Sea to South West Rocks
Ahoy there shipmates!
We had a productive first night at sea. The Youth Crew (YC) experienced how a Ship operates 24 hours/day at sea. They experienced the joys of sleep deprivation associated with shift work. They also contributed to keeping the Ship running and safe overnight. They learned how to steer the Ship on a straight course, the duties and responsibilities of a lookout and the requirements of hourly engineering rounds onboard Young Endeavour.
At 0700 Sail Master Harry woke those members of the crew not on watch with his choice of a Queen song, ‘Break Free’. After a shower and breakfast we all met on the bridge at 0900 for the Morning Brief. Today we were enlightened by Harry, who shared his plan for the day, Navigator Ivanka, who told us where we were and where we were going and what the weather was doing. Salty explained a few more nautical terms , with the use of actors of questionable ability (Staffies), and we met ‘Nana’ for the first time. It is Nana’s job onboard to help the youth crew learn to clean up after themselves and especially to keep their accomodation spaces tidy. She comes out every couple of days with a bag full of youthies’ clothes and shoes she has picked up through the Ship and she has a ‘parade of shame’ where she holds up items she has collected and the youthies have to admit who owns them.
After ‘Happy Hour’ Ivanka, ably assisted by Jemma, gave the crew a Navigation Theory briefing, part of the training in preparation for Command Day. After lunch the YC experienced round 1 of ‘Rope Races’ a non-competitive (competitive) activity aimed at consolidating their Ship knowledge.
At 1415, just as the Ship was taken to Tacking Stations to consolidate what the YC had learned, the wind reduced to less than 5 knots. We undertook one tack motor-sailing, using the apparent wind created by using the engines, and then gave up in frustration.
We then took the Ship to anchor in Trial Bay near South West Rocks and went for a swim. We setup the rope swing and gave everyone the opportunity to give it a try. The plan is to remain here overnight, put the YC ashore for a couple of hours in the morning and weigh anchor after a BBQ lunch on deck. We will then resume our passage towards Brisbane, hopefully carrying on with the Tacking training once we get clear of Trial Bay.
Until tomorrow,
Yours aye,
Captain Mike
Latitude/Longitude:
Conditions:
Anchored in Trial Bay, NSW. Wind: Northerly 15 Kn; Swell: 1.0 m from the east; Temp: 21 deg. C; Weather: overcast, occasional showers
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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