I’ve never really considered myself to be a sailing man but yesterday I had an experience to remember.
Just after half past five yesterday afternoon we set sail for a twilight cruise on the Leeuwin II. It was magnificent.
Leeuwin II is Western Australia’s own Tall Ship, a 3-masted barquentine with over 810 square metres of sail and a length overall of 55 metres.
We didn’t have any cannons on board so it wasn’t quite Pirates of the Caribbean but it felt pretty close.
The ship is operated by the Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation, a private non-profit organisation based in Fremantle, Western Australia.
98.5 Sonshine FM was broadcasting live from the deck of the ship during the afternoon while it was still tied to the dock at Fremantle. Once the live broadcast finished at four o’clock the ship was made ready to sail.
A number of guests were invited to join the Sonshine FM team for almost three hours heading out to sea. Once we’d cleared the harbour the crew and any willing helpers set about hoisting the sails.
As well as helping with raising the sails, guests were able to take the opportunity to steer the ship. James spent quite some time behind the wheel. It was an amazing experience for an eight year old boy.
The ship’s cook had been busy and we were all served some excellent finger foods as we watched the sun continue to drop into the water.
Anyone over the age of fourteen was able to take up the challenge of climbing some of the rigging up one of the three masts. I was more than happy to stand back and let others give it a go. I’m not good with heights and that wouldn’t have been a good experience for me.
Unfortunately, about half way through the voyage, a number of people started feeling queasy, including Pauline, Emily and James. I was amazed how good I felt right through the trip. (To prove how good I was feeling, the photo in this post was taken quite late in the voyage.) Even though James felt quite unwell he says that he’d be happy to sail again if the opportunity ever presents itself. I’m not so sure about Pauline and Emily.
My dad spent years at sea on a cargo ship, which of course is a very different vessel to the Leeuwin II, but I guess part of my enjoyment of being out on the water must have come from him.
Posted by Rodney Olsen
Technorati Tags: Leeuwin – Sailing – Tall Ship
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Sounds like you guys had alot of fun. Unfortunately I missed the broadcast. Is it available on AOD?
It was great fun, Scott. I don’t know if the interviews from the afternoon will be put online but we did talk to someone from the Leeuwin during the Simply Living programme with Jill Bonanno and that’s certainly available now.
Hey Cuz! Didn’t you know that our Grandfather came to Australia from Denmark (as in Scandanavia)on a three masted sailing ship when he was in his teens! That’s where us Olsens get our sea legs from 🙂
Shiver me timbers matey!
Sounds like so much fun. It is great that the family was able to ‘enjoy’ the experience as well. hmmm, now I kinda want to rent “Master and Commander” again 😉
…blessings
Peter, I knew that he jumped ship after sailing from Denmark but I don’t think that I knew it was a three masted sailing ship.
I don’t know how well I’d go on a voyage of that distance. 🙂
Well Cuz! It was late 1800’s or early 1900’s when he jumped ship (illegal alien?)in Melbourne. Not sure if it was on that trip but at one time he was high on the rigging (I’m romanticising with the ‘high’ bit but I am presuming so)and he dropped a rope. A big hulking Swede told him, “Olsen! You do that again and I’ll drop you to the deck!” There weren’t any signs on the ship saying, “CAUTION! DROPPING ROPES OR YOURSELF TO THE DECK IS HARMFUL TO YOUR HEALTH” ( presumption again), but he took the advice from the Swede and here you and me are!
As for you coping with a voyage from Demark to Australia on a rigging ship…. you could do it!!! Man! I’D LOVE TO DO IT!!!!!
I love to be on the water in any type of boat and don’t get the opportunity often enough. A three masted ship is on my to do list as is visiting Australia so maybe someday I’ll be able to do both. I will pass on climbing the rigging though. The pitch of the ship wouldn’t make me queasy but I’m sure the climb would.
There ar some beautiful phgotos of the ship at sunset at http://tinyurl.com/2arfc6
enjoy
Hi Rodney,
Just passing by. Nice to come across a Christian aussie blog. I’ve just moved to Port Lincoln at the beginning of the year from Northern Ireland to minister to two churches.
God bless!
Great picture! Looks like you had fun.
Excellent stuff – I have to tell my Dad about this post – he has a yacht anchored down at Torpoint in the south west of England…