Split the Dogs

Situation at 20:00- Last night the watches completed their second climb aloft, this time to the T’Gallant and Topsail yards. The time on watch flew by. The Youth Crew all completed their ‘ Full Value Contract’, agreeing to a standard of conduct and participation during the voyage.All hands were piped on deck at 06:30 for a light jog around the upperdeck, followed by some fun activities designed to help theYouth Crew learn each other’s names. Showers and breakfast were next on the agenda. At 08:00, all hands were mustered aft for the ceremony of Colours and the National Anthem, which was the start of morning brief. XO Phil described in detail the plan for the day, followed by Navigator Lisa with her ‘Where the hell are we?’ segment. Engineer Rags and Chef Stony were next, briefing the Youth Crew on the rulesrelating to their respective parts-of-ship. Salty Sea Dog Jarrod described the origins of the watch rotation system used at sea,complete with an explanation of why we ‘split the dogs’. After morning brief it was off to happy hour. Before long the Ship was spic and span from stem to stern and XO Phil was grinning even more than usual. Chef Stony provided a very tasty morning tea. Then it was time to weigh anchor. As we transited through the channel, clear ofGladstone Harbour, the Youth Crew were exercised at setting and furling the sails. This lasted for several hours and lunch was eaten on the fly. Once clear of the Channel, a course to the East was shaped and the Youth Crew were closed up at tacking stations. They conductedthis complex evolution several times so that if it becomes necessary to tack during the night, they will have a basic understanding of what is required of them. At 16:00 the watch-on-deck closed up and the Ship settled into the evening routine.Overnight we will make ground to the South into Hervey Bay as we shape a course towards an anchorage in Platypus Bay tomorrow night. The Youth Crew will learn how to steer the Ship and act as lookout, as well as conducting below deck rounds. There are some green faces amongat them but they are all rising to the different challenges that YOUNG ENDEAVOUR puts in front of them.> 6. YOUNG ENDEAVOUR Fact File: The Ship has a suite of thirteen> sails to choose from, depending upon the weather. These range from> the Drifter, used for very light wind conditions, to the Storm Jib> and Trysail, used during heavy weather. All sails are made of a> modern sailcloth called Dacron, which is considerably stronger and> lighter than canvas.> > 7. YOUNG ENDEAVOUR Glossary: Bobstay- The chain stay running from the end of the bowsprit down tro the cutwater to provide tension to the bowsprit and from there to the rest of the fore-and-aft rigging system. Belaying Pin- A removable wooden, steel or bronze pin that is slotted into a hole in the pin or fife rail, and about which sheets, halyards and braces are made fast.Thought of the Day: I believe that courage is all too often mistakenly seen as the absence of fear. If you descend by rope from a cliff and are not fearful to some degree, you are either crazy or unaware. Courage is seeing your fear, in a realistic perspective, defining it, considering alternatives and choosing to function in spite of the risks.Yours, AyeJohn CowanLCDR, RAN