CLIENT: Youth Voyage
VOYAGE NUMBER: 20241217
FROM: Sydney To: Sydney
DATE: 18 December 2024
POSITION: Morning Bay, Pittwater
REPORT: Red Watch
This morning our watch was in charge of the night watch from 00:01 to 04:00 and we divided it between the five of us in groups of 3 and 2. At sunrise the whole ship woke up and we started our day. We had cereal for our first breakfast, did a rope tying competition with a reef knot, that red watch won. For our second breakfast, we had warm porridge, eggs, toast and baked beans. Despite heavy southerly rain and winds, everyone then prepared to set sail and we practiced doing backstays, so we were ready for the challenges ahead.
We left Sydney Harbour through the heads at 9:30 and were faced with large swells. Our sail up the coast towards Pittwater was guided by a heading of 020 and the ship was rocking side to side on the 3 metre swell in 34 knots. The highlight of the day was the huge pod of pacific white sided dolphins jumping out of the wash and waves around our ship.
Our watch took it in turns at various positions around the ship such as being in charge of the steering at the helm. Many of the crew were challenged by seasickness as we rolled around. It was a relief when we finally entered Pittwater and were met with smooth water and soft winds.
The ship stopped rocking which allowed many members from our watch to have a short nap. We stopped in Lovett Bay and went ashore for a short bushwalk to a waterfall. After an hour we headed back to the ship on the tender in groups of fives. Our last knotting competition for the day was for the figure 8 knot. We had mash potatoes, sausages, sweet corn and green beans for dinner and then moved the ship to our new position for the night, Morning Bay.