Students arrive on dry land after epic sailing adventure

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South Passage sailing back home to Bundaberg.
South Passage makes the journey back home to Bundaberg.

It's been three days of navigating the open ocean and today, 14 Bundaberg Region students put their sea legs on dry land once more when they sailed into Bundaberg Port.

The South Passage arrived under full sail after an epic adventure from Hervey Bay, with students from St Luke's Anglican School at the helm.

According to St. Luke's Anglican College Head of Middle School Ryan Collins, the trip was held annually to provide senior students with the opportunity to gain leadership and team building skills.

“Students have excelled this weekend, taking on leadership roles on the sail including navigation, watches, helming and more,” he said.

“They left from Hervey Bay on Friday and I am pleased to report they had great weather the whole weekend.

“We are incredibly proud of these students and their efforts in what can be a very gruelling and challenging task out on the ocean.”

Student experience

St. Luke's Anglican School student Emily Hocking said her time on the trip had been enjoyable albeit cold.

“We started at the harbour in Hervey Bay and we went over to Fraser Island and down the Great Sandy Straits,” she said.

“We woke up early the next morning and went round to Platypus Bay… we had a stop at one of the bays there and continued up to one of the popular lagoons and stayed there.”

Emily said she had learnt how to crew a ship, tie various knots and command the vessel with her team during the epic journey.

“We all got along really well and had a lot of fun together,” she said.

Emily Hocking on the South Passage
Emily Hocking has spent three days of adventure on the South Passage.

Sailing on South Passage

Students on South Passage have the opportunity to become their own captain.

South Passage is a 100 foot gaff rigged Schooner, built specifically for adventure sailing and education.

The ship is owned and operated by the not for profit association The Sail Training Association of Qld Inc.

Launched in 1993, South Passage has taken over 40,000 young people sailing on voyages varying from six hours to seven days.