Tall Ship Adventures - 8. TSA Chapter 8

“Thanks, Dad, I am glad that we have an aircraft mechanic in the family to keep the bills down to a minimum,” Tim replied. “Brother Tim here is a Commercial Pilot, and does part-time work for a local charter company, to bring an extra income into the family, and Dad was a reservist aircraft mechanic in the Airforce when he was younger,” Jordan informed me, which answered the questions I was wondering about.

“Dad, we need to replace this old girl, there is only a certain amount of patch-ups we can do for an old truck like this,” Tim said to his father. “Yes, I hear you son, and Pops and I have been seriously discussing it, and we have come to a decision. We have found a good quality second-hand truck that is for sale in South Hedland, so once Jordan has completed his latest sailing voyage, he can fly up to South Hedland to pick it up and bring it home,” Mr Sanderson announced.

“Beauty, so what sort of truck is it, Dad?” Jordan asked cheerfully, I listened as Mr Sanderson described the truck in great detail, and both Tim and Jordan looked very happy about this new truck that their family had bought. For the rest of the morning, I tagged along with Tim and Jordan, as they did some repair work to a windmill, located about eight kilometres away from the homestead.

When we returned, I quickly packed up my luggage and stripped the bed of its sheets, which I dropped off at the laundry on my way to the homestead for lunch. “You didn’t need to do that, but thank you anyway,” Mrs Sanderson said to me as I entered. “You are welcome, and it is the least I can do for your hospitality,” I replied.

After lunch, Mr Sanderson drove us out to the airfield, where a three-seater Cessna plane was sitting on the end of the runway, and once our luggage was stowed away, Jordan and I climbed into the back seats, while Tim inspected the outside of the plane before climbing into the pilot seat.

When we arrived safely at Karratha airport, Tim shook my hand and wished me all the best for this voyage and for the rest of the school year, before we set off to the taxi stand to get a ride to the Dampier Jetty. “By the looks of what I have observed, your family is fairly well off,” I commented after we climbed out of the taxi and paid the driver.

“It may appear that way, but we have worked damn hard to get what we have, we just live modestly and only rarely splash out on a few luxuries, like the plane for Tim and the yacht for me, which only the family and now you know about,” Jordan replied, and I nodded in understanding, as we headed for the STS Leeuwin.

“I was beginning to think that you two lads were not going to make it, did you head home Jordan?” the skipper asked as we stepped on board. “Yes Skipper, I was just showing young Zac here, what life on a real cattle station is like,” Jordan said smiling. “I have the sore rear end to prove it too skipper,” I added, which made Jordan and the skipper laugh.

After a crew briefing, Jordan and I headed into town to do some laundry washing and returned to the ship in time for dinner, where the skipper made an unexpected announcement. “I wish to congratulate one of our most talented young volunteer crew members, who as of this moment is a watch leader, due to one of our usual volunteer crew members falling ill at the last moment. Congratulations Zac,” the Skipper said, and everyone applauded or slapped me on the back.

“Well done buddy, I know you will make a great watch leader, you have done the work, so I know that you can do it,” Jordan said to me, “Wow!” was all I could say as I was so shocked by the announcement. The following day, when the new group of participants arrived, sighing, I took a deep breath, before taking a step forward and another, as my week as a watch leader began.

At lunchtime on that first day, the skipper entered the dining area as the participants were eating, and he carefully scanned the room, he saw me watching, smiled and nodded his head, before getting everyone’s attention. “Can I have your attention please… now Most of you know by now, that one of our volunteer crew members and watch leader, is younger than some of you participants. Don’t let this fool you at all, and I do not want you to even try to outsmart him, as he is a very intelligent and skilled sailor.

If I catch anyone, and I mean anyone trying to intimidate, bully, or do anything to make him look bad, it will be you that will be looking bad, as you will be off this ship quickly smart. This is your first and only warning on this matter, understood,” the skipper announced, before turning around and leaving the room. “See, the skipper has your back, and so does all of the permanent crew, and some of us volunteer crew too,” Jordan whispered to me, and I nodded thanks in reply.

