Sailing With Enterprize

Trying to search what I can see and do in Melbourne because I know that I will be in the city temporarily. For what I know I will stay in Melbourne until May this year. With that sole reason I even checked for adventures that can be done after office hour. I found a unique but short adventure that does not need me to pack my stuff, no need for accommodation and not so far away from the city.

I searched online and discovered that there is available classic sailing with Enterprize Tall Ship, Enterprize a classic timber vessel that looks like 100 years old, what I mean is it was like a vessel came from 19th century. I never experienced sailing before and definitely not yet experienced to be on boarded in an 19th century ship. My curiosity lies not only in the places that I will be able to see during the cruise but also lies in the ship itself. I checked the website of Enterprize and then booked my tour two weeks before the schedule. Sailing schedule has been set already in their website and all I did was choose the date of the sail and the type of the sail.

I cruised last Friday, March 08, 2013. The meeting place was in Waterfront City Promenade at Victoria Harbour in Docklands Melbourne. After my work that day, I went straight to the meeting place. I arrived at Victoria Harbour and looked around the area if I can see the classic ship nearby. Looking at the time that it’s almost up for the cruise, I worried that I maybe waiting in wrong docking area. I called the person that I was talking previously to confirm my sail and responded with assurance that the sail was not yet started. While talking on the phone, that was the time that I saw the Enterprize. It was a relief that I was waiting in the right place.

I waited in the promenade until the ship stop at the wharf. It is true that Enterprize is a tall ship, at first I thought it was really a small vessel but when it halt in the docking area, I can say it was a tall one. Before I come to sail, I went to Melbourne Visitor’s Centre (I used to visit this one to check where else I can go around Victoria) and I found a brochure about Enterprize Melbourne Tall Ship. One thing that surprised me after reading something in the brochure that the Tall Ship is managed by a non-profit organisation because I thought they were like a tour company that gives unique experience to the people who joined the sail and the crew are volunteers. I learned that this non-profit organisation are assigned to preserve and to promote a significant part of Melbourne’s history. Enterprize has a huge part of Melbourne’s past because it was the ship that used by the people who started settlement in Melbourne in its early days. I found out as well that the original ship was made during 18th century in Hobart (city in Tasmania) and the ship that we will on boarded is a replica of the Enterprize.

The ship was ready and people who scheduled to sail that night on boarded the ship. I felt excited because two things that I experience that night, one is cruising or sailing and the other one is hopping on the historical and classic ship. The crew of the vessel talked about the Enterprize and took care of us in the whole journey. The sail begun and from the ship, I saw Victoria Harbour in a different angle. I enjoyed the scene all the way from the harbour. I knew that the sail will not really going far because it was just 1.5 hours voyage. At the trip, I met two Indian ladies who are twins and born in Australia, they are look asian but their accents are not anymore. They were the people who I grouped with along the journey.

Enterprize

Inside the cabin of the ship

Leaving Victoria Harbour in Docklands

On our way to Bolte Bridge

With the sunset view on the way

The sail was from Victoria Harbour in Docklands up to before we reach the West Gate Bridge. I remembered I asked one of the crew in the ship why a lots of ferries are passing the ship (what I meant that time was the ship was not fast) and he answered me that we’re not traveling, we’re sailing, that very moment I realised the difference of traveling and sailing.

Rigging Climb of Enterprize

West Gate Bridge

Snapshots of surrounding area

Limelights of Victoria Harbour

Bolte Bridge on our way back to the harbour

Victoria Harbour at night

At Waterfront City Marina

During the sail, people on board like me given an option to help the crew during the cruise or do the rigging climb. At first I did not took any of the options, but in the end I chose to climb the rigging of the ship. I was nervous but I was looking up for it that was why I wore rubber shoes that time. Before I did the climb, the crew helped me prepared to wear the harness for my safety. And then, another crew helped me during the climb. I took my time while going up and took some time to at the top of the rigging to feel the wind and to see the surroundings from above. All in all it was a great experience.

I went down the rigging and we were on our way back to the harbour. During those period, since it’s night, I took photos of Victoria Harbour on its lime lights.

I enjoyed my first ever sailing adventure.