Captain's Log

V08/15

12 April 2015

MODERATE CONDITIONS

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to day 12 of our voyage. The wind freshened again early this morning which meant we were able to put the ship back under nearly a full press of sail for the majority of the morning before it moderated again which has meant a little more motor sailing as we await e next frontal system.

The sun did come out this afternoon which allowed most of us to thaw out whilst undertaking a number of activities with the most important being a good set of Demonstrational Tacks. This activity allows the World Voyagers to come to the bridge while I talk them through how we tack and wear the ship then complete a practical demonstration by physically tacking the ship. Today it worked well but was not easy as we still had a relatively big swell to deal with which always makes this activity a little more challenging for the Sail Master.

We should reach 44 degrees of latitude overnight and are still continuing further south to continue to pickup the most favourable winds, but as we know not the warmest of temperatures. Currently we are located 1575nm from Cape Town motor sailing under a modified sail plan in moderate WSW conditions.

Tomorrow it is our intention to mix up the watches so that it gives everyone a chance to spend more time with other members of the World Voyage Crew and other Staff Watch Leaders.

Volunteering to write tonightâ€™s Captains Log is Dylan and Matt, please enjoy!!

Until tomorrow, take care

Yours Aye

Captain Gav

CAPTAINâ€™S LOG â€“ 04 DEC 15

Gâ€™day from a chilly 43â° S!

Todayâ€™s weather started out fairly bleak with showers threatening to ruin the day. However, through careful navigation from Blue Watch whilst the staffies were in their morning meeting, we managed to save the day. Blue sky appeared as the sun shone through the clouds to warm frozen noses and rosy cheeks.

At morning brief we got to witness another brilliant performance on the origins of the nautical meaning for â€˜headsâ€™ and also where the French got their idea for the Bidet; thank goodness the staffies have a day job! The crew then got stuck into the â€œhappiestâ€ hour of the day, with some also choosing to wash and hang their own laundry or just chill-out until lunch.

The free time allowed the Indian Ocean Games Tournaments to continue downstairs in the cafÃ©, which has been somewhat warmer than up on deck. The Tournaments have already produced some surprising results, particularly in Chess. Momentum is building with Uno and 500, while others are taught games such as GOLF and Sequence in preparation for the championship rounds. At 1400 Bec took another Boga (Boat Yoga) session which was relaxing, yet entertaining for those participating and observing.

At 1430, the tune of Black Betty played over the pipes; and you know what that means peopleâ€¦. It was Rope Races time! Blue Watch proceeded to win the majority of rounds (unconfirmed), and everyone is now eagerly awaiting the overall results to find out which watch will be crowned the Champions of Rope Races in the Indian Ocean.

Captain Gav made his way to the bridge giving the signal to Kenny and from there it was all hands to tacking stations for Demonstrational Tacks. This was a great session, allowing all crew members to rotate through the Bridge, observing how the Captain, Sail-Master and Navigator work together to direct the ship through the wind with the aid of some muscle (Horto and the Crew).

The Crew then continued games and chilling below decks until dinner which was again delicious, thanks Jenko! The clouds have now returned and look to be putting a bit of dampener on our plans for our final watch with our leader Marcos, as we will be rotating watches as of tomorrow. Our plan is to make a sunset climb and get a few photos from aloft.

Until tomorrow,

Dylan and Matt

SHOUT OUTS

Tonightâ€™s shout outs all seem to be of the same theme. Our friends and family were right and we should probably have listened to you. So, here is to you.

Hi Team Hellweg! Hope you are all well. You were right, I should have brought the second Jumper.

Rebecca

Happy Birthday Fraser and Anthony!!! Sorry I canâ€™t be there. Mum â€“ I shouldnâ€™t have been a cheap skate and I should have invested in a warmer sleeping bag. You were right.

Love Kate

Craving a dance, missing my dance partners Meagan and Nikki.

Grenfell

Hi Mum, please take my textbooks back. xx

Rhi

Wishing Nathan and Liz a safe arrival of Baby Yabsley this month! Uncle Josh canâ€™t wait!

Josh

Mum ïŠ Can you please tell TJ & Kirsty that I say Howdy and I miss you both. Xx

Tam

Dear Tamâ€™s Mum, I just wanted to assure you that your daughter is safe and a full effort has been made to ensure that Tam is at all times under constant adult supervision.

Matt C.

Mumsie! I should have taken your jacket and jumper. My Tootsies are cold!

Jamie

Hi Cal, hope your bulk is going well. Xx

Clauds

To the Cividin Family! Hello, I love you and miss you all. I am having a blast but canâ€™t wait to see you all on Christmas day!

Love Matt.

Mum â€“ I might need a beard trimmer for Christmas! Neeks â€“ be prepared for a dirty beardâ€¦.

Love Dyl.

Latitude/Longitude:

43 degrees 41 minutes South / 49 degrees 2 minutes East

Conditions:

Currently located 1575nm from Cape Town and experiencing moderate WSW winds with a 2-3m SW swell. Our current speed is 8kts and the temperature is 10 degrees.

AUTHOR: Commanding Officer STS Young Endeavour

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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

V04/24

19 February 2024

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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