Day 1 – Welcome Youth Crew of V11/22
Ahoy there shipmates, landlubbers and armchair sailors, it was wonderful to meet the lovely youth crew of Voyage 11/22 today alongside Gladstone, QLD comprising 18 youth, from all over the eastern states. They arrived at 1430 with a few family members in tow, who came to inspect the ship and the staff crew, and to farewell their loved ones for the next 10 days.
I welcomed Youth Crew and guests and introduced my staff crew, as follows: Sail Master – Matty. Navigator – Tori. Watch Officer – Emma. White Watch Leader – Theresa. Red Watch Leader – Evan. Blue Watch Leader – Kyle. Chef – Jarod. Engineers – Shaun and Creeky.
We then farewelled family and friends and kicked off the program with ice breakers and ships’ tours. Youth Crew were then mustered at midships, where Shaun and Creeky spoke of conserving water and plumbing and ships husbandry.
Matty spoke to them about youth crew responsibilities and a few ‘guidelines’ to ensure communal harmony and unconditional positive regard for all. Then I spoke to them about what to expect over the next 10 days and ways to ensure maximum involvement in the program. Simply, to ‘get amongst it’, was the key.
We had a lovely dinner cooked up by Jarod then Theresa our safety equipment specialist introduced them to their harnesses and taught them all about: donning said harness, conducting buddy checks and the process for laying aloft.
Then it was time, ladies and gents, for our young sea puppies to lay aloft for the very first time. And up the foremast they went, in their watches, aiming for the topgallant yard. And I’m pleased to say that everyone made it to the top, which is not always the case, so I was a very happy Captain. But the fact that some didn’t want to go but pushed themselves regardless… I must say it made me very proud and I know that they are too. And rightly so! Well done shipmates.
Meanwhile, if they weren’t up the mast they started their seamanship training, consisting of line handling, safety and general principles, and negotiated Full Value Contracts for the voyage. It was a massive day today and it’s going to be another big day tomorrow, so our wonderful young sea-puppies turned in for a well deserved sleep. Intention is to remain at alongside overnight, departing the marina with high water at 0700.
The adventure has begun… I wonder where we’ll be this time tomorrow night?
Captain Adam Charlie Farley+
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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