Fresh oysters with a lemony tang, barbecued prawns, crab rolls, spinach and feta triangles, the platters of food kept on coming around.
Except I could barely eat it.
I had to also limit my intake of champagne on this bright and sunny spring day on Sydney Harbour to one.
Perfect day for Champagne
It wasn’t that I was sick, or not enjoying myself. I was to a degree…
It was because I was about to attempt something my brain tried to tell me was foolish.
I revealed to you a few weeks back what my secret travel fear was. Well, there is another one lurking around in that irrational mind of mine. It’s a fear that had me last year quitting on the High ropes challenge course in Queensland a lot earlier than I should have.
LADDERS
They make me freeze. I can never work out how I can ever get up them, or down.
It’s a long way up
And now I was going to climb up a 15m ladder, otherwise known as a mast, on the Tall Ship on Sydney Harbour.
A mast that sways in the breeze.
Did I mention that there are lots of breezes in the springtime in Australia?
And a mast that sits above shark infested waters.
The Pirate Party
Have I mentioned to you though, that I was once a pirate in a previous life?
I was a pirate once
NO JOKE.
Pirate Philip, as told to me by my chakra-rebalancing-past-life clairvoyant.
Never fear, I only robbed from the rich and that was only because I was poor and had no other choice.
Survival of the fittest, right?
Well, I needed the pirate in me to kick the fear out of me so I could climb that mast, admire the views, take the photos and get back on deck so I could eat more of yummy food, without the sickening dread upsetting its taste, and down some more champagne in celebration.
Gorgeous views
You can’t not sail a tall ship on Sydney Harbour with some of the best views in the world and not drink champagne, or wine, or beer…
Climbing the Mast
“Geez Caz. You’ve bungyed before, you can climb up the mast,” Craig started on his pep talk that he has had to give me many times before in front of ladders.
(‘ll remember that call when it’s time to do bungy Craig- “geez you’ve sky dived before, you can bungy!”)
Usually, I have Craig in front of me or behind lending a hand. But this time he was on the mast opposite me and he scaled up like Spiderman while I was still down the bottom getting my harness clipped on, asking for the safety instructions once again.
“Come on Caz, you can do it. You’ve got a harness on.”
“Just take your time. You’ve got it”
Rung by rung I slowly edged my way up, keeping three points of contact the whole time. My legs wobbled, my breath came out long and drawn, trying to gain courage with each one.
Rung by rung
“I hate this. Why am I doing this?” my mind kept repeating as the mast got narrower and narrower the higher up I got.
“Look up Caz,”
The smile belies the fear
Craig was shoving the camera in my face expecting me to smile. Didn’t he know a smile might just top my wobble over the edge and down to the shark pit below?
“The harness will grab you if you fall and you won’t go anywhere” Jo the pirate instructor told me. No one had tested that theory out yet and I didn’t want to be the first.
“Now how the hell do I get on the pirate viewing deck?”
“Just grab the rope and slowly climb up.”
A twist of the body one way, the other way, a slight pull up, a knee on the deck and before you knew it I reached the pinnacle and could admire the most gorgeous view of one of the most spectacular harbours in the world.
Worth the climb
Craig, who is meant to be afraid of heights, was snapping away and enjoying himself, the fear suddenly gone, and mine started to slide away as the true pirate in me came out.
Hanging over the edge
That really was fun and the reward was worth the swallowing of the fear.
The ship was really packed of eager would-be pirates waiting to climb the mast, and Jo quickly came scurrying up the mast without any harness to hurry us back down. I was slightly disappointed.
Not just because I wanted to keep admiring the view, but because now I had to get back down the ladder.
It was much easier, although my legs still shook and my breath was still heavy which prompted Jo to call up “Are you okay up there?”
“Um yeah.. but I am stuck.”
My harness had gotten caught on the ladder rung and up he came scurrying again to help release it.
“Better that they sometimes get a bit stuck like that then are loose and send you tumbling into the sea.”
“I hear ya Joe!”
Sailing The Tall Ship Experience
I soon hit the deck, unharnessed myself, gave my inner Blackbeard a pat on the back, and headed to the bow of the ship where I thoroughly enjoyed some more prawns, chilled wine, the view and time with my pirate husband.
Ahoy there Bring on the barbie
The pirate workers ran around running the ship and serving us with whatever we needed to make our two hour cruise a pleasurable experience.
A band played traditional Australian folk music from the first settler era giving us the full 18th century sailing experience.
Strike up the band
I sat back to enjoy the sun’s rays chatting to my fellow pirate passengers and the skipper of the boat, who injected the word “ripper” into almost every sentence, really adding to the Australian authenticity to the Tall Ship experience.
Ripper Captain
The Southern Swan was the tall ship we were sailing on. A replica of those that came over on the First Fleet, and rescued by David Warne and Marty Woods five years ago as it sat rotting on the wharves of Sydney Harbour.
