Started at Midnight-the guts watch. Relieving from the previous watch involved describing the course and best rudder angle to maintain it. A port and starboard lookout were assigned and given binoculars. Then the boat was in our hands, it was pretty exciting to cruise along at night time. The bow of the ship really flies up and down but since your stable relative to it looks as if the stars are all moving up and down really cool. When a boat approaches from the horizon it looks like a flare. Marty was a fantastic port lookout. He managed to see a shooting star every 10 minutes. I saw one. We tidied up ropes and did rounds. This involved taking weather measurements air pressure, temperatures(including of the water a balmy 20° at night in the middle of the ocean). I remember when I was lookout looking really hard looking for the bright light of a marine life jacket (which we were taught about the previous day by Mrs. EPIRB).
We woke up the next watch and hit the hay ourselves. Its amazing how easy it was to sleep and wake up on command can never do that at home.
The highlight of this day would have to have been when we were given permission to swim. We pulled up in the middle of the ocean on a beautiful calm day and then everyone proceeded to jump off the bow sprit. We all felt safe since Dion activated the steyr shark deterrent.
Could not believe how warm the water was. I did a conservative pin drop but others were real acrobats.
I took photos of these daredevils from the water (freaking people out that don’t know my camera is waterproof never grows old). I could not identify all the jumpers click on the photo and leave a comment on my online gallery if you can.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Young Endeavour Day2 :At sea somewhere between Cairns and Townsville
Started today at 3AM as red watch had morning watch (it has since been known as “stupid o’clock” © Juzzy). Got to climb to the topgallant yard. The girls sat on the port side of the topgallant yard like it was some gentle pony, on the starboard side the guys (myself included) looked like that kitten clinging to the clothesline in that poster with the catchphrase “hang in there”.
We learned some knots and stuff then the serious business began – coming up with an annoying wakeup call. We watched the sunrise over Cairns harbour.
Then it was show time it began with Marty saying in perfect tone “This is big brother, all the crewmates to the top deck”, this was followed by some rooster crows coinciding with the rest of the crewmates flicking lights on and off and blowing whistles directly in the cabins (for that personal touch).
Being the watch on deck while at harbour it was our duty to lead the flag rasing ceremony. With the Townsville naval base complete with patrol boat and submarine nearby it was serious matter indeed. It began with whistles, then I donged the bell 4 by 2 times the flag was raised and the anthem sung to the tune of Barnsies “Working class man”.
We set sail (so to speak) red watches job being to carry fenders (big rubber sausages) alongside to prevent the ship from crashing into the pier. We would later be told it was purely to protect the young endeavours paintjob.
It was so exciting to be at sea watching islands go by the coast was non stop lush tropical mountains. Some people could not even contain their excitement, shooting it out of their mouths off the leeward beam (or was it Bec’s lunch).
Red watch would have the guts watch that night (midnight to 0400) so we made it an early one. Although a strange sensation to fall asleep while rocking from side to side and up and down it was kinda cool.
Captain Phil's Log for today
We learned some knots and stuff then the serious business began – coming up with an annoying wakeup call. We watched the sunrise over Cairns harbour.
Then it was show time it began with Marty saying in perfect tone “This is big brother, all the crewmates to the top deck”, this was followed by some rooster crows coinciding with the rest of the crewmates flicking lights on and off and blowing whistles directly in the cabins (for that personal touch).
Being the watch on deck while at harbour it was our duty to lead the flag rasing ceremony. With the Townsville naval base complete with patrol boat and submarine nearby it was serious matter indeed. It began with whistles, then I donged the bell 4 by 2 times the flag was raised and the anthem sung to the tune of Barnsies “Working class man”.
We set sail (so to speak) red watches job being to carry fenders (big rubber sausages) alongside to prevent the ship from crashing into the pier. We would later be told it was purely to protect the young endeavours paintjob.
It was so exciting to be at sea watching islands go by the coast was non stop lush tropical mountains. Some people could not even contain their excitement, shooting it out of their mouths off the leeward beam (or was it Bec’s lunch).
Red watch would have the guts watch that night (midnight to 0400) so we made it an early one. Although a strange sensation to fall asleep while rocking from side to side and up and down it was kinda cool.
Captain Phil's Log for today
Monday, July 11, 2005
Young Endeavour Day 1: Alongside Cairns
I woke up to see another young endeavour bag in my room (very exciting).
The bag belonged to Alex, 21 from south bank. In his final semester of excersise science. He works as a porter in the Stamford plaza(I think) as well as at Jam Factory. We checked out the cairns esplanade which overlooks mudflats. We passed a playground there was a sign right next to it warning of crocodiles in the area – guess those tough Queensland kids start their croc wrestling early. There is this cool lagoon sort of makes a horizon with the ocean.
I quickly wrote some emails and we started lugging the extremely uncomfortable but attractive young endeavour bags to the pier. At about 3pm we boarded the ship. I made final sms contact with outside world and took the last step from solid ground for what I thought would be the next 10 days.
I unloaded my stuff into my locker and met my roommates. Marty 18ish from Newcastle, plays in a oldies rock band called the retro-jets and surfs a lot. Under him was Luke 21 from Sydney who works at Fox Studios below him was Alex I don’t know where he was from he was pretty young like 17. Under me was Gary 23 the woggish Holden nut from Latrobe valley area and below him was Jesse from Albury 16 but he looked older than me.
We went upstairs to midships to be welcomed by captain Phil followed by our XO(2IC(2nd in charge))) Dion. Dion stressed that we should not pursue romantic relationships on board, that we should be weary of “sea goggles” but that when we arrived at Mackay at the end we should feel free to “Fill your boots”.
