Endeavour Sailing 23/2/25 Sunday: Sailing the Endeavour into Sydney Harbour

A sad day, my last full day on the Endeavour including our final sail, but what an awesome sail it was into Sydney Harbour!

I had a normal uninterrupted night’s sleep which felt strange with no overnight watches, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

I went down to the galley, charged my phone and then headed up on deck to watch the sun rise as we slowly motored out of the bay. I was on galley duty this morning so by 7:10 a.m. I was back downstairs in galley working. I was not so worried about missing out on the climbing this morning, compared to the other day. If there is any climbing it will be unfurling sails which is fun, but not as much fun as furling the sails.

By 8:35 a.m. my galley duty was done and I was on deck in my harness, and we were still motoring along. But by the time 'Happy Hour' cleaning was complete the sails were coming down. The only sail my watch unfurled was the triangle staysail out the front of the ship which I have done before, so I didn't mind missing out on climbing out on the bowsprit.

Our watch was on to 12, and I got on to helm the Endeavour under sail for the last time. I have done some helming before but not a lot compared to some people like Ash who has become quite an expert. The Endeavor is so slow to respond and does not turn sharply at all. It’s an interesting, fun challenge steering the Endeavour. I got to helm as the brain for about 45 minutes which was a great final opportunity.

Some of the people in Mainmast watch when they have my phone

Then an amazing, completely surprising event happened, we not only sailed to Sydney, but we actually sailed into Sydney Harbour itself! This is an experience which is really hard to describe as it was so awesome.

The Endeavour is a large historical sailing ship that draw lots of attention, and it being a Sunday there were a lots of boats on the water.

I was manning the port side main topsail brace, which is the rope attached to the port (left side) of the second horizontal yard on the mainmast. Every so often I either had to haul in or release my line (rope) depending on our direction as we weaved into the harbour. I really enjoyed being a small cog in the machine which is the Endeavour as she sailed into Sydney harbour. Much more fun than just sitting around on the deck. This took several hours as we weaved through the buoys down the channel. It was so majestic at this slow pace.

Other boats kept getting close, and several times the Endeavour’s horn had to be blown to remined people to get out of the way.

I don't know Sydney at all, but as we approached the Sydney Harbour Bridge the call went out to furl the square sails!

So, I was quickly climbing up the rigging to pull in the mainmast topsail, my last chance up the rigging. Hanging off a yard almost 100 feet up while approaching the Sydney Opera House was very cool and a surreal experience.

On the Mainmast topsail yard pulling in the sail with the Opera House in the background

Sydney Harbour Bridge from the Endeavour rigging

Pulling up the mainmast topsail, I’m second in on the right

As the centre of sail got stuck by those working near the mast, as such Sophie and I who were out on the yard got to enjoy this unique special view of Sydney for a bit.

great news - Sophie and I stuck out on the yard

Finally, we were called down to the deck just as the Endeavor sailed under the Sydney Harbour Bridge simply using the staysail. It surprises me that almost 600 tons of ship can be moved by one triangle sail, even if slowly.

The Endeavour sailing under one staysail

At the last minute the wind died so the engine was turned on as we approached the Australian National Maritime Museum, and we ever so slowly were berthed against the wharf.

If you thought docking meant things were over, you would be very wrong. Once alongside the wharf a whole range of organised chaos kicked in for several hours from getting the ramps which were stored alongside of the ship back in place, to getting the modern boat off the ship all done via the traditional rigging. Also, all the rubbish had to be removed so a human chain was created.

Mark then asked if anyone wanted a last climb, so of course I quickly said ‘yes’. Brad and I went out on the bowsprit to wrap up the foremast staysail, this being the second time I have done this. My final time on the rigging out the front of the ship with the museum directly in front of me, a great final task, which I loved, through it was strange having a wharf out the front and not the open sea.

Brad and I wrapping the final sail out on the bowspit in Sydney Harbour

Once the ship was changed back into a museum piece, which was very sad it was time for everyone to head to a nearby pub for a final goodbye drink. The next few hours were spent going over all our exiting times on the Endeavour, with all the voyager crew and professional crew together.

We needed to be back on board by 9 p.m. when the museum gates are locked so it was an early night which suited me as I was quite tired after a long day.

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Endeavour Sailing 23/2/25 Sunday: Sailing the Endeavour into Sydney Harbour