A Grand Lady takes a rest - the Young Endeavour is home.

5:36 AM Fri 11 Dec 2009 GMT

'Young Endeavour at speed' .

She's sitting over there at Athol Bay in Sydney Harbour, at rest after her long voyage.

Australia's national Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour arrived at Sydney yesterday, completing a six month circumnavigation of Australia.

During the circumnavigation - the ship's first since 2001 - the Young Endeavour visited ports in Queensland, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.

The theme of the circumnavigation was Banyandah, which means 'home on the water'.

Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour took part in a Tall Ship Regatta, racing the square-rigged ship Leeuwin II for the prestigious Australian Sail Training Association (AUSTA) Billy Can Trophy for 2009. The ships sailed north along the coast of WA from Fremantle towards Cottesloe, before heading out to sea and then racing to the finish line at North Mole. - .. .

The Young Endeavour undertook 14 voyages and raced with the WA tall ship the Leeuwin II (See Sail-World story ).

She also hosted eight community day sails for young people with disabilities, invited local communities to six open days around Australia, and provided unique opportunities for youth in the north and west of Australia, particularly regional and indigenous youth, to undertake a voyage.

Since 1988, the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme, in partnership with the Royal Australian Navy, has provided challenging training voyages for over 11,000 young Australians in the tall ship Young Endeavour.

Voyages are open to all Australians aged 16-23.

For more information please visit www.youngendeavour.gov.au .

by Sail-World Cruising