Cheers to a great day sailing
The Tall Ship Vision
Dave had a vision to restore history to the harbour and give a unique experience to tourists and locals alike.
The Tall Ship experience
It is now listed as one of the top 10 experiences in Sydney and this month sees the opening of the once in a lifetime mast climb. Not only that but the ship’s billowing sails will cruise past iconic landmarks such as the Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Fort Denison, Luna Park and Taronga Zoo.
Dave’s passion and enthusiasm was really catching and shone through with the way he told us his story and spoke to every passenger on board. Here as someone who truly loves what he does.
And those people have infectious energy that you can’t help but want to experience more of.
Not only was it an enjoyable Tall Ship, pirate adventure but one that inspired me to keep believing in my dream and loving what I do. Only great things can come from it.
Sailing the Southern Swan and Climbing the Mast Facts
Where: Departs from Campbell’s Cove Sydney Harbour
When: 11-1pm on weekends 1:30-3:30pm every day but Tuesday
Cost: 2 hour cruise with BBQ seafood lunch- $89 mast climb- $59
Website: SydneyTallShips.com.au
Want more information? Read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor
Would you climb the mast?
We were guests on the Tall Ship but all opinions are of our own.
Ladders are scary! And not only are they scary, but they’re also really freaking hard to use… but then again, this is coming from someone who regularly injures herself falling on stairs. 😛 This harbor cruise looks like a ton of fun, though, and I like the pirate-y theme.
It was light-hearted fun! If you hurt yourself on stairs a lot then I would be totally freaked out by ladders 🙂
Awww! Sounds like so much fun! 🙂 I totally have to do that!
Put it on your Sydney bucket list!
mmmm prawns on the barbie look delicious.
mmmmm they so are! Washed down with a beer or wine makes them taste even better
Love how you climbed up no matter what your fear was! It looks like an amazing trip 🙂
Thanks for sharing.
Cheers
Lisa
Feel the fear and do it anyway. Would have kicked myself if I let the fear win and missed out on it.
Yow! looks like fun. And delicious!
Nancy
Oh yes I’d climb that ladder! Tall ships are so amazing. I love watching them sail around harbors and wouldn’t miss an opportunity to enjoy one. Plus the shrimp and champagne looked so good!
The food and drink was very enticing. If you ever go on this one, do the mast climb straight away so you can then enjoy the champers. You have to be sober to climb it.
You go girl! Heights and water should never mix! I’m sure your inner Blackbeard was very proud. Gorgeous view! I loved Sydney Harbor and I can’t wait to go back someday.
Sydney Harbour has to be one of the best in teh world and the tall ship goes with the history of the harbour. My inner blackbeard was very proud!
Climbing a tall mast is a scary thing. Normally I have no issues with heights but the swaying makes me feel like I am going to be chucked off. One day when I am in Oz I am going to have to try this!
The swaying was horrible and my legs were shaking just as much. I swore I was going to topple backwards. It really is a cool Aussie adventure and you just can’t beat those Harbour views
This sounds like such a fun adventure! 🙂
The Tall Ships sail by my work all the time and I remember the first time I saw it I thought it was so funny! A pirate ship in the middle of Sydney! But then my workmate said it was some kind of tour and I didn’t think much about it after that. Now I think I might have to try it, I really hate ladders too but it seems like it would be worth it.
Love that shot of you climbing the ladder before you looked up, you look so determined! I’m glad you two enjoyed it and got to enjoy the food and drinks after your accomplishment!
You’ll have to try and get on the ship Annie and climb the mast. It would be such a great experience for you. Where are you working exactly? We’ll have to pop in next time we are in town
I just got a Groupon offer for a Tall Ship adventure so I might just have to book that!
I’m working at the Sebel Pier One in Walsh Bay. Just off the harbour! Come by for a drink/bite anytime! 🙂
We will definitely make a trip there next time we are down. What a nice place to work!
My wife and I visited Sydney on a luxury holiday this year and had such an amazing time. My sister lives in Melbourne so it was amazing to get the chance to see her and explore two of Australia’s greatest cities.
So glad you enjoyed our beautiful country! A luxury holiday sounds like a great way to explore Sydney. I’m jealous
How good do those oysters look eh! I had to lick the screen!
Lick away!
Why did that sound rude?
No not at all. Just trying to be funny back. Weird Australian humour
That looks really fun! I was in Sydney in March and took the ferry to Manly, it was cold! Thats looks awesome fun 🙂
Way more fun than the ferry ride!
I bet! I saw the tall ship race in Scotland in the summer those types of boats look amazing!
You’re braver than me, Caz. Looks like a fabulous experience though. Feeling hungry after the oyster shots too! Yum! 🙂
Sailing doesn’t get much better than that!
Well first of all congratulations for overcoming your fear. You are really brave dear. And the photos posted here are making me really hungry. Sailing really cannot get better than this.
Amazing pictures really looks like a sailing activity to do while in Australia.