STS Young Endeavour (1987)
STS Young Endeavour is an Australian tall ship. Built by Brooke Marine (which became Brooke Yachts during the vessel's construction), Young Endeavour was given to Australia by the British government in 1988, as a gift to celebrate Australian Bicentenary. Although operated and maintained by the Royal Australian Navy, Young Endeavour delivers up to twenty youth development sail training voyages to young Australians aged 16 – 23 each year. Navy personnel staff the ship and the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme coordinate the voyage program. During each voyage the ship embarks up to 24 young Australians who learn the skills required to sail a square-rigged tall ship; including how to navigate, keep watch, cook in the galley, take the helm and climb the mast to work aloft, setting and furling sails. They are encouraged to pursue personal and team goals and challenges in an unfamiliar environment as they learn to sail a square-rigged tall ship. Near the end of the voyage, youth crew elect a command team who take full responsibility for Young Endeavour for 24 hours, sailing the ship along the Australian coast. On their last day at sea, the youth crew host a local group of youth with special needs, sharing their newfound knowledge and experience. Design and construction Young Endeavour has a displacement of 239 tonnes. The ship is in length overall and in waterline length, has a beam of , and a draught of . The vessel is brigantine-rigged, with a tall mainmast, and ten sails with a total area of . Auxiliary propulsion is provided by two Perkins V8 M200 TI diesel engines, providing each. Young Endeavour can achieve speeds of under sail, or running on the diesels. The vessel is a sister ship to , a Malaysian Navy sail training ship. The ship was ordered by the British government as a gift to Australia in recognition of Australian Bicentenary. Designed by naval architect Colin Mudie, Young Endeavour was laid down by Brooke Marine (which became Brooke Yachts during the vessel's construction) in May 1986, and was launched on 2 June 1987. On 3 August, Young Endeavour sailed from Lowestoft in England to Australia, via Rio de Janeiro, Tristan da Cunha, and the waters of Antarctica. On 25 January 1988, Young Endeavour was handed over to the Australian Government. The ship's motto is carpe diem, Latin for "Seize the day". Young Endeavour Youth Scheme Although the Australian government decided that Young Endeavour would be operated and maintained by the Royal Australian Navy, the vessel would be used to provide sail training to Australian youth. The "Young Endeavour Youth Scheme" was established in 1988 as a not-for-profit organisation, with a civilian management and administration team based in Sydney, the ship's homeport. The scheme's aims are to develop teamwork and leadership skills in Australian youth, while increasing participants' self-awareness and sense of community spirit. Under the scheme, 24 to 30 "youth crew" (aged between 16 and 23) join a voyage to supplement the 9 or 10 naval personnel from