Captain's Log

V04/17 Hobart (TAS) to Melbourne (VIC)

23 February 2017

Day 10 – Final Night of Voyage

Hi Everyone,
Welcome to day 10 of our voyage. This morning we awoke fine day with a light south westerly breeze. Following a quick EMA and breakfast the anchor was weighed and we transited the 6nm to Williamstown where we berthed starboard side to Workshop Pier at 0850.

After sullage was landed and the ship cleaned we welcomed onboard, 14 guests from the Shepparton Access Group, the Federal Member for Gellibrand Mr Tim Watts, the Mayor of Hobsonâ€™s Bay City Councillor Sandra Wilson, the Executive Director of the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme Mr Stephen Moss and a number of Staff Crew and Youth Scheme guests. Following my welcome address and safety brief lines were cast off at 1000 and the ship departed its berth and proceeded out into Port Phillip Bay where in perfect conditions we enjoyed a fantastic 3hr sail with the Youth Crew being the perfect hosts and demonstrating some of the sailing and climbing skills they have learnt during the past 10 days.

At 1300 we again berthed at Workshop Pier where we farewelled our guests then the Youth Crew proceeded ashore with their respective Watch Leaders to complete end of voyage talks. By 1530 everyone was back onboard and following the final set of rope races and a quick brief the Youth Crew proceeded aloft and completed at good set of harbour furls.

At 1700 we again departed our berth, this time proceeding out into Hobsonâ€™s Bay where we came safely to anchor just to the southwest of Station Pier at 1730. Once at anchor we enjoyed a fantastic pizza dinner which was followed by the Youth Crews completion of end of voyage questionnaires and â€˜letters to themselves, which are returned to each Youth Crew member six months after voyage completion. Whilst the Youth Crew were completing these final administration tasks the Staff Crew took the opportunity to conduct their end of voyage debrief. To finish the dayâ€™s activities we screened the very popular voyage slideshow which gave everyone the opportunity to reflect back on their experiences during the past 10 days.

Tomorrow morning at 0630 we will get up for our final early morning activity which will be followed by breakfast and morning brief. At 0915 we will weigh anchor, man the yards then transit the short distance over to Williamstown where we will berth at Workshop Pier at 1000 for the final time for this voyage.

Once alongside family and friends will be invited onboard for a tour of the ship and to witness my final address and the presentation of Certificates of Achievement to all of the Youth Crew. Following this presentation we will say our final emotional farewell to the Youth Crew of Voyage 04/17 as they depart the ship.

On a personal note, I would like to thank all of the Youth Crew of Voyage 04/17 for your efforts throughout this voyage, you are a wonderful group of young Australians and all of the Staff Crew of Young Endeavour have thoroughly enjoyed sailing with you.

Young Endeavour will remain alongside in Williamstown until Tuesday 28 February when we will embark the Youth Crew for Voyage 05/17 and sail to Sydney which will complete our full Circumnavigation of Australia.
Until next voyage, take care

Yours Aye

Captain Gav

Latitude/Longitude:

37 50 S / 144 55 E

Conditions:

Currently at anchor in Dobson's Bay and experiencing moderate SW winds with .5m SSW swell and the current temperature is 18 degrees.

AUTHOR: Commanding Officer STS Young Endeavour

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Day 10 – Community Day Sail Sydney Harbour

