Ten young Tasmanians have returned to Hobart after a nine-day voyage aboard tall ship Windeward Bound, where they battled rough weather, learned to sail the vessel and took on leadership roles at sea.
The STV Windeward Bound, a 33-metre wooden brigantine built from Tasmanian timbers, arrived on Monday carrying ten young voyagers and crew led by Captain Sarah Parry AM.
The voyage marks a three-decade partnership between the Windeward Bound Trust and Rotary clubs in Hobart, with thousands of young people taking part over that time.
Voyager Heather Kean, 15, was elected captain by her peers during “command day”, where participants take responsibility for running the ship for 24 hours.
She said the group was hesitant at first but quickly bonded.
“At first we were all like really shy and quiet and we didn’t talk and then by the end we all just knew what we were doing, we all had a great time and we all knew each other,” she said.
Kean described the experience as “once in a lifetime” and said she would do it again “100%”.
Fellow voyager Daniel Sorrentino, also 15, was elected watch leader on command day.
He said the experience had helped him develop stronger teamwork and communication skills.
“Honestly, just team building, my communication and honestly just my output on like everyday life now, I just want to do better every day, try my best with everything,” he said.
Sorrentino said he would encourage any young person to take part.
“Go out there, give it your best shot, definitely worth it,” he said.
Captain Sarah Parry said the voyage was designed to challenge young Tasmanians while helping them build confidence and teamwork skills.
“Every voyage carries a cross section of Tasmania’s young people and after nine days at sea they step ashore more confident, more capable and more certain of what they have to offer,” she said.
“These young Tasmanians have gone through wild weather and all the testing conditions you can expect on Tasmanian waters especially around Storm Bay and they did it together, which is what these voyages are about.”
Rotary International director Jennifer Scott said the experience continued to show the impact of the long-running partnership.
“It’s given them self-esteem, it’s given them courage and it’s given them the knowledge that they are capable of doing amazing things,” she said.
“Because this wasn’t all smooth sailing, they coped with tough conditions and made it.”
Scott said the experience was particularly valuable for young people at a time when many were feeling increasingly disconnected, with participants spending the voyage without their phones and relying on each other to operate the ship.
The Rotary Youth Challenge Voyage was supported by the Rotary Clubs of North Hobart, Sandy Bay and Salamanca as part of a long-running partnership between Rotary and the Windeward Bound Trust.
Since the program began, close to 7,000 young people have taken part in Windeward Bound youth voyages.
The next voyage will depart Hobart on December 8, with applications expected to open soon.
