PRIDE OF THE ADFA TRAIN IN JAMES CRAIG

For the third time the 1000 tonne, 136 year-old, fully restored and operational Tall Ship, the barque James Craig became a sail training and leadership classroom for 20 Navy, Army and Air Force personnel who are midshipmen and officer cadets of the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) in Canberra. The group was led by Major Ross Cable, OC, 113 Squadron, ADFA. Also attending the five day event were 19 personnel from Australia's Federation Guard.

The first two days of the course were taken up with training during which the delegates were introduced to the ship and taken through an Occupational Health and Safety induction course before moving on to more interesting topics including line handling, climbing, loosing sails into their gear and refurling, emergency procedures and the like. For the next four nights, when not on watch, the students slept on board in hammocks and stretchers.

The introductory training was followed by three days at sea. The weather on the first day was relatively light but that soon changed. Day 2 saw the ship sailing at speeds of 10 knots or more in winds of 15 to 20 )mots. The final day saw the wind reduce slightly but the sailing remained exceptional. Day 3 also saw the ship carrying.all 21 of her sails including the rarely set mizzen gaff tops'l.

An objective of the sea time was to get everyone helping to sail the ship and some to become assistant watch leaders. It was also stressed to the personnel that they should use the cruise to get an appreciation of the environment at sea, further enhance their teamwork skills and have fun. All these objectives were met.

An ADFA trainee begins his climb

An objective of the sea time was to get everyone helping to sail the ship

Learning the ropes

The Foredeck Watch - James Craig regular crew and ADFA personnel together

As the time at sea increased, it became very obvious that a strong bond was developing amongst the individual watches. Better still, bonds of friendship and mutual respect were being strengthened between the arms of our Defence Force. The distinctions between permanent James Craig crew, who were out there as trainers, and Defence Force personnel soon disappeared and, in its place, a true crew emerged.

They say that an army fights on its stomach. In its usual understated way, the galley kept the sailors, soldiers and airmen and women fed and morale remained high as a result. The personnel contributed by playing 'peggy' and it says a great deal about the new friendships, that no one complained and all accepted it as part of the experience.

On the last day at sea one of the cadets was heard saying that he had "Been to the royals three times". He added, "Each time, I was terrified of the experience but proud that I had done it." Like most of those aboard, he will remember that experience for the rest of his life.

The training fostered teamwork and initiative and required the Defence Force personnel to extend themselves beyond their comfort zones and the people involved could not have done more to make it the success that it was. There can be no doubt that the Australian Defence Force Academy regards James Craig as a well founded ship run by a highly motivated and professional volunteer crew.

John Dikkenberg, Master of James Craig during the exercise, set four objectives for the voyage. They were to:

• Learn the environment at sea;
• Develop teamwork by sailing the ship;
• Integrate and encourage comradeship between the three arms of the Australian Defence Force; and
• Enjoy the experience.

In the after-cruise debrief, he reported that these objectives, and many more, had been well and truly achieved.

He commended the Defence participants on being energetic, professional and friendly advocates for their various Services. He also commended Svdnev Heritage Fleet trainers, crew and supporters for their outstanding efforts in preparing the ship and students for a safe, busy and challenging three days at sea.

In a signal sent to Sydney Heritage Fleet, Rear Admiral James Goldrick, Commander Australian Defence College, said "(the exercise) seems to have gone extremely well. Can you please pass my personal thanks to the James Craig permanent crew, who were first class in the way that they related to the midshipmen, officer cadets and AFG members and really looked after them superbly?"

Readers will be interested to learn that a visit to Hobart is being proposed for early next year to coincide with the bi-annual Australian Wooden Boat Festival which will be held from 11 th to 14th February. If the cruise eventuates it will be James Craig's third visit to our southern state's capital since her re-commissioning. The first such cruise was in 2005 and the second in 2007. Further ahead a cruise to Melbourne may be possible in 2011.

For these interstate cruises James Craig can carry up to 12 fare paying passengers. Persons interested in these voyages should contact events@shf.org.au

Author's Note: Contributors to this article were John Dikkenberg, Peter Cole, Mary and Steve Robinson, Morrin Grigg and Nick Papageorgiou.