Young Endeavour seeks shelter in Jervis Bay

These images certainly take you back to a time before steam and diesel engines changed sea travel forever.

Abreviated – Captain's Log. After Morning Brief and Happy Hour Navigator Adam gave the Youthies the Navigation brief.  At 0930 we weighed anchor and sailed a race track inside the bay conducting navigation practical training and continuing with sail setting and furling.  We experienced 25 - 30 Kn of wind and only used the Fore and Main Staysails to allow more time on each lap of the bay. On completion we anchored off Bristol Pt on the southern shore of the bay in order to achieve maximum shelter from the high winds forecast for tonight. My intention is to remain in our anchorage overnight sheltering from the forecast 30 Kn winds and 4 m swells and sail at midday tomorrow to recommence our passage north when the conditions are expected to be moderate. Until tomorrow. Yours Aye, Captain Mike

Full report here - https://www.youngendeavour.gov.au/captains-log/jervis-bay-10

Thursday - The Young Endeavour weighted anchor before almost disappearing into the mist on the North side of the bay.

Friday Morning -  Before dawn I found her sheltered near Scottish Rocks.

The sun finally eased through the grey sky and she started to sparkle.

Young Endeavour–Jervis Bay

Ships in the bay – Young Endeavour moored off Huskisson.

If you go down to Huskisson today you will see the two masted sailing vessel the Young Endeavour moored just off Huskisson.

Moored just off Huskisson, I took this before sunrise,  the ship looked amazing with lights throughout her rigging.

Captains log from yesterday. Captains Log 29th March 2017 "The Ship continued on passage motor sailing northwards from Twofold Bay overnight with the crew gaining their first experiences of being on the helm, being a lookout and doing the required hourly engineering rounds. This is all about working together as a watch to maintain the required sail plan and keeping the Ship safe. The reason we were forced to motor sail was to ensure we reached Jervis Bay before the moderate northerlies we experienced this afternoon and before the expected strong Southerlies early tomorrow morning. We came off engines as we entered Jervis Bay at 1000 and undertook Rotational Tacks where the watches rotate through the other watches' tacking stations to learn what their jobs are when the Ship tacks. After another of Marcos' delicious lunches the Youthies went ashore into Huskisson from our anchorage via the Ship's boat. We had a couple of hours to stretch our legs, hug a tree (the best cure for sea sickness) and visit the local cafes. We were all back onboard by 1630 and participated in the first round of 'Rope Races' an activity designed to consolidate the crew's knowledge of the parts of the Ship and important fitted equipment. Dinner followed and then a briefing on Anchor Watch responsibilities from Navigator Adam. The Youthies will keep anchor watches through the night, ensuring the Ship remains safe. I expect we will remain at anchor in JB tomorrow night also due to the forecast strong Southerlies and 4 m swells. Until tomorrow. Yours Aye, Captain Mike."

The very early morning light looked amazing.

Young Endeavour was a gift from the United Kingdom to the Government and people of Australia to mark the Bicentenary in 1988. Construction began on the ship in May 1986 in Lowestoft, England and on 3 August 1987 she began the long voyage to Australia with a crew which included 24 young people from Britain and Australia. The official handover ceremony took place on 25 January 1988 in the presence of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales in Farm Cove, Sydney Harbour. Her arrival heralded the start of a new era of sail training in Australia. The Government decided that the Royal Australian Navy would operate and maintain the ship, and that the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme would be set up to manage the associated sail training program. The Scheme was established in early 1988 with a Board appointed by and responsible to the Minister for Defence. The Scheme's management and administration is undertaken by civilian staff, and is based in the ship's homeport of Sydney. As Australia's sail training flagship, Young Endeavour participates in major events in Australia and around the world. REF: https://www.youngendeavour.gov.au/

The colour soon drained from the sky as the rain and clouds increased.

Click on the link below for a picture taken from the deck of the ship as she approached  Point Perpendicular from the south. .

https://www.youngendeavour.gov.au/sites/default/files/images/blog/oBpYMcdv_photo_017.jpg

These two shots are from around noon. The endeavour set sail and headed across towards Honemoon Bay before turning and taking the sails back down. I'd say they were giving the young trainee crew a few lessons in seamanship  and sail setting inside the bay. There is a large swell coming this afternoon, so I can't see her leaving the bay just yet. Laying at anchor off Huskisson this morning.

