Port Phillip Bay
Ahoy Shipmates, Despite experiencing light and variable winds overnight we continued to make good ground towards Port Phillip Bay. A gale warning had been issued for Victorian Waters for the evening of Thursday 22 January and given the forecasted winds of 30-40kts with a nasty 6m swell I decided that I would prefer to have the ship safely inside the Bay rather than battling through a very unpleasant night in Bass Strait. I was also conscious of the fact that I only had a limited tidal window to pass through the infamous Rip (entry to Port Phillip Bay). By morning brief the wind had strengthened from the north and given these favourable conditions we set maximum sail and made good progress towards the entry to the Bay with our entry now programmed for slack water at 1700. During the morning and early afternoon I spent time with each of the watches discussing sail theory and in particular the intricacies of sailing Young Endeavour. By 1600 we were only 3nm from the Rip and following a quick set of demonstration tacks we made our entry into the confines of Port Phillip Bay, in doing so, making both our tidal window and avoiding a very unpleasant night in Bass Strait. On entering the Bay we proceeded up the main channel to Capel Sound, handing in all sail before finally coming to anchor just of the township of Rye at 1920. Once at anchor the Youth Crew proceeded aloft to put sea furls on all of the sails before commencing their watches for the night. Tonight the Youth Crew will remain in their normal sea watches so that they can complete both the Apples & Onions (communications exercise) and Bearex (communication, teamwork and initiative exercise). Until tomorrow, take care.Yours AyeCaptain Gav
Latitude/Longitude:
Conditions:
Currently at anchor just of the township of Rye and experiencing strong 25-30kt SW winds
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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