CLIENT: Silkwood School
VOYAGE NUMBER: 20260427
FROM: Manly To: Manly
POSITION: Big Sandhills
DATE: 27 April 2026
REPORT: White Watch
Today we got on the boat and learnt about the ship and what some of the sails do, then we learnt where we will be sleeping and what our groups shifts were. After that we did our first task by lifting the sail to depart the marina. Then we got to learn more about our amazing watch leader Dale and he taught us more about some knots and belaying. Then we continue to sail out into the ocean where we learnt how to raise the sail and it started to rain heavily which caused us to become soaked – but they taught us how to operate a boat while wet.
Then we had lunch by the amazing chef Louise and we had the chance to chill and play some cards with music until our next shift. Then we got even more soaked as we worked with determination on lowering the sails and getting the ship ready to anchor. We also learned tacking which is a zigzag motion which helps us sail towards the wind. Our determination helped us switch the jib and the staysail.
Once we stopped the ship, we were able to jump off and swim in the water for about 30 minutes. When everyone was out of the water we gathered around the benches, where we did a knot tying competition by each watch. We came last with a time of 1 minute and 48 seconds when tying a round turn and 2 half-hitches. Then we went down below where our beds were and had some dinner, then dessert and then started to settle down to go to sleep.