FIRST NIGHT AT SEA

Ahoy Shipmates,This morning was overcast with a few light showers. After an Early Morning Activity (EMA) and a big YE breakfast, the YC were introduced to the ceremony of colours (raise the flags and sing the National Anthem) before turning to for their first set of cleaning stations (Happy Hour). Once the ship was spotlessly clean “Captain Safety” presented his safety brief which was followed by deck safety for the rest of the morning. Following lunch the anchor was weighed and the ship proceeded out of a very wet Sydney Harbour under main engines. Under the guidance of their watch leaders, the YC spent the afternoon conducting setting and furling drills and learning the intricacies of tall ship sailing. By late afternoon under a pleasant north easterly breeze they had managed to set most sails and complete a very good set of first tacks as a crew. On completion of the last tack I initiated a Man Overboard Exercise (MOBEX) so that the Youth Crew could witness first hand the importance of everyone working together to recover someone from the water should they fall over the side (hopefully this will never happen). Once this exercise was complete we headed straight back into Sydney Harbour and conducted a pre-arranged boat transfer to disembark members of the navies Sea Training Group who had been sea riding with us during the past 24 hours. On completion of this transfer we again departed Sydney Harbour and shaped course to the southeast under a now strengthening southerly. Following another great dinner the YC have now settled into sea watches for the evening with the very real expectation that everyone will be called to tacking stations sometime throughout the night.Until tomorrow take care.Yours AyeCaptain Gav