SOUTH PASSAGE DAILY REPORT

CLIENT: Hills Grammar

VOYAGE NUMBER: 20121217

FROM:   Sydney TO: Sydney

DATE: 17th December 2012 TIME:  2100hrs

POSITION: Refuge Bay

Report by Blue Watch

We began the morning, at approximately 0800, with an introduction to the schooner. (A schooner is a ship that has two masts, and where the second mast is the larger of the two). The group was divided into different watches- red, blue and white watch, in which almost all activities will be done throughout the duration of the trip. The morning on the ship continued with an introduction to basic knots, tacking (turning the ship into the wind) gybing (turning the ship away from the wind) raising and dropping the sails and so forth. Then a delicious lunch of salad rolls, and we were sent out of the harbour, into the comparatively rough ocean. While traversing the great unknown, dolphins followed us for a short period, right underneath the boat, before, unfortunately departing. With regular watch changes, approximately every two hours, we headed north, to our anchorage of this evening, Refuge Bay. A quick swim, some spectacular stunts diving off the side of the ship, we were back for dinner, dessert, and a knot tying competition. The knot under contention was the ‘round turn and two and a half hitch’. The competition rules are as follows; there must be eight knots tied between the team members, for every knot performed with either/or one hand/ eyes closed, ten seconds is removed from the total time of the team, if every knot in the team is completed correctly, then twenty seconds is removed from the total time. The scores were; red watch with –12 seconds, white watch with –61 seconds, and blue watch with –64 seconds. The knot that we’re going to be attempting tomorrow morning at 0700 is the reef knot, over the railing. The total times of the teams is added for each different knot, to give the overall winning watch the prize of… a fredo frog each, a worthy prize. After dinner, a few of the crew went out to brave the seas, attempting to catch fish for our dinner… however, we were to be sorely disappointed, when a fish was reeled in, but managed to escape off the hook, while in mid air. And thus ended the evening, along with Texas Hold’em, ‘Cheat’ and Snap. A wonderful end, of an exciting day.

SOUTH PASSAGE DAILY REPORT

CLIENT: Erina High School

VOYAGE NUMBER: 20121114

FROM:   Sydney TO: Sydney

DATE: 15th November 2012 TIME:  2100hrs

POSITION: Refuge Bay

Report by White Watch

Another day has passed we are in our routine. Some of us were sick today it can get really rough out there outside the Sydney heads but we all enjoyed ourselves.  It is hard work and tiring hoisting the sails high and really fun steering the ship (the helm). It’s all about teamwork and getting along with each other, because team stands for Together Everyone Achieves More.  After a hard day of work we have earned free time to chat with fellow crew and go for a swim. The only way to enjoy yourself is when it is really rough is to get on a harness and go out on the bowsprit. We are in white watch and we are currently winning the knotting comp, but only by a slim margin, so we have to practice more and improve our teamwork. The watch system is really productive and you get to try every duty on the boat. Also the variety of food is good and nutritious. If your shift is early in the morning you get to blow the bugle to wake people up at 6.30 am. We the white team were on the 4.00am to 8.00am watch which is interesting because you get to wake the skipper, polish the brass, boil the kettles and watch the sun come up. We saw many things on our watch including starfish penguins, a whale and flying fish.

SOUTH PASSAGE DAILY REPORT

CLIENT: Trinity College Goulburn

VOYAGE NUMBER: 20121107

FROM:  Sydney TO: Sydney

DATE: 8th November 2012 TIME:  2000hrs

POSITION: Refuge Bay, Broken Bay

Report by Stacey and Joshua