South of the Mainland
Friday : 12 noonYesterday afternoon we were continuing our run into Bass Strait before a very pleasant north east breeze. With all plain sail set we completed some more tacking drills prior to settling down to a square sail run for most of the night. This included a sunset quiet period where we shut down all machinery (generator and fans) and experience the serenity of a sailing ship ghosting along out of sight of land with a sunset which only the open ocean can deliver. At about 0430 a mild cold front passed through which had us handing all squares and shifting to headwind mode with fore and aft sails only. In between setting, furling and trimming sails Youth Crew watches managed to fit in some very productive teamwork exercises.The fresh south west wind has meant our next intended stop at the Kent Island Group has had to be cancelled and I have decided to push on for Refuge Cove. We are certainly getting some sea time in on this voyage and expect we will have a very salty Youth Crew by the end of it.The highlight of the forenoon watch was probably rope races, where individuals are selected from each watch, a line is named and they race to see who can find it first. Its a great teaching aid that dates back to at least last century, only we don’t need the incentive of a cat of nine tails these days. For a bit of spice we add a few novelty events such as the feeding the watch officer a vegemite sandwich, I happened to be on watch and am still wiping the vegemite out of my beard. I think I owe the Sailing Master one!
Latitude/Longitude:
Conditions:
40 nautical miles east of Wilson's Promontory (the southern most point of mainland Australia) motor sailing against a fresh south west wind, with overcast skies and a slightly cooler 19 degrees.
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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