Day 1 – Williamstown to Altona Beach
G’day shipmates,Welcome to Young Endeavour’s first Voyage for 2014. Our journey starts in the City of Melbourne and will conclude in Devonport in eleven days. We have a magnificent tall ship, wind for our sails and the TAS and VIC Coasts to explore. The potential is limitless and sense of adventure is infectious. I would like to introduce the Team of Staff Crew that will facilitate this voyage of adventure:Captain – MikeSail Master – SandyNavigator – RickWatch Officer – JenRed Watch Leader – DaveWhite Watch Leader – DougieBlue Watch Leader – TillyChef – AaronEngineer – SumoVoyage 01 officially commenced at 1500 today when the Youth Crew and their families and friends were welcomed onboard to have a quick look around the Ship and meet the Staff Crew before we sailed from Williamstown, and proceeded to an anchorage off Altona Beach, in Port Phillip Bay. The Youth Crew divided into their watches and undertook a few ‘ice-breaker’ activities to get to know one another. That was followed by a detailed tour of the Ship conducted by the Watch Leaders.Dinner followed, with Chef Aaron amazing us with his excellent culinary skills. Once we had cleaned up from dinner, I had a bit of chat to the Youth Crew about what their voyage would entail. On completion, Sandy, as Sail Master, gave his talk about some of the rules and safety aspects of Young Endeavour before giving a safety aloft brief and a demonstration on how to climb the foremast. On completion I undertook a harness confidence check for all members of Youth Crew. This involved each member attaching to a man overboard davit, trained inboard over the deck, and inverting to show they will not fall out of their harnesses. This is our final safety check prior to commencing our first climbs.This evening, with some nerves and a great deal of courage and determination every member of the Youth Crew undertook their first climb above the deck and made it to at least the Lower Top on the foremast. This was a huge achievement on the first day onboard. This completed today’s activities and after a hot cup of cocoa the crew turned in for their first night’s sleep onboard Young Endeavour.I am very pleased to report that all of the Youth Crew has done extremely well on their first day and I am from the outset impressed with both their individual efforts and team attitude.In the morning we plan to depart our anchorage and shape a course through The Rip out of Port Phillip Bay and then south-east towards our first planned anchorage at Deal Island on Sunday.Until Friday evening, take care.Yours Aye,Captain Mike       “Â
Latitude/Longitude:
Conditions:
Weather: fine, Wind: 070/10 knots, Swell: nil, Temp: 24 deg. C
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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