HMNZS RESOLUTION
By LT Jodi Turnbull RNZN
As you read this Resolution is engaged on EEZ patrols and VR training tasks, which are taking us from Tauranga to Dunedin, Lyttelton and Wellington. We are fresh from a three week maintenance period (in June) which was followed by HATS, SATS and various other taskings.
Our maintenance work focused on the Sewage Treatment Plant, the fresh water drains and the cabin flat floor tiles. This proved rather disruptive for us all; however the end result of clean pipes and a new deck was well worth the wait.
An NZ Customs team joined Resolution for 15 - 16 June, to undertake multi-agency boarding party training. We supplied a RHIB and boat’s crew while POET Thompson, who is an expert in boarding party training, provided the instruction to the Customs team. About a dozen Customs personnel were involved over the two days, including a four legged “scent specialist” who demonstrated military-style discipline.
Their first day consisted of an introduction to boarding training including approaches and boarding, voice procedures and communications - both with the target vessel and within the team. They moved through the drills in slow time, focussing on the need for safety. Day two consisted of running through the drills to ensure all personnel were comfortable and confident with the procedures, before undertaking a full hot run, from approach to departure. With these new skills under their belts, the Customs team were very happy with the outcomes achieved and are keen to participate in future training. This exercise was a good example of how our government agencies can strengthen ties by continued multi-agency training.
Resolution was selected as the start vessel for the Auckland to Noumea Yacht Race, on 27 June. It didn’t look good as dawn revealed the city cloaked in a thick blanket of fog, making it difficult to see even across the basin to the IPVs on the Boiler Wharf. MCC, race guests and friends and families remained optimistic as they joined Resolution, hoping for a lovely day on the harbour.
We slipped from Calliope South and entered the channel sounding our fog horn, to take up position at anchor off Orakei Wharf - not that anyone except our confident Navigator could tell where we were. Fog horns and the occasional glimpse of a yacht as it veered around us were the only indications that there was anyone else out on the water.
The Philomel Barge delivered a number of VIPs who joined the other guests gathered on the bridge and bridge wings eagerly waiting to see… something.
About 30 minutes prior to the start of the race the fog lifted enough to see the lower half of North Head and the upper half of the Sky Tower, revealing as well a surprising array of vessels on the harbour. From the large yachts bound for Noumea and the smaller yachts ready for their weekend races to the abundant spectator craft, there was little room left on the water!
MCC had the honour of starting the race with an L1A1 [remember them?] and with a heave on the sheets the ocean yachts were off. It wasn’t long before the yachts had rounded North Head and were out of sight engulfed in fog and settling in for their long voyage to Noumea.
As Resolution weighed and proceeded back to DNB, the fog rolled in again, sealing a very unusual, yet spectacular, day on the harbour.
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