International Visitor

To go from one extreme to another we have the Spanish Air Warfare Destroyer the ESPS Christobel Colan in the bay as well.  She is conducting training exercises in combination with part of the Australian Flee.  Unfortunately the weather was so bad this is the best shot I could get of this ship as she slowly moved about the bay in the rain and mist.  If it clears I may be able to get another clearer one...

The name  Christobel Colan is the Spanish name of the explorer known in English as Christopher Columbus

Schooner Bonnie Dundee and Hally Bailey Dismasted off Jervis Bay - 1890

Monday 3rd February 1890 - During a violent gale off Jervis Bay the Schooner Bonnie Dundee was severly damaged loosing her masts,  she was towed into Jervis Bay.

During the same storm the Schooner Hally Bailey was also dismasted off Jervis Bay and towed to Sydney, by one of Messrs, Huddart, Parkers and Co.'s steamers. The Hally Bailey was on a voyage between Rockhampton and Hobart. Reports in Sydney newspapers about the severity of this storm, describe the seas as mountainous,  and have not been seen  since the sinking of the the Dunbar in 1857 south of Sydney heads,  with the loss of 58 crew and 63 passengers, one man survived..

And the tempests wild they cease

A ship far out on a smiling sea,      With it's snowy sails outspread; Cleaving the waters merrily,      And a bright sun overhead. It kisses the cheek of the sailor lad,      And he climbs to the mast-head high; He sings at his work, for his heart is glad,      As he thinks of his home so nigh. A cottage home where the roses twine       And a mother in silent prayer; And the self-same sun which on him doth shine,       Is guilding her silvery hair. The lightnings flash and the thunders roar,       These waves they are mountainous high. No help on the ocean,  no help from shore       No light in the midnight sky. A brave ship struggling with might and main,        And it's white sails rent and torn; It lurches and groans like a thing in pain,        And it's mast in well-nigh gone. A sailor clings to a broken spar,        And his face is wild and sad. A mother prays in her home afar,       To-night for her sailor lad. A child is saved for that prayer of thine,       And the tempests wild they cease, Over a cottage where roses twine       Hovers the angel of Peace!

A correspondents words. 1904

These final words from a newspaper correspondent are taken from an article he wrote  about spending a  few days at the bay.  They evoke a feeling of joy to anyone who has been lucky enough to experience being on the pristene waters of Jervis Bay.

“The recollection of the gallant little steam launch "Bunnaby," with the veteran George Dent at the helm, speeding across the sunlit waters and past the sparkling shell-strewn sands and wave-washed beaches, out towards  the grim sentinels, Point Perpendicular and Governor's Head, which, together with Bowen Island,  guard the port entrance, makes up a never-to-be-forgotten picture, and with many grateful remembrances of pleasant experiences, interesting and instructive outings,  the best of attention from the hands of Mr. and Mrs.  Fred Dent, we say good-bye to Jervis Bay”. George Dent.

Just like 133 years ago a fisherman today glides across the sparkling waters of Jervis Bay heading towards Point Perpendicular.

May 1910 - Currambene Creek Huskisson.

The 98 ton Ketch Harold.

The 98 ton Ketch Harold, built in Bermagui in 1900,  was a well known trading vessel on the NSW Coast,  calling at ports and transporting all manner of cargo to and from Sydney.  . Early on Friday morning loaded with over 100 bags of grass tree gum,  and several tons of sawn timber drawn from Tomerong Mill she slowly drew away from Huskisson wharf on the start of another journey.  As she was leaving the entrance of the creek,  seeking deep water,  she ran aground,  becoming stranded on a sand bar. Attempts were immediately made to get her off but she was stuck fast, the crew waited until high tide on Friday night, attempting to float the vessel off the sand bank,  but this was also unsuccessful.  Another attempt was made on Saturday to float the boat to the wharf,  this time being successful. Continue reading the fascinating story of the Grass Tree and it's links to the local economy and World War One.

Jervis Bay and HMAS Adelaide L01

The atmospheric light was just incredible,  dark and moody over Point Perpendicular,  with a bright  filtered glow emanating from the setting sun in the west,  in the  SW large dark broken storm clouds were slowly drifting into the picture, it was an amazing scene.

Ships in Jervis bay.

