Day 4 – Land ho… Portland!
Argh! Ahoy there, Zoe and Jess from Red watch here (the superior watch!)
The team woke bright and early to shakes from white watch, telling us to get ready for the 0400 to 0800 watch. The waves were choppy and wind cold as we rugged up for a long night. The team gathered on the bowsprit, harnesses secured, to watch the sunrise.
The Endeavour team made lots of new friends today, with surf lessons from several pods of dolphins (including a mum and bub), a breaching hello from a distant whale, and two cheeky visits from seals. The team was overjoyed to see such natural beauty, especially those who were struck with overwhelming seasickness the day before. We’re all starting to gain our sea legs and grow more and more excited for each day.
We began the day with happy hour, as the team scrubbed every inch of the vessel, we were all grateful for the cleanliness. Once the boat was clean, the youthies gathered for a delicious lunch prepared by Haydo, steak sandwiches and sausage rolls. Youthies bonded over down time as laughs were heard across the deck.
Youthies furled the forestay sail, and demonstrated our growing rope skills in rope races, which were definitely not competitive ;). Seb, our trusty navigator, gave us a fantastic and insightful talk on boat traffic. We learned the rules of the road, as they say, and now understand the different markings and signage plastered on buoys. We anchored in a small bay just past the border between Victoria and South Australia called Portland.
For dinner, Haydo slaved over a delicious beef red curry and chicken pasta bake. We continued team building exercises throughout the evening and celebrated Ben’s 23rd birthday with some cake and song. We performed the three way conversation we had prepared earlier as a get-to-know-you activity to strengthen the friendship between shipmates. Everyone gathered on the deck as the youthies struggled to get out a sentence without bursting into laughter, and several jokes were made about the overboard underwear of she who shall not be named.
To finish the evening, we had anchor briefs from the crew and nav as the youthies prepare for their night watches. Speaking of which, we better get some shut-eye beforehand.
Goodnight from Zoe and Jess
Shoutout to the youthies families and friends, we hope you’re keeping updated! See you in a week.
Latitude/Longitude:
Conditions:
Weather: Fine. Wind: E @ 6kts. Swell: Nil.
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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