Making the Impossible Possible

Situation at 20:00- Overnight the watches were busy completing their second climb aloft. They went to the highest yard, the T’Gallant, and practised casting loose gaskets and sea furling the sail. There was some prompting from the Staff Crew but by and large all handschallenged themselves and achieved what at first seemed almost impossible.The day started with a 06:30 wakey wakey compliments of the White watch. A jog around the upperdeck was followed by some earlymorning activity designed to help the Youth Crew learn each other’s names. Before long all hands were having breakfast. The first morning brief of the voyage started off with the hoisting of the Ensign and Jack and the singing of the National Anthem. Salty Sea Dog Luke unravelled the mystery of the nautical origins of some everyday phrases and sayings. He was followed by Chef Stony and Engineer Stewy who each briefed the Youth Crew on some of the do’s and don’ts oftheir parts-of-ship.The remainder of the forenoon was taken up by briefings on the Ship’s safety equipment, line handling and deck safety. Once these very important briefings were completed, it was time to put to sea and apply practically what they had learned in theory. YOUNGENDEAVOUR sailed as planned at 13:00 and once clear of the harbour setting and furling drills were started. These were followed by tacking drills which completed at 18:45. Today has been a bit of aculture shock to most of the Youth Crew, but they are starting to settle into a sea-going routine. Despite some green faces, all handsare working hard and learning lots.As I write this, the Red watch are aloft sea-furling the T’Gallant s’l. This is there first actual job of work aloft and theyare making sure they do a thorough job. Overnight the watches will bepractising their line handling drills, ensuring that they are competent at turning up lines and passing stoppers.YOUNG ENDEAVOUR Fact File: The three square sails from highest to lowest are: the Top Gallant (T’Gallant), 701 sq ft, theTopsail, 866 sq ft, and the Course, 1054 sq ft. The squares are carried when the wind is greater than 80 degrees off the bow.YOUNG ENDEAVOUR Glossary: Gasket- A short length of line used to furl a sail to a mast or spar. Yard- A spar with tapered ends,which is hung from a mast at right angles to the length of a vessel and from which a sail is suspended. The yard takes its particularname from the sail which is attached to it.e.g. the T’Gallant yard supports the T’Gallant s’l.Thought of the Day: Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential,vital quality for those who seek to change a world that yields most painfully to change. Robert F. Kennedy.Yours, AyeJohn CowanLCDR, RAN