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Captain's Log
9 March 2013
Day 5 – Sea to Refuge Cove
Ahoy there Shipmates,Overnight the Ship remained at sea on passage westwards along the Victoria coast. The wind strength continued to ease to the point it was necessary to furl the Jib and brail the Mainsail in order to protect the rigging. White Watch woke us up at 0700 with the attached song they wrote for the occasion. Following another of Luke’s hearty breakfasts we launched into the Morning Brief which included a practical demonstration from the staff of the origin of the nautical expression ‘2-6 Heave’. This was followed by Happy Hour. I then gave a Sail Theory presentation to the crew aimed at teaching them what they need to know to be able to develop and adapt a successful sail plan on Command Day.Lunch was followed by the next edition of Rope Races which focussed on the Mainsail and the yard braces. By mid-afternoon the wind had dropped to be light and variable, which necessitated the handing in of all remaining staysails. The staff undertook a steering gear failure exercise which required the ship to switch to emergency manual steering. The youth crew then reported to their watch leaders for more deck work and climbing practice.The Ship continued motoring through the First Dog, Last Dog and the First watches, before coming to anchor in Refuge Cove, Wilson’s Promontory at midnight. It is intended to remain at anchor overnight and put the youth crew ashore for some exercise and mid-voyage chats in the morning, following a morning swim and breakfast.Until tomorrow.Yours AyeCaptain Mike     “Â
Latitude/Longitude:
39° 0' South / 146° 45' East
Conditions:
Weather: Fine Wind: Light and Variable Swell: negligible Temperature: 14 deg C
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We hope you’re missing us…because we’re almost home!!!!
The final (full) day has come, and spirits were high at this morning’s Pilates session led by our very own sail master, Kars.
Morning brief started late today as someone was still showering, sending Tornado Matt into an emotionally vulnerable state and our staffies into a spiral over remaining water levels, but they don’t want to talk about it…We were then briefed on the weather that was set ahead of us in the day, sunny skies until the evening with thunderstorms (ooh scary). We got the final part of our YE Greeting from special guest Salty, and some of you might be lucky enough to see it at our closing ceremony tomorrow!
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After we returned to port and said goodbye to our guests, we started to give the ship a good tidy for its return home. Forming a train to ferry out our frozen food, and getting 16 youth on the square sails to help put on UV covers to protect them from the sun and prepare the ship for its final berthing of the Circumnavigation of Australia.
As our siesta started, many nappers strewn themselves across the deck trying to soak up the sun and family time, battling the heat with litres of sunscreen and surprise zooper doopers.
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Day 09 – V18/25, Geelong – Sydney
And to the sound of cannons firing in the mist the Young Endeavour sailed into Sydney Harbour this morning for the first time in nearly 7 months! Can you believe us Youthies sailed ourselves all the way into Sydney Harbour!? It feels like a dream!
Day nine arrived with a round of happy birthdays for Youthie watch leader Eli at the midnight watch change where the Bilge Rats handed over to the Sea Cows.
Overnight winds dropped as low as 0.5 knots sending on watch Navigator Jarrah into overdrive figuring out how to get us to Sydney by morning. A few gruelling hours later Nav Jarrah and Capt. Danni set a course that would see the Young Endeavor enter Sydney early the next morning. The whole youth crew worked tirelessly and effectively to do what we could with the wind dealt us. A few uneventful hours followed as we burned some dinosaurs to get to Sydney on time.
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I have anchored my ship to a quiet port;
A land that is holy and blessed
But I look through my bars at the tempest’s sport
And I long for the seas unrest.
- Danni, Ben, Jacq
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Day 08 – V18/25, Geelong – Sydney
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