Day 8 – Sugarloaf Bay to Port Stephens
Ahoy there, What a beautiful morning! 6.30 am anchored in Sugarloaf Bay, a light breeze from the west, clear blue skies and a fantastic view of the Seal Rocks shoreline. Too lovely not to share with the whole crew – time for Rico to get them up on deck with an up-beat tune and a game to get the heart started. What a great range of breakfast choices Squizy has provided, including cereals, a delicious fruit platter, porridge, toast, bacon, eggs, beans…. it just went on! It was then time for the Morning Brief which included Salty’s explanation and practical demonstration of the origin of the nautical expression ‘2 – 6 Heave!’, something the crew have been hearing every time they have pulled on a sheet or a halyard since they have been onboard. After an extra-thorough Happy Hour we sailed away from anchor and headed south. It was then time to conduct Captain’s Setting and Furling, an assessment I need to make of the competence of each watch to safely set and furl sails before we can proceed to Command Day. I was ably assisted by Mick in this process and all three watches demonstrated to us that they were competent to set and furl the Fore and Main Staysails. On completion a course was shaped for Port Stephens, where we anchored off the Nelson Bay Marina at 1600. The crew were then put ashore to give them a chance to stretch their legs and pay a quick visit to the shops. Some members took the chance to get some exercise, kicking a footy around, others went for a stroll through town. All the crew returned onboard by 1800, after which we ran a quick set of ‘Rope Races’, followed by another teak-deck BBQ dinner, cooked by Rico. At 1900 I briefed the crew on how Command Day was going to be run, the Youth Crew’s Command Positions, their duties and what their relationship would be with the ‘Staffies’. I advised them that Command Day would start at 0900 tomorrow, at which time we would hand Command of the Ship to the Youth Crew for 24 hours. At the same time I would give them a list of tasks they needed to complete, one of which was a series of waypoints through which Ship needed to pass. On completion of the brief the Youth Crew held their Command Day elections. Congratulations to Steven Walkingshaw (Walky) who was elected Youth Crew Captain, and to all the other crew members who were elected into the Command Team. Walky will write the Captain’s Log tomorrow night. I have the following Father’s Day wish to send, which missed the cut yesterday: Hello Dad, sorry about the late Father’s Day message but happy Father’s Day. I am having a great time aboard the Ship now that I have got over the seasickness. I am facing my challenges, which is great. See you when I get home. Hope your swing at work has been good. Love from Alex XO Yours aye, Captain Mike
Latitude/Longitude:
Conditions:
Weather: fine Wind: nil Sea: state 1 Swell: Nil Temperature: 13 deg
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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