Day 3 – Across Bass Strait

Day Three – our first night overnight at sea! The morning routine kicked off with a custom song from the Blueies on Watch to wake everyone up. Chefo Steve cooked up a storm with his Masterchefs helping to serve and clean up breakfast and then it was into the Morning Brief. The goal today was to make the most of the fresh South Westerly so we started the sailing program with Setting and Furling Drills for our Fore and Aft sails. Once the Watchleaders were satisfied the overnight training had paid off we closed up to tacking stations and zigged and zagged our way down Bass Strait.
Lunch was upon us and Sailmaster Tommo, recognising that a few of our Youthies hadn’t had the best sleep last night, gave everyone a siesta. Siesta time was over at 1300 though when the ship closed back up to Tacking Stations. After a few more tacks to prove the drill we fell out and put our thinking caps on for a Navigation Brief from Matt the Nav and then a Rules of the Road Brief from Bec.
This day was really a blur as it was time for dinner. We refuelled with some delicious Lamb and Chicken and of course a bit of icecream for desert and then it was back to Tacking Stations once again. This time we executed rotational tacks; these are designed to give each watch an opportunity to experience each tacking station around the ship. After a number of tacks and as the sun set over the horizon, we fell out once again but this time to retire to bed and get some sleep. Another night at sea in sea watches is ahead of us but the Navigator tells us there is an anchorage ahead. Hopefully one that doesn’t rock and roll us around!
Watch this space family and friends, and all those living vicariously through our adventure. Tomorrow promises to be another big day and this time it will be the Tasmanian coastline that we are fixing from!
Captain Leups Out+
Latitude/Longitude:
Conditions:
Weather: Overcast Wind: 22kn SW 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!!