Late yesterday afternoon I went around to Hole in the Wall and took a few pictures of the Atoll 2,   a beautiful, 2 masted sailing boat,  tucked in close to the shore seeking shelter from the southerly winds. The conditions were not ideal for taking photographs,  dark and overcast, raining and misty, but the bay looked absolutely beautiful all the same.

Moored near the Atoll 2 was the DMS navy support ship,  Seahorse Horizon. Built in 1984, the ship was initially operated by the National Safety Council of Australia as MV Blue Nabilla. She was purchased by the RAN in 1990 for use as a surveillance, training, and diving support vessel and renamed, HMAS Protector, she was used as a  Royal Australian Navy (RAN) trials and submarine rescue ship.  During her military career, Protector supported the trials of the Collins-class submarines, and was involved in a search for the shipwreck of the World War II cruiser HMAS Sydney.  The ship was decommissioned in 1998 and, while still owned by the Commonwealth, she is provided to Defence Maritime Services to allow them to support Navy activities under contract.  Renamed Seahorse Horizon, the ship is operated by Defence Maritime Services out of HMAS Creswell as a training and Fleet support vessel. REF: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Protector_(ASR_241)

Seahorse Horizon behind Hole in the Wall.

The Huskisson side of the bay was shrouded in thick mist almost obscuring the land , out of the mist appeared two largs ghost like shapes, hard to discern, but as they moved closer you could make out the distinctive shapes of two large navy ships.

The ship in the foreground is the second of two Canberra-class landing helicopter dock (LHD) ships, HMAS Adelaide .    The ship in the background is the Adelaide-class guided-missle Frigate HMAS Darwin. Both ships, slowly and carefully moved about the bay in the misty conditions,  the Adelaide finally coming to a halt in front of HMAS Creswell before dropping it’s anchor,   the Adelaide almost dissapeared into the gloom  near  Honemoon Bay.

Very early this morning I took this photograph of HMAS Adelaide under lights near Hole in the Wall.

Loss of the Barque Solon

Disaster at Crookhaven Heads. - 1860

Tuesday 24th May 10 a.m -  The sailing vessel Solon, a barque of 565 tonnes, under the command of  Captain Rohde cleared the heads of Port Jackson at 10a.m., bound for Geelong with a cargo of 35 tons coals, 35tons of hay,  and a quantity of ships stores for the Armin,  now lying at Melbourne.  The weather was heavy with a S.W wind blowing.  Towards the afternoon it shifted to the east,  then later to the S.E. quarter.  The vessels head was kept off-shore, the gale steadily increased,  Captain Rohde’s ordered her sails to be reduced until she was under close-reefed topsails,  and reefed courses. They made slow progress down the coast with a heavy easterly swell continuing to set in,  the ship was kept working to the southward, the conditions continued during Wednesday, Thursday and Friday,  blowing in very heavy squalls with thunder,  lightning and rain. Friday 27th - The weather increased in such violence that the ship became unmanageable,  because of the heavy sea, and wind, she was able to carry very little canvas.  The weather was very thick,  Captain Rhode not seeing the sun since he left Sydney,  did not know his position. 25th May 3a.m -  The night was very dark when breakers where discovered under the lee,  the crew immediately set every inch of canvas the vessel could bare and endeavours made to claw her off the land,  but her fate was set, and shortly after she lifted bodily onto the rocks, her head at the time being southward. The ship was driven heavily onto the rocks three times and swept over the outer reef into the deep water,  but she was still some distance from the mainland. The vessel broke up rapidly,   the crew with great difficulty saved their lives, with the exception of one lad, named Louis Last,  a native of Bremen,  who was unfortunately drowned.   If the Solon had gone ashore a little more to the south,  none would have been saved. When daylight appeared Captain Rohde had found the vessel had gone on shore on the south side of Crookhaven Head near Shoalhaven.  The hull of the Salon was in three parts,   little hope exists of saving anything beyond the spars and parts of the rigging and sails.  Captain Rohdes arranged passage to Sydney by the Illawarra Steam Navigation Companies Steamer, Nora Creina,  leaving his officers and crew to save what they could.  It was an unlikely task as the sea was now making a clear breach over the ship,  leaving little hope of preserving any part of the hull or cargo.  Captain Rohde managed to save all the ships papers and his own clothing. The ship was insured in Germany,  but the loss of the cargo fell on the shippers. The Salon was originally from Oldenburg Germany. In December 1858 she sailed with approx 145 German immigrants from Bremen via Morton Bay then on to Sydney, arriving in Sydney on the 14th July 1959,  where she was chartered by the Colonial Sugar Company. The Colonial Sugar Company is now known as CSR Limited, founded in Sydney in 1855.

