Sixteen-year-old Lachlan joined Young Endeavour in Brisbane and spent 11 days island hopping with 19 other young Australians all the way to Mackay.

“This was the first time I had sailed on the ocean,” Lachlan said.  

“Back home we waterski at Condobolin, but that’s as close as I had gotten to the water before.

“Being on Young Endeavour has been amazing, meeting new people and trying something really different.”

During the voyage, the youth crew learnt how to sail the brigantine; including how to navigate, keep watch, cook in the galley, take the helm and climb the 30 metre mast to work aloft, setting and furling sails.  

The youths live and work with a diverse range of people from across Australia and are encouraged to pursue personal and team goals and challenges in an unfamiliar environment.

“Getting out on the yards up the top of Young Endeavour was a bit of a challenge,” Lachlan said.

“I’m ok with heights but you rock around a bit while you’re up there.

“The first time I was a bit iffy about it, but I’m fine with it now.

“The best bit of the trip was learning to sail and working together with the other youthies to achieve a common goal.  

Lachlan said the group did pretty well on command day.

“I’ve made heaps of new friends, learnt leadership and teamwork skills and seen some awesome things,” he said.

“We saw heaps of dolphins and whales and I even got to pat a turtle.”

Young Endeavour is Australia’s national sail training ship and was presented to Australia by the United Kingdom for Australia’s bicentennial in 1988.  

The Royal Australian Navy delivers the award winning youth development program.

Young people aged 16 – 23 years old can apply for a chance to set sail on the voyage of a lifetime at www.youngendeavour.gov.au