Sydney to Auckland Race Day 1 – Race Start

G’day shipmates,Welcome to Young Endeavour’s Returnee Voyage 17 for 2013. Our journey starts in the Harbour City of Sydney, where the Ship has been participating in the International Fleet Review for the last 7 days, and will conclude in Auckland, NZ to participate in the Tall Ships Festival there. We have a magnificent tall ship, wind for our sails, a race to NZ to win and the North Island coast to explore when we get there. The potential is limitless and sense of adventure is infectious. I would like to introduce the Team of Staff Crew that will facilitate this voyage of adventure:Captain – MikeSail Master – MattNavigator – RickWatch Officer – IanRed Watch Leader – TillyWhite Watch Leader – SandyBlue Watch Leader – DougieChef – LukeEngineer – SumoSuper-nummary MitchVoyage 17 officially commenced at 0800 today when the Returnee Crew and a few families and friends were welcomed onboard to have a quick look around the Ship and meet the Staff Crew. The Staffies prepared the ship to sail in company with the other six Tall Ships that would be racing with us, the Dutch ships Europa, Tecla and Oosterschelde; the British Lord Nelson, the NZ Spirit of New Zealand, the Canadian Picton Castle; while the returnees settled in onboard and attended a safety brief, given by Dougie. We departed the berth at 1050 and proceeded to the Ship’s regular berth at Woolloomooloo Bay to embark and set-to-work a new compressor for the Ship’s Fresh fruit and vegetables fridge, which had gone unserviceable that morning. That completed we sailed for the race start box at 1200.When we arrived at the Sydney Heads we noted that the majority of the other competitors were congregating around North Head in the relative wind shadow. It was decided to position ourselves close to South Head to avoid that shadow and allow for a faster start. Although Young Endeavour was last to enter the start box we were the first to cross the start line by at least 400 yards.The start was a real spectacle with the harbour full of spectator-filled Tall Ships, who were not racing, as well as smaller spectator craft. The view of the other Ships astern of us against the backdrop of the city of Sydney made for some wonderful photographs.The conditions remained relatively comfortable and the returnees kept their first underway watches of the voyage through the night. I am very pleased to report that the returnee crew has done extremely well on their first day and I am from the outset impressed with their attitude and enthusiasm.Until my next log entry, take care.Yours AyeCaptain Mike   “