Captain's Log
12 July 2010

Day 3 – Deal Island

Ahoy there everyone, Welcome to day three on our adventure under sail. The ship continued motor sailing north east overnight under fore and aft sails making good six knots in heavy seas on a close reach starboard tack, through Bass Strait. The Youth Crew remained engaged in sailing a tall ship each completing a challenging four hour night watch in the prevailing conditions conducting helm and lookout duties. With an obscured sunrise, the ship continued forging through 2.5 metre seas and 35 knot winds to our scheduled anchorage. At 1120 the ship anchored in East Cove, Deal Island. Deal Island is part of the Kent Group National Park. This is the newest of Tasmanian national parks proclaimed in 2001 and the island was originally named by Mathew Flinders in 1798 after the captain of the first fleet vessel Supply.After lunch Josh the Engineer conducted round one of non-competitive Rope Races enabling the Youth Crew to challenge themselves by remembering and identifying different items of safety equipment located around the upper decks. With this activity completed the Youth Crew were ferried ashore in the ships boat to stretch their legs and hug a tree which is a reputed cure for motion sickness. Some more adventurous Youth Crew members climbed to the top of the ridge to visit the museum located in the old station keepers quarters. With all hands back onboard a BBQ dinner was served, this was a magnificent affair which was closely followed by a three way talk activity; which enabled each Youth Crew member to gather a significant amount of in depth information about two of their appointed shipmates during the afternoon; this information is then presented to the remainder of the crew in the third person developing confidence, interpersonal skills and public speaking.Then after a comprehensive brief by the Navigator Joel, the Youth Crew settled into their first night anchor watches, maintaining the safety and integrity of the crew and ship. The intention is to remain at anchor overnight to achieve some respite prior to weighing anchor tomorrow and continuing our passage north east on the adventure that is Young Endeavour. Until tomorrow evening, take care.Yours ayeCaptain Damien

Latitude/Longitude:

39° 28' South / 147° 18' East

Conditions:

2300 at anchor, Weather scattered showers, Swell NE 005 metre, Wind N 11 knots, Temperature 19 degrees, Barometer 1010 kpa