Salty Sea Dog Episodes

Situation at 20:00- Overnight the watches were busy completing their second climb aloft. The majority of the Youth Crew were successful in reaching the T’Gallant and Topsail yards. The remaining time on watch was spent learning to tie some of the more important knots used onboard and completing the full value contract. This involves agreeing to a basicstandard of behaviour onboard so as to ensure that all hands gain the maximum benefit from the voyage.At 06:30 all hands were piped on deck for early morning activity. This involved a brisk power walk around the upper deck,followed by XO Chooka leading us in two games designed to learn each other’s names. Breakfast and a 90 second shower followed. At 08:00 the ceremony of colours was carried out, to the accompliment of all hands singing the national anthem. XO Chooka led off morning brief with a rundown of the day’s activities. Chef Polly and Engineer Stewy briefed the Youth Crew on the do’s and don’ts of their parts-of-ship. Salty Sea Dog Lolli gave an animated description of the nautical origins of some everyday sayings. She has challenged the Youth Crew to try and stump her by asking a nautical question that she doesn’t know the answer to. This should provide some humorous salty sea dog episodes over the voyage. Happy Hour followed morning brief. Some of the Youth Crew were disappointed that this turned out to be something different from what they expected.After morning tea (thanks Polly), Captain Safety and her assistant Miss EPIRB gave the Youth Crew a detailed, hands on briefing of the Ship’s safety equipment. This involved liferafts,smoke markers and Electronic Position Indicating Radio Breacons, aswell as a myriad of other gear. Next on the schedule was the deck safety and line handling briefing. Prior to sailing, it is important that the Youth Crew have a basic understanding of how to safely handle the different lines and what is required of them when setting and furling the sails. This briefing lasted until 14:00- lunch wassqueezed in. At 14:00 Captain John delivered the sailing theory lecture that is designed to give the Youth Crew a basic understandingof how sails work, and what is involved in sailing YOUNG ENDEAVOUR. Once this was completed, we were ready to get underway, and at 15:00 the Ship weighed anchor and proceeded to sea. Once underway, practical training in sail setting and furling helped to reinforce the earlier lessons, as well as enhance the level of teamwork that isalready starting to develop. The last activity of the day was tacking drills. The Youth Crew were exercised in tacking the Ship several times. If it becomes necessary to tack YOUNG ENDEAVOUR tonight, theywill know where to close up and what is expected of them.It was a very tired Youth Crew that Captain John spoke to upon completion of tacking drills. They have been bombarded by strange terminology, a hectic pace and a million details to remember. All of this on a moving platform where there is virtually no personalspace. Fatigue and seasickness have begun to take their toll, but the Youth Crew have agreed to accept all challenges that they will face during the voyage. Overnight we will gain sea room as we beat intothe onshore wind. It is likely that all hands will be piped to tacking stations during the morning watch.YOUNG ENDEAVOUR Fact File: There are over ninety seperate lines used to sail the Ship. To assist in working these lines,mechanical advantage is gained by either hand winches or block and tackles. This allows a relatively small number of hands to safelymanage the huge forces that can be generated in the sails by the wind.YOUNG ENDEAVOUR Glossary: Tackle- A purchase in which two or more blocks are used in order to multiply the power exerted on aline. Block- A wooden or metal case in which one or more sheaves are fitted.They are used for various purposes in a ship, either when as part of a purchase to increase the mechanical power applied to lines, or to lead them to convenient positions for handling.Thought of the Day: Man is so made that whenever anything fires his soul…impossibilities vanish. La Fontaine.Yours, AyeJohn CowanLCDR, RAN