Day 10 – Newcastle Community Day Sail…the Last Hurrah!
Ahoy shipmates…I’m back for one last hurrah. It has been a long day. We departed Nelson Bay at 0415 this morning for the 4 hour transit to Newcastle in beautiful conditions, arriving alongside Queens Wharf just before 0900. We then embarked our Community Day Sail guests including a group from Showstoppers Scone, a disability support group. At 1015 we left the wharf for a very pleasant sail around Newcastle Harbour, even venturing out to sea noting the calm conditions (only 1 guest was sea sick…sorry Peggy!). The Youth Crew were very gracious hosts, regaling our guests with stories of their adventure on the high seas. At one point we even had a blind gentleman on the helm…Stewart did a remarkable job, and may even have put some of the Youth Crew to shame! On our return to the harbour we fired our saluting cannon…a tradition of old indicating we come in peace. At 1300 we arrived back alongside Queens Wharf and farewelled our new friends. The Youth Crew then proceeded ashore to conduct their end of voyage talks (and coffee) and on their return we sent them aloft to harbour furl the square sails to make sure the old girl looks smart for tomorrow’s voyage finale. It was then time for pizza, poems and the obligatory feedback questionnaires. The Youth Crew also wrote letters to themselves that will be mailed by the Youth Scheme in 6 months time, allowing them to reflect on their time on Young Endeavour. Tomorrow morning we will be attending the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Nobbys Beach…another early morning, but for a very worthwhile event. We will also farewell our 27 young adventurers. They have been a pleasure to have onboard, coming together quite quickly as a team, a fact made evident on Command Day. Myself and the staff crew have thoroughly enjoyed their company. It has been a fantastic voyage…beautiful spots visited (Jervis Bay, Broken Bay, Broughton Island, Nelson Bay and Newcastle, the weather has been perfect (although a bit more wind would have been nice), and we managed to get in some outstanding sailing (Command Day – well done Youth Crew!). They arrived as strangers and leave as friends…part of the Young Endeavour family! That’s about it from me…wishing you all fair winds and following seas, and as I will say to the Youth Crew tomorrow…don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened. Captain Kenny…out!
Latitude/Longitude:
Conditions:
Wind: NNE at 6 kts Weather: Fine and Clear Sea: Nil Location: Alongside Queens Wharf
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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