- Author
- A.N. Other
- Subjects
- Ship histories and stories
- Tags
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- RAN Ships
- None noted.
- Publication
- September 2018 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
By Isabelle Hazell
Young Endeavour, the tall ship making waves in the lives of young people all over Australia, has a history as rich as the lives it has impacted during thirty years of operation under the Royal Australian Navy. As the gala event celebrating the 30th anniversary becomes a memory, it is a good time to reflect on where Young Endeavour has been, and where she will go next.
Bicentennial Gift
When deciding upon a gift for Great Britain to present to Australia for her bicentenary in 1988, Young Endeavour was the top contender. For David Iggulden, author of The Life and Times of Young Endeavour, a sail training ship made a lot of sense, given the international momentum gathering at the time for rediscovering the love of sail training. The idea also trumped other propositions for a gift, such as an English rose garden planted in Canberra or a British room in a museum, as these ideas were static, limiting the opportunity for ordinary Australians to enjoy them. Conversely, a tall ship could travel around Australia and be seen and experienced by all. So the idea germinated, and was unanimously agreed upon by the Britain-Australia Bicentennial Committee in London. Having taken this decision, the next challenge was to secure funding and get the ship built.
Sir Geoffrey Howe, the Foreign Secretary at the time, advised the Committee that £1,000,000 had been set aside for various Australian bicentenary projects, and £850,000 of this could be apportioned towards the building of a sail training vessel. This would not cover the whole cost as the first design study conducted in August 1985 indicated a project cost of £1,700,000. The remaining funding was to be secured through a trust separate to the Bicentennial Committee, called the Britain-Australia Bicentennial Schooner Trust (BABS) with a ‘letter of comfort’ from the Foreign Office providing a sum of £900,000 from the Bank of England. This sum would be repaid by equipment and donations from British industry and individual contributions while the vessel was being built.
The decision to build was officially made on 13 January 1986 when the British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, wrote to the Australian Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, confirming this decision.
Decisions as to the ship’s future plans were made quickly and it was decided that the ship would represent Great Britain in the Australian Bicentennial Tall Ships Race (the first official tall ship race in the southern hemisphere) scheduled to start in Hobart on 14 January 1988. The ship would then be handed over to Australia when the race ended in Sydney. The ship’s scheduled arrival date in Fremantle was set for 1 November 1987 with the ship leaving Britain on 3 August 1987. This left 21 months to arrange necessary logistical support, find a tall ship naval architect, design the vessel, select a shipbuilder, construct the vessel, raise the necessary funding to pay for the vessel, select a crew, complete sea trials and finally, sail the ship to Australia.
Building the Ship
Rather than a replica or copy of an older vessel, the Trust decided that the vessel should be modern, using state-of-the-art materials and equipment. The designer was Colin Mudie, a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Naval Architects who had two previously designed square-rigged vessels to his credit: the 23 m brig Royalist for the Sea Cadet Corps of Britain, and the 43 m barque Lord Nelson for the Jubilee Sailing Trust. Lord Nelson was designed for the sail training of physically handicapped men and women. During collaborative discussions between the Trust and Colin Mudie, the vessel underwent a metamorphosis from a schooner to a brig and then to a brigantine. Another added design element was the inclusion of facilities for scientific and oceanographic research. Following agreement of the design, the Trust called for competitive tenders from shipyards, with Brooke Marine at Lowestoft, Suffolk being the successful tenderer.
Naming the Vessel
In deciding on a name for this Bicentennial gift, the names Endeavour and Discovery – through the Captain Cook connection – were shortlisted in Britain, together with Challenger. Whatever the final choice, the name would be prefaced with ‘Young’ to emphasise the commitment to the sail training of youth. In Australia, one group lobbied for the vessel to be named after Australia’s first naval Sail Training Ship, HMAS Tingira – an Aboriginal word meaning ‘open sea’.
However the name settled on was Young Endeavour, confirmed via an announcement in London on Australia Day, 26 January 1987. The Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe made the choice, approved by the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The official statement read:
In line with maritime tradition, the new ship is to be named after an illustrious predecessor. The name recalls the historic vessel, the ‘Endeavour’, in which Captain James Cook made his famous voyage of exploration and scientific research.…In addition to its historic connection, the name has been chosen to highlight the emphasis on youth in the British gift. The new vessel is being specifically built to benefit young people by providing sail training as well as facilities for maritime exploration and research.
