Captain's Log

Voyage 18/23

9 October 2023

Day 8 – Command Day Part 1

Halloa, Beach Bums!

Today, the eight day of our voyage, was Command Day. The youth crew awoke to find that within the next few hours the entirety of the ship and its contents (crew included) would be under their guidance and protection. No pressure. The day started with the raising of the flag and a heroic cry of ‘All Hail the Banana!’ – our favourite fruity snack. It tastes the same coming back up! Afterwards was a clean of the ship and then short ceremony wherein the Ship was fully placed in the hands of the youth crew. With 27 tasks to complete, our day was to be packed full of action. Or so we hoped.

Already beginning the tasks; we sent out our ‘Beach Assault Team’ (six youthies rowing a rubber dinghy – coxswained by Navigator Josh) to shore to collect our navigation waypoints. While the BAT was away, a thorough secondary cleaning of the Ship was underway and youth captain (Arkady), sail master (Keanu) and officer of the watch (Sarina) sat down to prepare for the day ahead.

With the return of the BAT and our navigation waypoints charted we set off out of Port Jackson with a fierce westerly wind behind us. After deliberation and albeit some hesitation, up goes the cry, ‘Set the Main Staysail!’, and we are finally underway under our own hand.

With the Main Sail, Main Staysail, and Forestaysail all set we almost entirely miss our first way point – chalk it up to too much gusto – but we counter it by tacking the ship and making for the second waypoint, aiming to head to the other waypoints and then pick up the first one on the return journey. This plan was not built to last however. Winds of over 40 knots and swells as high as 3 metres bar the path. Conditions worsen as we find ourselves in a desperate sprint away from a mighty squall – Weather simply not fit for eight day fresh sailors. After discussions and compromises the youth crew face the fact that reaching that third point simply can’t be done. No matter, we still managed to enjoy the current sail and test our limits against the early marks of a storm. The ride back into Sydney only reinforces the idea that it was a good idea to turn back, with much heeling and pitching sending sprays over the command bridge. Above deck; all high thrills and adventure! Below deck; a few green gills and chocolate milk spills.

Making it back to Sydney, we anchor and conduct a quick brief to an exhausted crew. Some tasks completed, some tasks not so much, and beaten by the weather we turn in for a good night’s sleep.

Tomorrow we rise to the challenge once again, determined to get through the tasks and make well of the latter half of command day.

On behalf of the V18/23 Youth Crew

Arkady Walker, Youthie Elected Captain.

Thanks Arkady for your narrative of today. Unfortunately the weather go the better of us today and shortened the time we could spend at sea due to deteriorating conditions. We are now anchored in Hunters Bay, Sydney Harbour. We will complete the remaining Command Day activities and tasks tomorrow morning. Until tomorrow.

Yours Aye, Captain Mike

Latitude/Longitude:

33 49.3' S / 151 15.6'E

Conditions:

Weather: Showers, Wind: West South Westerly at 7 knots, 22 deg. C, Sea: Nil, Swell: Nil

AUTHOR: Michael Gough

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Day 10 – Community Day Sail Sydney Harbour

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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