The History of Young Endeavour
Young Endeavour was designed by the distinguished British naval architect Colin Mudie FRINA, one of the great figures in modern sail training vessel design.
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Mudie had already developed a reputation for creating sailing vessels that combined the traditions of seamanship with the practical demands of modern sail training. His design for Young Endeavour was distinctive: a 44-metre steel brigantine, with two towering masts, a powerful spread of sail and the character of a traditional tail ship, combined with modern construction and equipment.
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She was built at Brooke Marine inLowestoft, Suffolk, on England's east coast. Construction began in 1986 and, on 2 June 1987, Young Endeavour was launched.
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Launching the ship was just the beginning.
On 3 August 1987, she sailed from England on the extraordinary voyage that would take her to her new home in Australia. Her delivery crew included young Australians and young Britons who would experience, first-hand, the very qualities for which the ship had been created.
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They crossed oceans together, stood watches, climbed the rig, learned to set and handle sails and discovered that life at sea has a remarkable way of turning strangers into a crew.
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From Suffolk to Sydney
After months at sea, Young Endeavour arrived in Australia — a ship born in Britain, but destined to become part of Australia’s maritime story.
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On 25 January 1988, in the magnificent setting of Sydney Harbour, the ship was formally presented to the Australian people as Britain’s Bicentenary gift.
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Among those present were the Prince and Princess of Wales — Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales — whose visit formed part of the Australian Bicentenary celebrations.
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It was an extraordinary moment: a beautiful tail ship lying in Sydney Harbour, surrounded by the spectacle of the celebrations, representing not only two nations with deep maritime connections, but an investment in a new generation