Decision that Navy will manage the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme
Although the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Michael Hudson AC, RAN, was keen for the Royal Australian Navy to run and crew the vessel, the decision of who would administer the scheme was not settled. There remained disagreement between the Department of Defence, the Department of Finance and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (Office of Youth Affairs) regarding the appropriate department to administer the scheme. Although the Minister for Defence was clear in his view that the scheme should not be managed by the Royal Australian Navy, with the ship’s impending arrival in Australia and no alternative plan developed, the Minister for Defence acquiesced. On the eve of the ship’s arrival, it was agreed the Department of Defence would be responsible for the management but only for an interim period between 1987 and 1988. The Department of Defence has continued to administer the scheme through the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme (YEYS), a unique not-for-profit business unit staffed by the Australian Public Service and Navy Reserve personnel. A non-statutory Advisory Board provides policy and management guidance to YEYS and is comprised of community leaders and representatives from the corporate sector and youth organisations. The Royal Australian Navy continues to deliver the youth development and training program in the context of sail training in Young Endeavour.
The Delivery Voyage
Prime Minister Bob Hawke had enthusiastically supported the idea of a joint Australian and British crew for the delivery voyage. Six men and six women between the ages of 18 and 25 were selected from each country. After a national advertising campaign, 16,000 enquiries were received resulting in 8,000 applications. These were shortlisted to 220 applicants who were invited to attend Operation Drake-style selection camps located in Defence establishments in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, for a two-day selection trial conducted between December 1986 and January 1987.
In Britain, the original selections were carried out through regional committees of the National Sail Training Association, the Ocean Youth Club and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. Two days of trials for the survivors of these selections were set for January 1987 at HMS Collingwood, a shore training establishment in Portsmouth.
The final crew joining the delivery voyage comprised a master, first officer, second officer, three watch officers, chief engineer, engineer, two doctors, boatswain, two cooks, three film crew and 24 young crew members from both countries.
On 3 August 1987, Young Endeavour slipped her mooring and proceeded into Solent Water. The national anthems of Britain and Australia were played, the Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes saluted Young Endeavour and she replied with a 21-gun salute to His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh. On the firing of the twenty-first gun at 1800 the Young Endeavour delivery voyage started on schedule, bound for Australia.
The voyage saw Young Endeavour sail through the Solent into the Channel, pass between Ushant and the mainland of France, cross the Iroise Sea, and enter the Atlantic Ocean, southward bound toward Tenerife and the Canaries. The ship then sailed east of the Cape Verde Islands towards exotic Rio de Janeiro. The ship and her crew experienced the best sailing between Rio and the isolated British possession of Tristan da Cunha, maintaining the designed speed of 14 knots for several hours during one night. ‘She sailed beautifully,’ recalled Frank Allica, the First Officer, ‘with the wind abaft the beam on a broad reach.’
Tristan to Cape Town produced the worst sailing conditions of the whole voyage, forcing the Master, Captain Chris Blake, to motor for six days in frustratingly light head winds. Cape Town was reached 20 days after leaving Rio with Young Endeavour making an average speed of 7.2 knots.
Young Endeavour anchored off Rottnest Island at 0730 on 1 November 1987 to clear customs, health and immigration. Escorted by an Attack-class patrol boat HMAS Adroit and the West Australian barquentine Leeuwin, she entered the River Swan and the port of Fremantle at 1200, one hour later than the schedule set two years earlier.
During the delivery voyage, Young Endeavour sailed 13,760 nm, of which 9,234 were under sail, 4,526 motor-sailed and 261 solely under main engines. The voyage had taken Young Endeavour 88 days and 11 hours of which 81 days and 15 hours were at sea and 6 days and 20 hours spent alongside. She achieved an average speed of 7 knots whilst underway.Incomparison,thefastesteverpassage under sail from Britain to Australia is an amazing 60 days, achieved on the maiden voyage of the legendary clipper Thermopylae in 1868.
And what was the effect upon Young Endeavour’sfirst crew? ‘They’ve grown up’, said Captain Chris Blake. ‘They’ve learned tolerance and when to back off. It’s restored my faith in human nature that you can put 24 young people in such a confined space for seven months, and, at the end, they’ll all come out friends.’
Young Endeavour’s Handover and Australia Day Celebrations
On the morning of 25 January 1988, the Young Endeavour sailed her last passage under the Red Ensign. The ship’s company led a parade of tall ships, off the back of the Tall Ships’ Race from Hobart to Sydney, through the city to Man o’ War Steps by the Opera House.
Guests of honour, Their Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Wales, arrived by Rolls Royce and took the naval salute from the guard of honour (the Prince of Wales was a former ship’s Commanding Officer of the Royal Navy). His Excellency the Governor-General, Sir Ninian Stephen, representing Her Majesty the Queen of Australia, was the last to arrive.
His Excellency Sir John Leahy, representing the British government, read out Mrs Thatcher’s letter to Mr Hawke, which was carried to Australia by the ship along with the letter from Her Majesty the Queen to Sir Ninian dated 13 May 1987. In reply, Mr. Hawke referred to the gift of Young Endeavouras ‘a reminder of our maritime background but, more importantly, a testament to the enduring friendship between our two countries.’ He continued, stating, ‘…this ship – the Young Endeavour – bears a name imperishably linked with Captain Cook’s great voyage of discovery and the name itself expresses a great deal of our aspirations for our country. The Young Endeavour Youth Scheme will be an on-going legacy of our bicentennial year.’
