Young Endeavour Celebrates 30 Years
The Royal Australian Navy operated Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour celebrated 30 years of challenging and inspiring young Australians at Fleet Base East on Thursday, January 25, 2018. The day marked exactly 30 years since the Prince and Princess of Wales oversaw the Union Flag and Merchant Naval Red Ensign being replaced by the Australian National Flag and the RAN White Ensign, signifying the shipâs presentation by the United Kingdom to the people of Australia as a âliving giftâ to mark Australiaâs bicentenary. The 30 year celebrations coincided with the end of Young Endeavourâs second youth development voyage for 2018. 21 enthusiastic youth crew members greeted waiting families and warships alongside Fleet Base East with a robust rendition of Advance Australia FairâŚ
Young Endeavour to join the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Fleet
STS Young Endeavour is joining a race on every sailorâs bucket list, the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. While the 44 metre brigantine wonât be chasing line honours, she will play an important support role acting as the standby radio relay ship. Lieutenant Commander Mike Gough, Commanding Officer Young Endeavour said the southern ocean could throw up many perils, so the role of the Royal Australian Navyâs sail training ship was important. âThe weather conditions on the southern ocean can be unpredictable and ships can get into trouble,â he said. âOur role will be to relay any messages of distress from ships in the race to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, so the most appropriate support can be provided.
Pieces of History Are Uncovered in Sydney Harbor
Australian Navy divers have discovered an explosive mystery lying at the entrance to Sydney harbor - four vintage bombs or shells that may be more than 100 years old. The 3 ft. (1 m) long projectiles and bombs, thought to date from the 1870s to 1890s, were blown up to get rid of any danger. How the munitions ended up 200 m offshore was unknown, Lt Commander Mike Gough said on Tuesday. "I'm not able to speculate on that," Gough said. The cliffs of North Head and South Head at the entrance to Sydney harbor were fortified around that time, when the British colony feared Tsarist Russia and American raids. Guns were placed on South Head in 1871 after rumors circulated that an expedition of free-booters had sailed from San Francisco to ransack Sydney, according to military documents.