Captain's Log

V01/22 Hobart to Geelong

11 January 2022

Day 8 – Command Day

Good Evening everyone,

It’s Captain Sophia Mellink reporting in on Day 8 of our voyage, also known as Command Day. From 1000 hours today, Command of STS Young Endeavour has been handed over for a 24hr period to the Youth Crew. Today, we commence our crossing of Bass Strait and endeavour to reach Port Phillip Bay, and Victoria’s infamous “Rip” tomorrow morning. It’s an honour to Captain this vessel towards Geelong and add my name to a long and illustrious list of Youth Crew Captains. The full Youth Crew positions are listed below.

Captain: Sophia Mellink
Sailmaster: Carl Ashworth
Navigator: Sam McVilly
Watch Leader: Niamh Blake
Watch Leader: William Graham
Chef: Alex Wilson
Chef: Stuart Morrow

I’ll now hand over to Kate and Gabby from our Youth Crew for a full account of today’s activities.

Fair winds and calm seas to all our faithful readers,
Sophia

—————

G’Day Earthlings,

It’s ya gals Gabby and Kate bringing to you the inside scoop on Command Day.

This morning started just like any other with a rude awakening from Hugh (Jackman). Our worn, tired and waterlogged bodies rolled out of our racks to perform a spirited walk above deck to ‘The Greatest Show’. We quickly moved on to playing the evolution game where Katy Perry was the highest power. Paper, scissors, rock determine the Youthies’ and Staffies’ fate of either an egg, a chicken, crocosaurus, power ranger or the ultimate ranking of Katy. Shout out to Emma (white watch leader) for carrying the supremes with a solo of ‘Firework”.

Morning brief started off good with a post breaky SAO and a lesson on punishment from the staff production team (Matty is still scared). All leadership positions then attended “Opposites” where Captain, Sail Master, Navigator, Watch Leaders and Chefos discussed classified intel, which cannot be disclosed at this time.

As ten o’clock rolled around the Staffies finally gave up on us and jumped overboard leaving Captain Mellink in charge. Unfortunately the Staffies smuggled their way back on board as they decided the Bass Strait was not the finest location for a morning swim.

First on Capt’n agenda was setting sail and weighing anchor from the Coast of King Island and heading into the notorious Bass Strait. Our Sail Master Carl boasted good vibes for the sailing trip ahead and our Nav Sammy Boy’s wind dance ensured smooth sailing. We can confirm no more spew bags have been thrown overboard.

The afternoon was filled with post-lunch naps and ticking off some of the tasks set by the Staffies. Randy and Sari drew a gorgeous mural of Young Endeavour at midships – hopefully photographic evidence has been taken and will be shared for everyone. Many of the youthies woke to a dolphin sighting announcement, which caused much chaos involving ladders and scones. Dolphins WERE NOT seen.

Chefos Alex and Sam cooked up an amazing meal (I can confirm the best yet, sorry Jarod) of Nacho girlfriend and build a boyfriend burger. Each of us had a nice helping of trivia for dessert, and after much contesting The Best Team (Gabby, Kate, Oli, Randy, Sari and Jo) busted some unique dance moves (aka the bow and arrow) to win.

Hopefully we see Victoria by tomorrow, if not, please tell our mums (Diana and Lynne) we love them and send help when possible.

Signing off for now,

Xoxo Gabby and Kate

Latitude/Longitude:

39 10.7 S / 144 19.8 E

Conditions:

Currently located 55nm to the south of Port Phillip Bay sailing on a broad reach and experiencing moderate 12-15kt ESE winds with a 1m SE swell.