The Steamer Nora Creina,  as mentioned above. The Nora Creina, 142 tonnes was one of the earliest steam ships to operate in Australian waters, Built in Ireland as a three masted schooner, later converted to a paddle steamer, owned by the Illawarra Steam Navigation Company which use to frequent the ports on the south coast. The steamer was used for a twice weekly service on the Sydney to Shoalhaven Run In 1858 the Nora Creina at great personal risc was involved in the rescue of survivors from the  Barque Annie wrecked at North Head Sydney. Here is a report on the type of produce the steamer could be called on to transport.

Barque sail plan.

Beautiful March sunrise over Jervis Bay.

Weeks of grey skies and rain since the start of March, were this morning broken by a  rich glow of orange, yellow, pinks and red,  anyone who made the effort of getting up early and coming to the bay,  was rewarded with this magnificent kaleidoscope of colour and movement.

Luxury Yacht Sunbeam - 1898

Sydney Harbour.

January 1898 the luxury British yacht Sunbeam sailed into Jervis Bay with his Excellency and Lady Brassey and Colonel and Mrs. Bingham on board. The Sunbeam was on a trip between Sydney and Melbourne when she was forced to seek shelter in Jervis Bay because an accident disabled her machinery. Saturday 15th Jan - Lord and Lady Brassey and Colonel and Mrs. Bingham continued their journey by coach to Nowra,  where they boarded a train to Sydney. The Sunbeam remained in the Bay until repairs could be made and a coasting pilot arrived from Sydney to take her to Melbourne. Lord and Lady Brassey. Monday 17th Jan - The pilot Hayman arrived at Jervis Bay from Sydney at 6.30 p.m and boarded the Sunbeam which was now ready to sail for Melbourne as soon as the winds were  favourable. Tuesday 18th Jan - Early in the morning the Sunbeam was made ready to sail, at 8.40 a.m the Sunbeam with her sails spread cleared Jervis Bay Heads, the morning was dull and foggy as she steamed slowly into a fresh S.W wind. The Sunbeam was a three-masted topsail-yard schooner,  iron framed and with a teak skin. Lenght 159ft, beam 27.5 ft, weight 532 tons. Her sail area was 9,000 square yards,  The yacht had an auxiliary compound steam engine of 70 hp that developed a top speed of just over 10 knots.  The bunkers could hold eighty tons of coal and although primarily a sailing vessel, she could steam for approximately 20 days without refuelling. When not in steam, the funnel would be lowered and the propeller feathered to reduce drag. Unlike many of the luxury yachts of the time, Sunbeam had been designed for long distance and deep sea journeys. The accommodation for the owners and their guests, however, was far from Spartan, with rooms fashioned in a typical Victorian drawing-room style. The name Sunbeam came from the nickname they had given to their daughter - Constantine Alberta Brassey - who had died in 1873 from scarlet fever

REF: By Sidpickle [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons REF: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunbeam_RYS_(1874) By Australian National Maritime Museum - http://www.anmm.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=1464, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29423480 By Sidpickle - Took photograph Hastings libraryPreviously published: From Annie Brassey's album c1887, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29317815

Point Perpendicular

After the bleak grey skies over the last few weeks, it was nice to see such a beautiful sunrise over the bay.

Jervis Bay - Rain

As the rain we have been experiencing for the last three weeks doesn’t seem to want to stop, I thought you may like to see people of the district suffered similar experiences many years ago.

Sydney Sun -  April 1918.

Cowra Free Press – May 1918.

Tweed Daily  - July 1918.

Newcastle Sun –December 1919.

Sydney Evening News  - April 1997.

Eden Whale Museum.

Old Tom

I had already been to the museum a  number of times, but couldn’t resist another visit last weekend,  the volunteer staff are friendly and welcoming and all too ready to give you insight into the history of Eden and the famous, association between the local whalers and the Killer Whales. If your down that way be sure to call in and be amazed.

http://killerwhalemuseum.com.au/