowed we all gathered at midhships for the formal welcome and introduction of the staff crew. They are: Captain Kenny,Sailmaster Jemma, Navigator Jerome, Watch Officer Rio, White Watch Leader Dan, Red Watch Leader Phoebe, Blue Watch Leader TJ, Engineer Reggie, and Chef Keely. Once the formalities were dispensed with, the initial safety brief was given…alarms, lifejackets, muster points etc, and the big one…can you swim? ;). We then departed for the short transit under the bridge and past the opera house, before coming to anchor in Rose Bay…I say this every time but how cool is Sydney Harbour! And the 18 footers (sailing skiffs) were out and about…spectacular! It was then time for ice-breakers, ship’s tours, and a spectacular dinner from chef Keely…I’m gunna get fat…again! With full bellies we all then gathered at midships for the obligatory first night briefs, hearing from the engineer, sailmaster and myself…some basic guidelines, tips and motivation, before rolling into the more detailed safety brief titled ‘Captain’s Safety’. Our safety equipment guru Dan provided some more detailed information on the location and use of the various pieces of safety equipment around the ship…important information prior to heading to sea. The youth crew then split into their respective watches to complete their ‘full value contracts’ (highlighting their voyage aims and challenges), and to commence their introduction to line handling…the first few days will be information overload for most. We will remain at anchor overnight and spend tomorrow completing first climbs on the 33 metre foremast, their first challenge, followed by an intro to setting and furling sails. Looking at the weather we will probably depart late tomorrow afternoon and turn right…destination Jervis Bay, making the most of the forecast easterly breeze. That’s about it for now…we will have them in bed by 2200 for a good night’s rest before the always busy day two. Until tomorrow, fair winds, Captain Kenny
Latitude/Longitude:
Conditions:
Wind: SE at 12 knots Weather: Overcast/passing showers Sea: Calm Location: At anchor Rose Bay
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Thank you Tarvi, Kaeden and Matt for your narrative of today's events. Intentions are to remain at anchor in Hunters Bay, just off HMAS Penguin, home of the RAN Diving School, a place close to my heart, having spent many a day there under training as a young Officer! The plan is to weigh anchor and proceed to HMAS Waterhen, in Waverton, to pick up our Community Day Sailors from the Windgap Foundation and take them for a sail around the harbour for 3 hours. The Youth Crew will help us host our visitors and give them an experience of Young Endeavour. We will drop them back to Waverton and then proceed to anchor in the harbour where we will have a good view of the Bridge and the Opera House for the Youth Crew's last night onboard. Until tomorrow. Yours Aye, Captain Mike