AUTHOR: Commanding Officer STS Young Endeavour

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Good evening shipmates, After a well-earned quality night’s sleep at anchor in Hunters Bay, Sail Master Sara woke us with another of her soothing tunes to get us on deck for a quick early morning activity. After breakfast the staff crew weighed anchor and conducted the transit to HMAS Waterhen, at Waverton. We berthed there at 0900 and prepared to embark our guests for the Community Day Sail. At 1015 we cast off our berthing lines and departed with our 34 guests and commenced our 3 hour tour of the harbour. Our Community Day Sailors were a group 30 members and staff from the Windgap Foundation. We also embarked some defence personnel as well. We again passed under the Harbour Bridge and then proceeded into Rose Bay where we set some sails and commenced sailing back towards Waterhen. Whilst on the harbour our fantastic youth crew helped us host our Windgap special guests. They encouraged our guests to participate in setting the staysails and a square sail by helping to pull on the sheets and clewlines. The youth crew also helped Chef Ash to prepare and deliver the food to our guests on deck. At 1300, after 3 fun-packed hours on the harbour, we berthed back at the southern wharf at HMAS Waterhen. Once we had farewelled our guests it was time to commence our end-of-voyage activities and preparations. The staff crew managed to organise a visit to the RAN Ship MATV Sycamore, which is crewed by a mixture of civilians and Navy staff, is a multi-role aviation training vessel. The youth crew embarked with their watch leaders and were given a 45 minute tour of the ship by some of the Navy crew. On completion they returned onboard and Young Endeavour sailed and proceeded to our anchorage in Athol Bay, which affords a great view of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. During the transit to the anchorage the Youthies undertook their end-of-voyage chats, facilitated by their watch leaders, to examine if they had achieved everything in their full-value contracts they had completed at the start of the voyage. After the traditional last voyage dinner of home made pizzas, Sara gave the Youthies the Harbour Furl brief, who then donned their climbing harnesses and laid aloft to undertake the ‘Harbour Furl’ of the square sails to make them look immaculate for our ceremonial arrival at the end of the voyage tomorrow. Once that was completed, the youth crew then finished off their final outstanding Command Day tasks, which were planned for the last night onboard. These included the Voyage Slide Show compiled of photos taken by everyone. This was excellent and provided a touching reminder of what we had experienced and the beautiful coastlines and islands that we had visited during the voyage. The final activity of the day was the end-of-voyage administration, which for the youth crew included a feedback questionnaire asking for feedback on their experience of the voyage, as well as a letter for each crew member to write to themselves on their experiences during the voyage, which the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme will post to the youth crew in 6 months time. The aim of this is to help reinforce what the youth crew have learned about leadership, teamwork and about themselves from the experience of the voyage. Once these were completed the crew were encouraged to go to bed. The Ship will remain in Athol Bay overnight and weigh anchor and sail in the morning at 0900 and undertake the transit to HMAS Waterhen, where family and friends will meet the Ship on arrival at 1000. Until you hear from me tomorrow for the final instalment of Voyage 04/24. Yours aye, Captain Mike

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Day 9 – Command Day Part 2

Ahoy from Sydney! For today’s Captain’s Log: the Youthies took over and completed several tasks including singing the national anthem in three different tunes as well as giving salty sea facts to start the day in a nautical way. We finally made it! After a long and weary effort of the command team and watches, we were able to fully sail into Sydney Harbour. At approximately 11:50 we anchored in Hunters Bay. To celebrate we had a groovtastic disco in the 12 berth due to excessive rainfall but the youthies made it work, having a blast dancing to Billie Jean. Afterwards, the youthies as well as the staff reflected on our efforts during command day, following the handover of the ship to the Staffies, where we highlighted what we did well, what we could improve on and what lessons we can take back to our normal lives, of which there are many. Continuing on from the previous log, with command day still ongoing. We encountered multiple problems. One of which being that mother nature didn’t bless us and gave us little to no wind to work with. However with the efforts of the Youthies we were able to successfully gather up to 8 knots of speed after a 4am tack in which the youthies persevered despite a lack of sleep enabling us to make our way into Sydney. Before our reflection the Youthies finished their day strong with a ‘Happy Hour’ cleaning session and one final dance. The afternoon was spent relaxing and recharging from ‘Command Day’, going aloft and furling the square sails. For dinner, Ash prepared a barbecue with steak, sausages, chicken kebabs with buns and an assortment of salads with a delicious chocolate cake for dessert. The Youthies are looking forward to the Community Day Sail tomorrow which will be a great opportunity to give back to Australia and put our sailing knowledge to the test. We have learned many lessons during ‘Command Day’, we pushed ourselves out of our comfort zone and together a crew of 24 youth were able to sail a tall ship into the harbour of Sydney. Today’s score: 9 camels and a donkey (Amazing) Until next time Rock on! Tarvi, Kaeden and Matt. P.S. Happy Birthday for tomorrow little bro, love Lil xx P.S.S. Kai, sorry I didn’t do the thing for Meg. I just remembered and will do it when back.

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

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Day 8 – Command Day

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