Hello Everyone,

As we reflect on the year so far it amazes me what we have achieved. Through the dedication of our volunteers and supporters we have seen a successful expedition to the Australian Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart, we have expanded our outreach program with the Rotary International Youth Sailing Challenge, increased fundraising efforts, and enhanced our community engagement. These accomplishments are a testament to the collective effort and unwavering commitment of everyone involved.

This year finds the ship in a much less perilous situation than we were 12 months ago. Through the generosity of our supporters we were able to make it through and we dearly hope this generosity will continue. Our biggest challenge ahead is finding a new home for the Enterprize and as the new apartments move down the wharf in Docklands, we are committed to securing a permanent home for the ship and the organisation.

Looking forward, we are excited by the continued support of our community, with which we are confident in our ability to achieve these goals and make a lasting difference.

On behalf of the Trustees of Enterprize, our future remains strong as we all make our contribution to the ship and programs.

Scott Chapman AM
Chair
Enterprize Ship Trust

Every two years, the Australian Wooden Boat Festival is held as a celebration of sailing, tall ships and maritime culture. This year, it took place between the 7th and 10th of February and we were delighted to participate by opening our ship to the public, running daily sails and featuring in the parade of sail.

It takes a massive combined effort from our crew to get the Enterprize from her berth at Docklands, Victoria to Elizabeth St Pier, Hobart, and back to Docklands within the span of 4 weeks. One of our crew details their experience of the return voyage in their log.

"Everywhere around us there was not a single spec of landmass, nor island, nor ship, nor object dotting the horizon. Just the Enterprize, and our hearty, gutsy crew making our way across the dip. We encountered conditions both great and challenging. Dolphins, bioluminescence and an unmarred night’s sky at times revealing shooting stars and numerous satellites. It was a fascinating insight into how mariners lived their lives 200 years ago, and I was astonished at the workmanship and resilience this old vessel had in managing to carry us from one landmass to another, and through rough conditions all the same."

You can read the full account of the return voyage on the link below.

Traditional sailmaking is a time-honored maritime craft rooted in the age of wooden ships and wind-powered exploration. Long before the advent of synthetic fabrics and digital design, sailmakers shaped canvas by hand, relying on generations of knowledge, skilled workmanship, and a deep understanding of wind and water.

Sailmakers begin by drawing out a full size drawing of the sail in a process called lofting. From there the panels are cut from the linen fabric. Panels are stitched together by hand with a sailmaker's palm to push the needle through all the layers of canvas. Corners are reinforced with multiple layers, patches, and hand-sewn rings. Eyelets for ropes and reef points are stitched in, allowing sailors to control the size and shape of the sail in changing wind conditions.

The craftsmanship involved is considerable. A well-made sail needs to withstand not only the force of the wind but also saltwater, sun exposure, and constant handling. Traditional sailmaking is a rare but respected skill, kept alive by maritime museums, heritage shipyards, and dedicated craftspeople. Enterprize Ship Trust proudly helps to keep these skills alive by continuing to use traditional methods to make our sails.

Several times a year we partner with the Rotary International to deliver a sailing programme that aims to provide an uplifting experience for a cohort of young people. Many of our crew greatly value this opportunity, and one has written about our most recent voyage.

“Over the first weekend of April we ran the “Rotary Youth Sailing Challenge”. We had the privilege of taking 10 incredible young people out on the ship for 4 days for the purpose of sail training and youth development. Our “Voyage Crew” were aged 15 to 18 and came to us from a range of backgrounds, experiences, and goals for the voyage.

On board the Enterprize, the voyage crew got to experience just what it takes to crew a tall ship and keep her running - not only setting the sails and handling the ship, but assisting with the cooking and cleaning that keeps the crew happy and healthy, and working together to look after each other in the face of some truly challenging weather.

At one stage,we had 8 of our 10 trainees experiencing sea sickness, yet they pulled together with determination and good humour and persevered. We are incredibly proud of these young people taking every challenge presented to them by either the conditions or the programme in their stride and accepting them as part of this unique experience.

An excellent time was had by all, and everyone went home with plenty of new experiences and stories to tell.”

If you know a young person who might be interested in a life changing adventure, please visit the Rotary Youth Sailing Challenge Website

Winter Layup

As winter has begun to settle across Victoria, we have entered our maintenance period, where our dedicated volunteers and masters give the ship some much needed care. A few of these tasks include tarring the natural hemp ropes, oiling the timbers and polishing the brass.

Spring Sailing Season

We return to our spring sailing season at the end of August, and are eager to return to our regular Williamstown and Geelong sails. We’re always looking for new opportunities to add to our schedule, so check out our sailing calendar regularly.

Bass Strait Adventure

One of our most exciting events is scheduled for the Melbourne Cup weekend - a 5 day nautical adventure into the infamous Bass Strait. During previous voyages, we have sailed to picturesque locations such as King Island, Lorne and Wilsons Promontory.

These voyages are challenging, once in a lifetime adventures, and an opportunity to experience the freedom and majesty of the sea. We have very limited spaces available, if you want to secure your bunk, please contact sailing@enterprize.org.au for further information.