After this we were introduced to our watch (team) and watch leader Brodie. He’s like 29 and a sailor in the navy he grew up in country Queensland. Other people in my watch were Jess, 23 a recently graduated Vet now working in Moe. Juzzy 23ish from the Latrobe valley she works as a microbiologist. Tammy 20 something from queensland she grew up on an outback cattle property and now is a make up artist. Laura 22 a registered nurse from Launceston she lived in New Zealand when she was younger. Alex and Marty as well as Nick, 19 a business student from Sydney.
(Click on the photo below and hover over the head to see who's who).
Captain Phil's Log for today
The bag belonged to Alex, 21 from south bank. In his final semester of excersise science. He works as a porter in the Stamford plaza(I think) as well as at Jam Factory. We checked out the cairns esplanade which overlooks mudflats. We passed a playground there was a sign right next to it warning of crocodiles in the area – guess those tough Queensland kids start their croc wrestling early. There is this cool lagoon sort of makes a horizon with the ocean.
I quickly wrote some emails and we started lugging the extremely uncomfortable but attractive young endeavour bags to the pier. At about 3pm we boarded the ship. I made final sms contact with outside world and took the last step from solid ground for what I thought would be the next 10 days.
I unloaded my stuff into my locker and met my roommates. Marty 18ish from Newcastle, plays in a oldies rock band called the retro-jets and surfs a lot. Under him was Luke 21 from Sydney who works at Fox Studios below him was Alex I don’t know where he was from he was pretty young like 17. Under me was Gary 23 the woggish Holden nut from Latrobe valley area and below him was Jesse from Albury 16 but he looked older than me.
We went upstairs to midships to be welcomed by captain Phil followed by our XO(2IC(2nd in charge))) Dion. Dion stressed that we should not pursue romantic relationships on board, that we should be weary of “sea goggles” but that when we arrived at Mackay at the end we should feel free to “Fill your boots”.
After this we were introduced to our watch (team) and watch leader Brodie. He’s like 29 and a sailor in the navy he grew up in country Queensland. Other people in my watch were Jess, 23 a recently graduated Vet now working in Moe. Juzzy 23ish from the Latrobe valley she works as a microbiologist. Tammy 20 something from queensland she grew up on an outback cattle property and now is a make up artist. Laura 22 a registered nurse from Launceston she lived in New Zealand when she was younger. Alex and Marty as well as Nick, 19 a business student from Sydney.
(Click on the photo below and hover over the head to see who's who).
Captain Phil's Log for today
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Down under Dive Osprey Intro dive
Booked for introductory scuba diving. Staff really entertaining, food O.K. but boat very crowded, wet suits pretty crappy. Attended introductory scuba-diving talk on board.
At first reef I think it was called Hastings reef snorkelled around a bit. Then it was show time got the weight belt, strapped on the buoyancy vest, hooked up the tank with twin mouthpieces. I got 2 metres underwater before freaking out and surfacing. The air was a weird sensation I wasn’t used to it felt cold in my lungs. I was taking short panicky breaths, and my lungs felt like they were expanding but not collapsing. I tried one more time then decided to save $60 and stick to snorkelling. At the next reef I took about 340MB worth of video – they’re all pretty crappy (I need to find a quicktime editor)
After reefing it up I thought I’d take a look at the endeavour so I’d know where to go the next day. I didn’t find it but on the way back to the hostel I was waiting at the light and a group of about 100 Japanese tourist all crossed onto my corner. There was a dude holding a sign on a pole at the front of the group and a dude with a sign at the back. Picture a lanky white dude crossing the road in a sea of shorter Japanese tourist. Walked with them for a bit then en masse they all turned into a yum cha place, pretty weird. If I remember correctly the O.K gift shop was on the opposite corner.
At first reef I think it was called Hastings reef snorkelled around a bit. Then it was show time got the weight belt, strapped on the buoyancy vest, hooked up the tank with twin mouthpieces. I got 2 metres underwater before freaking out and surfacing. The air was a weird sensation I wasn’t used to it felt cold in my lungs. I was taking short panicky breaths, and my lungs felt like they were expanding but not collapsing. I tried one more time then decided to save $60 and stick to snorkelling. At the next reef I took about 340MB worth of video – they’re all pretty crappy (I need to find a quicktime editor)
After reefing it up I thought I’d take a look at the endeavour so I’d know where to go the next day. I didn’t find it but on the way back to the hostel I was waiting at the light and a group of about 100 Japanese tourist all crossed onto my corner. There was a dude holding a sign on a pole at the front of the group and a dude with a sign at the back. Picture a lanky white dude crossing the road in a sea of shorter Japanese tourist. Walked with them for a bit then en masse they all turned into a yum cha place, pretty weird. If I remember correctly the O.K gift shop was on the opposite corner.
Saturday, July 09, 2005
Shenanigans Irish bar
Went here for dinner purely for the super trooper’s reference. Had a really expensive steak but live band was cool. It was also nice to eat dinner under the stars in shorts, something I won’t be doing in Victoria for a good few months.
Cairns Central Backpackers
Arrived around 2AM.
Bought a padlock from BI-LO it had 2 spare keys. Had to chop it a day later when I managed to lock all 3 keys inside the locker (bought a combination lock after that).
Monday, July 04, 2005
I wonder if this is what I can look forward to
Heres a video I found off a navy website At about 28seconds in you see these crazy kids sitting on the bow while the ship is crashing through the waves.
Almost as exciting as sitting on the bull bar of an edmundo hopper van in churchill park.
Rough seas for young endeavour
Some inspiring words for what should be an inspiring voyage
Almost as exciting as sitting on the bull bar of an edmundo hopper van in churchill park.
Rough seas for young endeavour
Some inspiring words for what should be an inspiring voyage
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