The Rigours of the Sea

SITUATION AT 1900After a very relaxing night at anchor, the YC were awoken at 0630 to a rousing chorus from our morning watch keepers. We all madeour way on deck for some early morning fun and games before a nice breakfast, then into our morning routine which has become wellestablished. The bright work around the Ship now looks fantastic and the YC are developing a real sense of pride in what is now becoming ‘their ship’.Follwing morning tea the YC got stuck into an assignment where they were called upon to devise a way of sailing to and fromanchor without the use of engines. Rather they had to apply the lessons of yesterday’s sail theory lecture, and apply the conceptsof drive and balance to their solutions. They performed admirably and impressed all staff members with the amount they had learned in such a short period of time. It was then time to wiegh anchor and proceedback to sea. This was accomplished with minimal fuss and we were soon sailing out of Broken Bay with all plain sail and making our way to the north east with a light easterly breeze.After yet another fantastic meal from Polly’s Galley of Goodness, Lolly (WO) gave a fascinating lecture and demonstration ofthe International Rules for Prevention of Collision at Sea. The YC soaked up the information and are rapidly gaining all the information they will need for their Command Day, which is just around the corner. During the lecture the breeze began to pick up to areasonable level and we decided that we ought to take advantage of the situation and conduct some more tacking drills. The YC are now becoming quite proficient at this aspect of sailhandling.This evening we have had a fairly relaxing time with Watch Leaders taking advantage of the opportunity to take their watches foranother climb aloft. We have learn’t how to set another two sails with both the Fisherman and Main Gaff Topsail making an appearance. Unfortunately due to the direction of the wind we have yet to achieveall our sails out at once, however the YC have now been exposed to almost all the sails at some time or another.Youth Crew Entry from Dave Breznik, Age 19 of Queanbeyan:Hey Ma,Pa,Grams,Gramps,Pete,Sam, and everyone else, I have not succumbed yet to the huge spew factor out here, I am a minority.Nearly half way through already and I can feel that im not going to want to go home, two days ago I may have had a different answer with all the tacking at 3 in the morning and the constant rocking on some days but now that we know so much more in a limited time frame I have changed my mind already. The team work which goes on and being able to do things with people who you didn’t know less than a week ago is an indescribable experience. There is so much happening that I have not even thought of home once until now. I totally recommend thisonce in a life time experience to anyone who wants to have an awesome time in a totally different environment. The staff crew rock,and I think I’ll be coming away at the end of the voyage a different person, but for the better. I’ll see everyone soon and still hope I stay a minority. Later.Youth Crew Entry from Sian Cameron , Age 18 of Melbourne:Hey Mum, Dad, Skye, Pete and all other mates!! Well as we near the end of day 5 of our voyage, it’s kind of hard to describethe experiences I’ve had on onboard. The first few days on board the Young Endeavour were a great shock to me in many ways. Not being a person who becomes ill easily, I succumbed to the rigours of the sea and I really didn’t think I’d get through it all. But now only 48hrs later, I am on top of the world. The people on board, are amazing.Some I feel I’ve known for much longer than only five days and they’re the kind of people I want to know for a long time to come. The short voyage has taught me a lot about myself, and helped me to understand that while we all have limitations on our own abilities, they can be greatly exceeded. I have decided that I’m not going to buy a great big sailing ship anymore, not due to the work involved but the simple fact that I don’t think my stomach agrees with thisocean! I’m well on my way to having the greatest experience ever of my life, and I thank all those who have helped me get here, to you I am greatly indepted. Well I’ll see you all soon, don’t miss me too much. Love you all, Sian.Youth Crew Entry from Erin Wilson , Age 17 of Camden, NSW:Hey Everyone!! Well i’ve been gone for 5 days now and we’re half way though the voyage, it has gone so fast! When we left Sydney Heads I was one of the first to get sea sick, and Mum yes I did really want big hugs from you! It took me about 2 days to completely get over that, now I just think I’m feeling a little bit home sick,cause I miss everyone so much. All the youth crew are easy to get along with and support each other well, which has really helped mebecause it gets