Day 10 – Penultimate day. Community Day Sail

Ahoy dear readers, the morning of day 10 found the ship anchored in the lovely bay between Little Manly Cove and the Quarantine Station, in the North Harbour.

At 0730 the ship weighed anchor and we proceeded to HMAS Waterhen, while Youth Crew gave the ship a good clean in preparation for our guests arrival. That’s right, once alongside Waterhen, we embarked our guests for a 3 hour Community Day Sail. Guests included board members from the Young Endeavour Advisory Board, the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme and a group of young people from Stellar Experiences, a disability support service. This was our chance to sail with some other young Aussies (who are unfortunately unable to do a full voyage), on their beautiful ship (STS Young Endeavour was a gift to all of the youth of Australia, after all).

We cruised the best harbour in the world, setting and furling sails, while enjoying finger food and refreshments. Youth Crew did an amazing job hosting and taking good care of our new shipmates, and getting them involved in sail handling, steering the ship and taking them for tours. We returned to Waterhen at 1300 and bade farewell to our guests, who had enjoyed themselves thoroughly. Watch Leaders then took their watches to explore the local surrounds of Waverton and Balls Head, and conducted End of Voyage talks. When they returned, it was straight up the mast to make tiddly (sailor speak for neat and tidy) our square sails, by putting in Harbour Furls. This is done by neatly folding each sail in a concertina style, then rolling it up and tying it in tightly on top of the yards. Tiddly.

Once everyone had completed their yard, Chef Steve opened up the galley for pizzas, which the Youth Crew enjoyed topside, as Staff Crew slipped and proceeded to an anchorage in Athol Bay (next to Taronga Zoo). To round out the night, Youth Crew screened a photographic slideshow on the teak-deck-open-air-cinema and performed some of their artistic and performative tasks, carried over from their Command Day tasks. What an entertaining way to spend our last night together onboard. Then the DJ spun up a few jams and the dance floor was buzzing!

Youth Crew will spend a final night taking care of the ship and each other, during anchor watches, as we will remain at anchor overnight. Intention is to weigh anchor tomorrow at approximately 0900 and conduct yet another harbour cruise, this time with Youth Crew manning the yards, as we make a final transit to our berth at HMAS Waterhen, coming alongside at 1000 to end the voyage. That’s all for tonight. Stay safe. Captain Adam Charlie Farley – Out