The British national anthem was played as the Red Ensign was lowered from the gaff peak and the Union flag was lowered from the foremast. Commander Frank Allica, RAN stepped forward to commence the traditional dedication of a new ship entering the Navy, followed immediately by the blessing of the Chaplain of the Fleet and the seafarers’ hymn.
The band struck up the Australian national anthem and the Australian White Ensign rose to the gaff peak and the National Ensign rose to the foremast truck. Young Endeavour was now under Australian government control, with the designation of STS – Sail Training Ship – and as tender to the Sydney shore base HMAS Waterhen. The old and new crews were then presented to the Governor-General and the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The guests of honour were invited to step aboard to inspect the Navy’s latest acquisition; Captain Blake presented Sir Ninian with a Minton bowl, while Their Royal Highnesses were presented with a Royal Doulton crystal decanter engraved with a line drawing of Young Endeavour.With the handover, dedication and presentations completed, Frank Allica took Young Endeavour away from Man o’ War Steps into the harbour, to a brief circumnavigation of Fort Dennison and then to passenger terminal at Circular Quay for the night.
The following day was just as significant, being the 200th Australia Day since Captain Arthur Phillip first raised the Queen Anne flag in Sydney Cove in 1788. The First Fleet Re-enactment tall ships arrived at 1100 hours and anchored in Farm Cove. His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, gave his address to the nation from the steps of the Opera House; and the Royal Australian Air Force orchestrated a fly-past over the harbour at one minute past noon. Young Endeavour once again took centre stage as she led the tall ships in a parade of sail. The delivery crew members were now guests of honour on the ship with Australia as the host.
Milestones
Since the delivery voyage, Young Endeavour has celebrated many milestones including:
1990 Making her first international voyage since her delivery from England to take part in New Zealand’s sesquicentennial celebrations and the opening of the Commonwealth Games.
1992 Completed a circumnavigation of the world, representing Australia at celebrations in Europe and America commemorating the 500th anniversary of Columbus’s voyage of discovery to the New World.
1995 Circumnavigated Australia and represented the nation in celebrations to mark Indonesia’s 50th anniversary of independence.
1998 Participated in Tall Ships 1998, marking the bicentenary of the circumnavigation of Tasmania by Bass and Flinders.
2000 Visited New Zealand where she arranged a rendezvous with the Bark Endeavourin Cook Strait.
2001 Undertook the historic Centenary Circumnavigation to celebrate the Centenary of Federation.
2002 Participated in celebrations commemorating the centenary of explorations by Flinders in South Australia and Queensland.
2003 Celebrated her 15th anniversary and won the Tall Ships Race on Sydney Harbour for Australia Day.
2006 Took part in Auckland’s first Festival of the Sail and passed the baton in the Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton relay in New Zealand.
2007 Featured in the Tall Ships Program as part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum of international leaders held in Sydney.
2008 Celebrated its 20th Anniversary with the Australian community and around 10,000 youth crew alumni members.
2009 Completed a circumnavigation of Australia, embarking more than 700 young Australians for voyages and day sails around the country.
2013 Partook in the Tall Ship Festival 2013 in Melbourne, Hobart, Sydney and Auckland, as well as the International Fleet Review celebrating 100 years of the arrival of the Royal Australian Navy’s first ships in Sydney Harbour. She was then a race entrant in the first ever Sail Training International Tall Ship race from Sydney to New Zealand.
2015 Sailed around the world once more. She commemorated the Centenary of ANZAC off the shores of Gallipoli then sailed onwards to Europe for the Tall Ships Races 2015.
2016 After the world voyage, Young Endeavourcircumnavigated Australia from May 2016 to March 2017. At Shark Bay in October, she was part of the commemorations marking 400 years since the landing of Dirk Hartog.
A New Ship
SinceYoung Endeavour was dedicated to the youth of Australia in 1988, more than 13,500 young Australians have participated in the program. In longitudinal research studies, findings confirm the effectiveness of the program, empowering youth and increasing self-awareness whilst developing teamwork and leadership skills. Equally importantly, it creates an enduring and strong sense of community responsibility. After 30 years of service, Young Endeavour is approaching the end of her economic operational life. A key focus of the Young Endeavour Advisory Board is to ensure the future of the Young Endeavour program. With the continued support of the Federal Government and the Royal Australia Navy, this worthwhile program will continue to provide young Australians with benefits that flow on for the betterment of our society for another thirty years.
Note: Excerpts and research are from The Life & Times of Young Endeavour by David Iggulden.