Good evening shipmates, After a well-earned quality night’s sleep at anchor in Hunters Bay, Sail Master Sara woke us with another of her soothing tunes to get us on deck for a quick early morning activity. After breakfast the staff crew weighed anchor and conducted the transit to HMAS Waterhen, at Waverton. We berthed there at 0900 and prepared to embark our guests for the Community Day Sail. At 1015 we cast off our berthing lines and departed with our 34 guests and commenced our 3 hour tour of the harbour. Our Community Day Sailors were a group 30 members and staff from the Windgap Foundation. We also embarked some defence personnel as well. We again passed under the Harbour Bridge and then proceeded into Rose Bay where we set some sails and commenced sailing back towards Waterhen. Whilst on the harbour our fantastic youth crew helped us host our Windgap special guests. They encouraged our guests to participate in setting the staysails and a square sail by helping to pull on the sheets and clewlines. The youth crew also helped Chef Ash to prepare and deliver the food to our guests on deck. At 1300, after 3 fun-packed hours on the harbour, we berthed back at the southern wharf at HMAS Waterhen. Once we had farewelled our guests it was time to commence our end-of-voyage activities and preparations. The staff crew managed to organise a visit to the RAN Ship MATV Sycamore, which is crewed by a mixture of civilians and Navy staff, is a multi-role aviation training vessel. The youth crew embarked with their watch leaders and were given a 45 minute tour of the ship by some of the Navy crew. On completion they returned onboard and Young Endeavour sailed and proceeded to our anchorage in Athol Bay, which affords a great view of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. During the transit to the anchorage the Youthies undertook their end-of-voyage chats, facilitated by their watch leaders, to examine if they had achieved everything in their full-value contracts they had completed at the start of the voyage. After the traditional last voyage dinner of home made pizzas, Sara gave the Youthies the Harbour Furl brief, who then donned their climbing harnesses and laid aloft to undertake the ‘Harbour Furl’ of the square sails to make them look immaculate for our ceremonial arrival at the end of the voyage tomorrow. Once that was completed, the youth crew then finished off their final outstanding Command Day tasks, which were planned for the last night onboard. These included the Voyage Slide Show compiled of photos taken by everyone. This was excellent and provided a touching reminder of what we had experienced and the beautiful coastlines and islands that we had visited during the voyage. The final activity of the day was the end-of-voyage administration, which for the youth crew included a feedback questionnaire asking for feedback on their experience of the voyage, as well as a letter for each crew member to write to themselves on their experiences during the voyage, which the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme will post to the youth crew in 6 months time. The aim of this is to help reinforce what the youth crew have learned about leadership, teamwork and about themselves from the experience of the voyage. Once these were completed the crew were encouraged to go to bed. The Ship will remain in Athol Bay overnight and weigh anchor and sail in the morning at 0900 and undertake the transit to HMAS Waterhen, where family and friends will meet the Ship on arrival at 1000. Until you hear from me tomorrow for the final instalment of Voyage 04/24. Yours aye, Captain Mike

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Day 9 – Command Day Part 2

Ahoy from Sydney! For today’s Captain’s Log: the Youthies took over and completed several tasks including singing the national anthem in three different tunes as well as giving salty sea facts to start the day in a nautical way. We finally made it! After a long and weary effort of the command team and watches, we were able to fully sail into Sydney Harbour. At approximately 11:50 we anchored in Hunters Bay. To celebrate we had a groovtastic disco in the 12 berth due to excessive rainfall but the youthies made it work, having a blast dancing to Billie Jean. Afterwards, the youthies as well as the staff reflected on our efforts during command day, following the handover of the ship to the Staffies, where we highlighted what we did well, what we could improve on and what lessons we can take back to our normal lives, of which there are many. Continuing on from the previous log, with command day still ongoing. We encountered multiple problems. One of which being that mother nature didn’t bless us and gave us little to no wind to work with. However with the efforts of the Youthies we were able to successfully gather up to 8 knots of speed after a 4am tack in which the youthies persevered despite a lack of sleep enabling us to make our way into Sydney. Before our reflection the Youthies finished their day strong with a ‘Happy Hour’ cleaning session and one final dance. The afternoon was spent relaxing and recharging from ‘Command Day’, going aloft and furling the square sails. For dinner, Ash prepared a barbecue with steak, sausages, chicken kebabs with buns and an assortment of salads with a delicious chocolate cake for dessert. The Youthies are looking forward to the Community Day Sail tomorrow which will be a great opportunity to give back to Australia and put our sailing knowledge to the test. We have learned many lessons during ‘Command Day’, we pushed ourselves out of our comfort zone and together a crew of 24 youth were able to sail a tall ship into the harbour of Sydney. Today’s score: 9 camels and a donkey (Amazing) Until next time Rock on! Tarvi, Kaeden and Matt. P.S. Happy Birthday for tomorrow little bro, love Lil xx P.S.S. Kai, sorry I didn’t do the thing for Meg. I just remembered and will do it when back.

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

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Day 10 – Final Night of Voyage

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