confusing trying to remember what rope is what. The staff crew are awesome and know how to have fun, which helps keep a lot of us entertained. I’ve been up the mast and still dont feelcompletely comfortable, but I’ve got heaps of photos and will be taking lots more. So far for me I have learned a lot about sailing a ta0l ship and the people I’m with, and a lot about myself. Remember I’m missing you all so much, and cant wait to see everyone’s faces.So I’ll see you all on Thursday morning, if I don’t speak to youbefore hand.. LOVE YOU ALL, SO VERY MUCH..YOUNG ENDEAVOUR Mariner Speak:Luff – A sail is said to ‘luff’ when it’s leading edge or the ‘luff’ of the sail starts to fill with the wind from the wrong side and begins to flap. Then it is said to be ‘luffing’. Any further turn towards the wind will put the sail aback.YOUNG ENDEAVOUR Thought of the Day:’Why should we be in such haste to succeed and in such desparate enterprises? If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.’- Henry David ThoreauMore to follow,Paul BarrieActing Commanding Officer
Latitude/Longitude:
Conditions:
11 MILES EAST OF TERRIGAL IN A 12 KT NOR' EASTER
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Hi Everyone, Welcome to Day 5 of our voyage. Overnight and during the early hours of this morning we continued to enjoy a great sail around the southern Tasmanian coast with all of the watches kept busy with setting and furling sails and doing some practical navigation. By sunrise we were located just to the south of Bruny Island now just sailing under fore & aft sail and hoping that the day would get warmer, which sadly it didn’t. But the cold and a little rain hasn’t dampened our spirits and we have still managed to fit in a lot of great activities today and our young mariners continue to impress with their endless energy and motivation. That’s enough from me I will now handover to Riley and Jack who have done a great job of writing tonight’s Log. Until tomorrow, take care. Captain GavV03/23 – DAY 5
This morning the youth crew of the STS Young Endeavour woke to the frightening sound of red watch singing a parody of Riptide by Vance Joy over the ships intercom. This was then followed by the message that blue watch, the watch that was on guts the night before, could have a well-deserved sleep in. While members from blue watch went back to sleep the rest of the crew made their way down to the galley to enjoy another one of Haydos fantastic meals. After everyone had had breakfast the morning brief was given at 0900 which involved informing the youthies of the day ahead and a very educational story by Matty on the origins of the nautical term “two six heave”. After the morning brief the crew went below decks for Chucky’s favourite part of the day: Happy Hour! (Also known as cleaning the ship hour). In the afternoon the three watches conducted rotational tacking stations. This involved the watches rotating through the positions that the other watches fill when we tack which helped the crew get a better idea on what happens when we tack. Captain Gav came up on deck to give us a crash course about sailing theory and the ships history. This was very interesting and gave the youth crew a helpful insight into why different sails are used depending on different wind conditions. Round 3 of the famous Rope races were then commenced at noon with a twist of the round being worth double points. This highly non-competitive competition ended with Blue and Red watch drawing making it a close race for the rest of the trip The biggest highlight of most people’s day was sailing through the straight between Tasman Island and Cape Pillar in the afternoon. We all gathered at the bow of the ship as we gazed upon the spectacular columnar basalt edged cliffs rose up on either side of the narrow passageway. We had to furl all the sails, which involved sending two youth crew members up the main mast in rough swells and high winds to gasket the sail. Engines where turned on for the first time that day so we could safely pass the straight. The effort was truly worth it as we passed the resident seal colony and schools of dolphins. One of the greatest things about the STS Young Endeavour is even though the ship may sway from side to side and youth crew struggle to walk straight without getting knocked into a wall; the ships Chef continues to work hard and impress us with meals made from a kitchen which is smaller than the size of most people’s laundry room. It continues to amaze me how he keeps this quality in these rocky conditions. Not enough praise can be given to the hard work this man puts in keeping everyone happy. Go Haydo!Hi mum and dad I’m still alive, somehow we are already halfway through. See you in six days. Jack. You probably won’t see this but love you to the moon and back mum and dad. Riley. Until next time… Youthies Jack & Riley