After that announcement from the skipper, everything went very smoothly for the rest of the week, and we returned to the Dampier Harbour tired but safe. “I have booked and paid a ticket for you to get home via Perth, travelling with the participants, as a thank you for being such an awesome friend and brilliant sailor. So, what are your plans for the next school holidays in Summer?” Jordan announced to me, as I was packing up my luggage.

“Our family is going to Auckland for the holidays, and while there, Dad has booked me to join the Spirit of New Zealand, a 45-metre-long barquentine leaving on December 28^th,” I replied. “You are spending Christmas in New Zealand? Wow, that will be an awesome experience for you,” Jordan said.

“Yeah, I am kind of looking forward to it, not only for being in New Zealand but also experiencing a different kind of tall ship too,” I responded.

Thankfully I was closer to the front of the aircraft, while the ship participants were all near the back, so I didn’t need to worry about getting disturbed by them, for the flight down to Perth, and one of them was on the same flight up to Geraldton, but was seated well away from me.

I had to wait a few hours before Dad had finished work, to get home from Geraldton, so I spent that time just enjoying walking along the beaches and relaxing and enjoying the warm winter day. Once I was home, I put all my laundry in the wash, and while waiting for that to be done, I started looking at what I needed to do before starting a new school term in two days.

I discussed with my parents and decided to give up the part-time job at the supermarket, as I had too many studies to concentrate on, and I wanted to be able to finish the year with reasonably good grades, although disappointed, my employer was understanding, and she thanked me for all the hard work I had done at the supermarket.

Now working just two days on weekends at the Fish Processing shed, I was able to concentrate more on my studies, and I also made a bigger effort with my sports, to keep nice and fit, ready for my next adventure in New Zealand, which I was looking forward to.

In early December, as I was nearing the end of my final exams, with just one final one to complete, I was walking back to the dorm, when my mobile rang, and the caller’s name on the screen made me smile. “Hello stranger, I haven’t heard from you in a while,” I said as I answered the call. “Hey Zac, well I remember what it was like doing Year 11 exams, so I thought I better let you concentrate on those, instead of distracting you,” Jordan replied.

“So, what are you calling for, by the way, I still have one final exam to complete tomorrow, then I am all done,” I asked, “Oh wow, sorry. I thought you would have finished your last exams a day or two ago. Anyway, I had a call from the skipper, he would like both of us to be crew on the next voyage, leaving Fremantle in a week, on the 17^th for eight days?” Jordan replied.

“So, it ends on the 24^th of December, Christmas Eve?” I asked, “Yes, that is correct. When do you and your family fly out to Auckland?” Jordan replied. “The evening or the afternoon of the 23^rd, I’m sorry, but that means that I won’t be able to make it I am afraid,” I replied sounding a little disappointed.

“Yeah, it is, I was looking forward to catching up with you again. By the way, my brother and I managed to sail the yacht down to Onslow, three weeks ago, where she is securely anchored in the river. The trip was a nice smooth sail, and I can relax a bit more, knowing that the yacht is safe,” Jordan said to me. “Wow, how long did it take you to get down that far?” I asked Jordan.

“Took us ten hours in total, so it was a fairly long day, but we stayed the night in Onslow before flying back home, so we had a good rest, I’m just lucky that I have a great bigger brother who was prepared to help me out, even thou he isn’t a big fan of sailing,” Jordan replied.

“Do you plan on taking the yacht even further south?” I asked, and Jordan laughed at this, “You must be a mind reader, I was considering having the yacht berthed closer to you, so you can keep an eye on it for me,” Jordan said to me, which surprised me a little.

“Why is that?” I asked, “So that I have an excuse to be closer to my sailing buddy,” Jordan replied smiling, “Are you making a pass at me Jordie?” I asked and Jordan smiled, “I might be, but unfortunately I will have to wait for over a year before I can do anything physical,” Jordan replied, which made me blush a little. “Does your family know that you are Bi or Gay?” I asked, and I saw Jordan shake his head sideways.