Day 6 – Onwards through the Bass Strait

Hello, this is Dais and Gunita reporting from the deep blue sea. We’re proud to say that at an anchored rest we all had fantastic sleeps. Especially considering the single hour watches (they’re usually four). We were woken up by “Here Comes The Sun” over the PA followed by a stretching session with Karsen. Breakfast was a morning BBQ consisting of bacon and egg rolls, surrounded by the gorgeous, isolated Deal Island. We were most sad to leave. But excited to move on.
After happy hour (cleaning), The first activity of the day was mid voyage chats, were in our watch groups we reflected on the goals we’d written for ourselves on day one. Both Gunita and I are from blue watch and we as a whole believe we’re tracking very well on those goals. Such as seeing the marine life, sunrise climbs on the mast and coming to understand and experience sailing.
Shocking we know but we did also do some sailing. Many tacks were underway, which requires the whole youth team to work together. We were then better set on course. We were lucky enough to spot pods of dolphins, schools of fish and a single seal. Lunch was veggie ravioli as well as lamb. Thank you, Alex (the master chef). Chucky then assigned time for a siesta, which is a nap. If you didn’t know (I didn’t). Gunita and I both took up the opportunity to catch up on some sleep. Even though we were late to rope races. Whoops- Regardless blue watch dominated. The topics were square sails and random objects. Following that was flag races. The flag races relate to the communication area of the navy and are a common practice. Random groups were allocated and tasked to hoist and identify twelve signalling flags as quickly as they could. The team with the quickest time won. Good job team two! Dinner was honey glazed ham, beef stroganoff with potatoes and veggies, man we are fed well.
That leads us to now. Sadly, Gunita and I have guts watch tonight (12am-4am) so the bed is calling us to the unconscious realm. Onwards.
Goodnight,
Dais and Gunita
Latitude/Longitude:
Conditions:
Weather: Sunny Wind: 15 E-NE Temp: 18C
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ARRRGH, ahoy there from the spectacular Jervis Bay! We’ve all been taken A-back by the crystal clear blue waters and snow white sands.
After a well deserved sleep in these sheltered waters which was a refreshing change to clinging to our bunk racks for dear life for the past few days, the ship rose to another banger of a morale tune “sung” by Blue Watch. Brekkie was fun after the early morning activity to get us all up and moving. We held another round of competitive not-competitive rope races which culminated in smashed eggs on deck and the mummification of said egg smashers.
Roast lamb for lunch was prepped by the staffies in the absence of our culinary wizard Steve. Once cleaned up, we took the RHIB’s across to Captains Beach bordering HMAS Creswell which was a mind-blowingly beautiful little spot. Pretty much everyone had a dip in the drink and a roll in the sand and played some creative beach games run by our Suitability legends, Speedy Sam and Eggs.
A few hours at the beach made everyone ready to head back home and attack a teak deck barbeque, devouring cheese platters, steaks, sangas, and salads. With our full stomachs, us youthies initiated the highly anticipated elections for our command day roles. Which will commence sometime around midday tomorrow. We held a vote for each available role that all willing youthies put themselves forward for.
The following roles were voted as follows: Captain – Warwick, Sailmaster – Hugh, Navigator – Ruscoe, Officer of the Watch – Dan, Watch Leader – Nick, Ben, Bridget, Master chef – Emily, Mackenzie, Alyshia
We were greeted after our elections by a low flying anti-submarine MH60-Romeo Helicopter which did a cool fly around our ship. *Thanks Squizz!!* And then watched an amazing film about the rounding of Cape Horn back in 1929 on a 7 story tall sail ship.
Signing off from our anchor watch, Ben and Giles.
“I believe that positive energy and optimism help us to take up any challenge in life and to succeed in even the most difficult tasks. I also believe that positive energy is contagious: We can transmit it to others”


After a rather nonchalant guts watch with the Bluies, Reddies came in guns a blazing, setting our beautiful square sails preparing us for a speedy and eventful day at sea. Scaling (laying aloft) the Foremast, whilst the ship swayed kept the Reddies on their toes, holding on for dear life as they let out the gaskets for the Topgallant and Topsail Yards. A challenging activity to start off our day rewarded with a beautiful sunrise over Starboard.
During the day we participated in a Meteorology Brief led by our resident Nav guru TOMO, learning everything there is about fluffy, rainy and stormy clouds. This was followed by Lunch and a needed Siesta.
Whilst some slumbered, Bluies kept watch. They had brave volunteers to climb both main mast and to the topgallant yard to sea furl the sails.
In the afternoon, our Watches came together to have Mid Voyage Chats, where we had the opportunity to reflect on our voyage goals, experiences and discuss our hopes for Command Day. There were some very heartfelt talks, from overcoming fears, to gaining confidence in working as a team, and we set our eyes upon what we want to achieve in the rest of the voyage.
The first dog (Reddies) (from 1545 to 1745) was full of excitement, with over 50kn winds and up to 50 degrees on the OOOH AAAH meter (heel). Watching the waves break higher than the rails was an exhilarating experience and kept us holding on tight. Sites of sharks and a Cargo ship kept our lookouts entertained, while Callum lead an engaging activity on Charts. At the end of the first dog watch, Nick and Phil braved these treacherous conditions to lay aloft on the mainmast to wrangle the mainsail!
Rockin and rolling, Youthies (the newest salty sea dogs) Hugh, Bridget, and Nick!!