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South Passage Daily Report

CLIENT: General Public Voyage

VOYAGE NUMBER:  20190513

FROM: Manly To: Hervey Bay

DATE: 13 May 2019

POSITION: Mooloolaba

REPORT BY: Blue Watch

Hi all. As I start to write this report we are moored at Mooloolaba and I thought I would share with you my first day of a 3 day passage as a new trainee volunteer on board South Passage.

This has been on my bucket list for some time and whilst very excited and already told my friends and relatives what I was doing I also had some concerns as to how would I really go? Would I stuff up, being so green would I be more of a hindrance to the other crew than a help.

Arriving at the dock I was relieved to meet Warwick whom I had met before during a one day introduction about South Passage a few weeks earlier. He soon put me at ease and introduced me some of the fellow crew all on board all of whom made me feel very welcome. On completion of an Initial Safety Training Course I quickly realised that safety is paramount importance which I also really appreciated.

During an all crew briefing in which we were actively encouraged to ask questions , each member introduced themselves and gave a background on themselves which again helped me associate as to who was who and what they did.  John our skipper , had Robyn normally the Sailing Master, Peter our trainee sailing master , Hugh our chief, Warwick and Neil Watch leaders then myself, Stewart, Phil (also from Belfast as I am) Neil and Mal.

We were soon underway to Mooloolaba but first stopping off to fill up for fuel which sounded easy enough until someone couldn’t get a receipt out of the bowser , that’s a whole other story but as I have learnt is what happens on board stays on board!

Then heading off we were put into action and to say this was a hands on experience only touches the surface. Fully into it under careful instructions from allocated crew. As they say quickest way to learn is get in and have a go which we were really encouraged to do.

One of my first jobs was to unsecure the Jib for those who may be reading this and not skilled like me that’s the sail up the front. So I am secured with a harness overhanging a Bowsprit with a net underneath me. Welcome to South Passage I thought but thankyou Warwick for that first experience that’s exactly why I came.

Our sail through to Mooloolaba was challenging at times but at no stage did we have to Tack and Gybe which I now understand is unusual but was helpful for a day. I also learnt how to plot a chart using GPS bearings which again was another tick on my bucket list.

Sailing into Mooloolaba I thought all our challenges were finished for the day until I saw the berth! How do you get a double story bus into one car port, I asked myself. Even some of the boaties on the wharf I think thought the same thing, they will never get this into that space. No problem for our skipper John just superb skill and knowhow I cannot say anymore

When South Passage was all tied off and secured then we all sat down the total crew and enjoyed a superb dinner of Spicy Chicken Stirfry followed by sweets.

Great Day, fantastic experience thank you. David H

 

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