Day 4 – Scawfell Island, Butterflies and Aerial Antics!

Ahoy shipmates…another busy day. After a steady overnight transit, we found ourselves just to the north of Scawfell Island just after sunrise, proceeding to anchor in the sheltered waters of the aptly named Refuge Bay. The girls have succinctly described the rest of the day’s activities, so I’ll be brief. As I write we are to the east of Mackay enroute our next stop, Middle Percy Island. Unfortunately the conditions continue to challenge…the wind is from the south east, and guess where we need to go…south east! May be a few tacks overnight methinks! Until tomorrow, fair winds, Cap K.———-
Captains Log: Day 4- 29 June 2019
White Watch: Julieann and Shania
G’day Y’all!
Julieann and Shania from White Watch reporting in. We’re currently sailing to the Percy Islands enjoying the calm weather and smooth seas. Having spent our first night sailing, many of the youthies have begun the adjustment to sea life by way sick bags. Through adverse conditions are bonds strengthened.
In other news, we started the day in high spirits after a beautiful breakfast and made our way ashore to Scawfell Island where we frolicked in the sand and the water, pausing for beach games and braving harsh terrain (some barefooted) to witness the Islands secret swarm of butterflies.
Wet and sandy from the sojourn to the Island, some attended to much needed laundry before being treated to an upper deck BBQ, once again Marcus, our resident chef, outdoing himself with a delicious spread set amongst lovely sunshine and a refreshing ocean breeze.
After digesting lunch came the highly anticipated rope swing! The highlight of the day was a chance for all youthies to line up and swing from the deck via rope and into the clear blue water below. Some proved more adept at swinging than others, but immense fun was had regardless.
To usher out the daylight White Watch, thanks to the magnificent Morgan, had the privilege of climbing aloft onto the course yards with a birds-eye view of the entire ship, deck and horizon. Feet dangling and shaky grips as the waves buffeted the Endeavour – t’was a truly breathtaking experience.
As this goes to press White Watch is on our shift of 1800-2000, later followed by the Morning Watch at 0400 to 0800, so the watch is keen to get some sleep.
During our first few watches we have been keeping lookout, taking turns steering the ship – an immense responsibility and unique opportunity.
As always Marcus the magician produced a magnificent feast of BBQ pork with rice and Nachos so thank you Marcus – delicious.
Over and out from White Watch, stay tuned for future updates.
Shoutouts from Julieann: To family all my family and friends, I love you all and hope you are all having a good time!
Shoutouts from Shania: To my family and Pia; sending love.
Latitude/Longitude:
Conditions:
Wind: SE at 20 knots Weather: Cloudy Sea: Choppy Course: 165 Speed: 4 knots Location: East of Mackay
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Ahoy followers of our Young Endeavour journey! Command Day. We made it.
The beautiful weather at our anchor point at Jervis Bay made for a spectacular day under the command of our fellow Youth Crew! A morning stretch and some wise words from the Ship Crew gave Captain Waz and the team a step in the right direction.
With the new watches all set and ready to go, Captain’s Setting and Furling gave all our youthies the chance to prove their abilities on the high seas. Strong performances from all three watches; Sharkies, Chompers and Narwhals!!
Morning brief gave the Sailmaster a chance to give us the daily orders and help get everyone on the same page. With the staff crew getting ready for a holiday and giving us the ship, floral shirts and party music filled the deck and, with some final preparations, the ship was ours.
The Captain was given a small but very significant envelope that contained the essential, non-essential and completely optional tasks to be done over the course of the next 24 hours. 2 tacks were to be made at a minimum before leaving the bay and safety checks were the essential tasks to start our journey. However.
More amusing, optional tasks allowed some of our youthies to become part of the “Beach Assault Team” while others were put to the task of making a slideshow of the voyage, tying all the knots on the list, etc. These were some activities that bided the time for our incredible navigator - Ruscoe to set out a plan and work together with the Sailmaster - Hugh to create a sail plan.
Tacking stations were the focus for our late afternoon, preparing to weigh anchor and leave such a beautiful bay, for our last stretch of this incredible voyage.
Happy Birthday to the Capitan, Warwick, who turned 24 today! The wonderful MasterChef’s created a “cherry ripe” cake out of rice crispies, coconut, chocolate, and love. With a beautiful ceremony to end our day.
Sailing into the night leaves us the ability to see the lights from our destination. Sydney, here we come!
Wish us luck! From Nat and Tom!!

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”
