Captain's Log

8 June 2004

DUKE ISLANDS

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS PAST 24 HOURS. THE SHIP CAME TO ANCHOR AT MIDDLE PERCY ISLAND -A MAGNIFICENT HAVEN IN THE CUMBERLAND GROUP. ON ARRIVAL ALL YOUTH CREW WERE TRANSFERED ASHORE IN THE RHIB FOR BEACHSPORTS AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THIS ISLAND. AS AN EXTRA TREAT THE ISLAND’S CARETAKERS GAVE PERMISSION FOR YOUNG ENDEAVOUR TO ENJOY THEIR BBQ AND A FRAME HUT FACILITIES FOR THE EVENING’S BBQ AND THREE-WAY TALKS. THIS PROVIDED A VERY FITTING ENVIRONMENT AROUND A CAMPFIRE TO TALK ON BEHALF OF A FELLOW YOUTH CREW TO DEVELOP PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS AND GET TO KNOW FELLOW CREW MEMBERS. AN EVENINGBOAT TRANSFER COMPLETED A WONDERFUL DAY ASHORE. OVERNIGHT ALL YOUTH CREW MAINTAINED HOURLY ANCHOR WATCH TRICKS IN GROUPS OF THREE TO ALLOW AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A GRAND NIGHT’S REST. DURING THE MORNING THESHIP DEPARTED THE ANCHORAGE AND SET ALL FORE AND AFT SAILS NOW BOUND FOR GREAT KEPPEL ISLAND. THOSE WHO WERE SEA SICK ARE FEELING VERY MUCH BETTER.YOUTH CREW IMPRESSIONSCALEB, MACKAY. I LIKE THE WAY THAT THERE IS A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS. ALSO THE WAY THAT THE SHIP IS RUN FROM NORMAL CONVENTIONAL WAYS.RYAN, MELBOURNE. TODAY SO FAR HAS BEEN GREAT. THE YOUTH CREW SPEW-O-METRE HAS REMAINED AT ZERO SINCE WE ANCHORED YESTERDAY, THANKS PARTICULARLY TO A DAY ON THE BEACH AND A GOOD (LESS TURBULENT) SLEEP.THIS MEANS EVERYONE FROM ALL THE WATCHES HAS BEEN ABLE TO TEAM TOGETHER AND GET FULLY INVOLVED.TARA, QUEANBEYAN. I’M SLOWLY GETTING OVER SOME OF MY FEARS. FIRST DAY WE GOT RIGHT INTO THINGS, WE CLIMBED ALOFT TWICE, THE SECOND DAY MOST OF THE YOUTH CREW WERE SICK, AND THE SAME FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THETHIRD DAY, TILL WE ANCHORED AND SPENT THE REST OF THE DAY AT THE BEACH, THAT WAS AWESOME. TODAY HAS BEEN PRETTY GOOD SO FAR, WITH EVERYONE FEELING WELL. TILL NEXT TIME.YOURS AYE,BRENTON WITTLIEUTENANT COMMANDERCAPTAIN STS YOUNG ENDEAVOUR

Latitude/Longitude:

21Â° 52' South / 150Â° 1' East

Conditions:

FRESH SE BREEZE FANTASTIC SAILING CONDITIONS

AUTHOR: Commanding Officer STS Young Endeavour

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Day 09 – Command Day – back to the high seas!

Ahoy followers of our Young Endeavour journey! Command Day. We made it.

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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!!

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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!!

THE VOYAGE

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