Day 4 A Beautiful Day’s Sailing Under Squares

Ahoy Shipmates. After a very busy Day 3, today had a more relaxed vibe. After the usual early morning antics we departed the beautiful Sydney Harbour at around 1000, turned right, and commenced our transit to Jervis Bay. Most of the day was spent consolidating newly learnt skills (climbing, sail handling and watch on deck). After lunch the wind picked up from the north east, enabling us to set some square sails, and after round 2 of rope races and Jerome’s Navigation Brief, we spent a relaxing afternoon under sail…glorious. And pleasingly the green goblin laid low…much to the joy of some of the Youth Crew. That’s it for now, until tomorrow…fair winds…Captain Kenny…-…
Captains Log 22 Oct 18
A standard 0630 start, in Double Bay, Sydney, with a few laps of the deck. We had a fulfilling breakfast of bacon, eggs and croissants, then Kenny’s Quotes, Kenny’s confounding curiosities, and the morning brief, followed by Happy Hour – the ship became tiddly in record time (for us). The ship departed around 9am heading south. Youth staff climbed the mast and set the square sails – a first for us. It was particularly challenging for those with vertigo with the ship tilting this way and that. Routine watches were performed by the youth staff to keep the ship safe. We had the Game of Ropes, Red watch is now in the lead overall, but we all know White Watch will win in the end (not necessarily). The day ended in a relaxed fashion and now night watches have commenced. The vibe is sunburnt, tired from all our great work today, and thoroughly enjoying the experience.
Latitude/Longitude:
Conditions:
Wind: NNE at 15 knots Weather: Fine Swell: ENE at 1.0m Course:170 true Speed: 4 knots Location: Off Wollongong
You might also be interested in

ARRRGH, ahoy there from the spectacular Jervis Bay! We’ve all been taken A-back by the crystal clear blue waters and snow white sands.
After a well deserved sleep in these sheltered waters which was a refreshing change to clinging to our bunk racks for dear life for the past few days, the ship rose to another banger of a morale tune “sung” by Blue Watch. Brekkie was fun after the early morning activity to get us all up and moving. We held another round of competitive not-competitive rope races which culminated in smashed eggs on deck and the mummification of said egg smashers.
Roast lamb for lunch was prepped by the staffies in the absence of our culinary wizard Steve. Once cleaned up, we took the RHIB’s across to Captains Beach bordering HMAS Creswell which was a mind-blowingly beautiful little spot. Pretty much everyone had a dip in the drink and a roll in the sand and played some creative beach games run by our Suitability legends, Speedy Sam and Eggs.
A few hours at the beach made everyone ready to head back home and attack a teak deck barbeque, devouring cheese platters, steaks, sangas, and salads. With our full stomachs, us youthies initiated the highly anticipated elections for our command day roles. Which will commence sometime around midday tomorrow. We held a vote for each available role that all willing youthies put themselves forward for.
The following roles were voted as follows: Captain – Warwick, Sailmaster – Hugh, Navigator – Ruscoe, Officer of the Watch – Dan, Watch Leader – Nick, Ben, Bridget, Master chef – Emily, Mackenzie, Alyshia
We were greeted after our elections by a low flying anti-submarine MH60-Romeo Helicopter which did a cool fly around our ship. *Thanks Squizz!!* And then watched an amazing film about the rounding of Cape Horn back in 1929 on a 7 story tall sail ship.
Signing off from our anchor watch, Ben and Giles.
“I believe that positive energy and optimism help us to take up any challenge in life and to succeed in even the most difficult tasks. I also believe that positive energy is contagious: We can transmit it to others”


After a rather nonchalant guts watch with the Bluies, Reddies came in guns a blazing, setting our beautiful square sails preparing us for a speedy and eventful day at sea. Scaling (laying aloft) the Foremast, whilst the ship swayed kept the Reddies on their toes, holding on for dear life as they let out the gaskets for the Topgallant and Topsail Yards. A challenging activity to start off our day rewarded with a beautiful sunrise over Starboard.
During the day we participated in a Meteorology Brief led by our resident Nav guru TOMO, learning everything there is about fluffy, rainy and stormy clouds. This was followed by Lunch and a needed Siesta.
Whilst some slumbered, Bluies kept watch. They had brave volunteers to climb both main mast and to the topgallant yard to sea furl the sails.
In the afternoon, our Watches came together to have Mid Voyage Chats, where we had the opportunity to reflect on our voyage goals, experiences and discuss our hopes for Command Day. There were some very heartfelt talks, from overcoming fears, to gaining confidence in working as a team, and we set our eyes upon what we want to achieve in the rest of the voyage.
The first dog (Reddies) (from 1545 to 1745) was full of excitement, with over 50kn winds and up to 50 degrees on the OOOH AAAH meter (heel). Watching the waves break higher than the rails was an exhilarating experience and kept us holding on tight. Sites of sharks and a Cargo ship kept our lookouts entertained, while Callum lead an engaging activity on Charts. At the end of the first dog watch, Nick and Phil braved these treacherous conditions to lay aloft on the mainmast to wrangle the mainsail!
Rockin and rolling, Youthies (the newest salty sea dogs) Hugh, Bridget, and Nick!!