IT’S not every 18 year old who gets to sail a tall ship for ten days, but Andrew Kohler is one who has just returned from the journey of a lifetime.
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Andrew Kohler of Nowra set sail on the Queensland leg of the Young Endeavour’s Centenary of Federation, circumnavigation of Australia.
After being randomly selected from a TS Shoalhaven Australian Naval Cadets ballot, his adventure began with calm and balmy weather for two days.
But it was literally the calm before the storm, with Andrew saying the crew of 23 young sailors had little time to prepare for the massive swells and 45 knot gales that were to batter the Young Endeavour soon after.
“There were times when we were even taking water over the side of the ship and water was coming over the bow. I don’t mind admitting a few of us were panicking,” he said.
But it was through teamwork that they weathered the storm, and teamwork is what sailing on the Young Endeavour is all about.
Andrew reported that the ship’s nine naval staff are quick to make it clear what life on board is all about.
“The first couple of days were spent on team building and trust exercises, it’s a very team oriented experience,” Andrew said.
It didn’t matter how seasick anyone was they still did their bit, so as not to let the team down.
“It’s pretty daunting when you first step aboard with a group of people you don’t know and you are told that you will be sailing a ship 44 metres long with, two masts and 10 sails of about 709 square metres.
“We were soon taught how to navigate and work the sails, and on the seventh day the youth crew was put in charge.
Andrew said he would highly recommend the journey to anyone.
“The big lesson I took away with me is the importance of team work, they put you into a situation where you couldn’t get through it unless we worked as a team, it’s very well done.
“I was sleeping in a 12 berth section in the forecastle (extreme front). It’s a very rough part of the ship and we had the anchors banging next to our heads all night, but we were so tired it didn’t matter,” he said.
Andrew has been in the TS Shoalhaven Australian Naval Cadets since he was 13 years old.
The TS Shoalhaven Australian Naval Cadets are the only naval cadets in Australia to nominate students for the Young Endeavour.
It is with the support of local groups such as the Fleet Air Arm Association, Huskisson and Bomaderry RSL Sub Branches and the Naval Association that a cadet is chosen at random and given the experience of a lifetime.
“I would like to thank my commanding officer Sandy Powell for putting the cadets’ names forward for selection,” Andrew said.
