Command Day ~ Cairns

In the morning the Youth crew elected cookies made a McDonalds themed breakfast and modified their Young Endeavour name badges to be more McDonalds-like. The menu was very authentic even down to limiting our usual selection of cereal to only those available at McDonalds.

Had an 8AM watch again with Jesse as watch leader.

We had to run our own morning brief with all the usual segments:
What’s the Plan for today Juzzy?
Where have we been with Navigator Jess and Ana (including illustrations by the OOW).
Phil’s Nautical Almanac was changed to T’gallant Tom’s tall tales with Jesse’s Jib’s and Jives:
What are “Nelsons’ Balls”? and
what is meant by the term “Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey”?
And of course Happy Hour.

Unfortunately due to lack of wind and hence progress we surpassed the cut off speed required to get to Cairns in time and were given the use of engines. However, near the end of our command the wind picked up. Sails were set and engines cut and spirits were high. Narrowly avoiding Fitzroy Island we cross between the 2 Cairns Harbour markers 2 minutes before deadline. Big congratulations must go out to all the Youth crew for such a successful command day.

One of the final tasks was to get 20 of the youth crew aloft while underway for a photo (hopefully someone will email me a copy as I took my camera with me onto the yards). Riding into Cairns 30 metres up with the wind cranking and a successful Commands Day behind you could not be any sweeter.

We retuned the keys back to Captain Hibbo handing back the ship without a scratch.



Captain Mick's corroborating log entry