HMNZS HAWEA—Circumnavigation Completed
By SLT Simon Wasley RNZN
Late in April, HAWEA was in Fiordland. Weather conditions were our biggest challenge; wind, rain and choppy seas ensured the Command Team and our boats’ coxswains were kept on their toes, with the boats deploying up to 30nm from the ship.
HAWEA left the relative calm of the fiords for Stewart Island and Bluff. At Bluff we embarked nine Ministry of Fisheries Officers to conduct training and inspections around Stewart Island and along the south-east coast of the South Island.
The bad weather continued—despite the conditions we carried out boat drills, training, and boardings. On a number of occasions the weather changed within just a few minutes from 15 knots and good visibility to thunder, lightning, hail and 70+ knots of wind!
HAWEA disembarked the Southland contingent of the MFish personnel at Bluff before we headed north for Banks Peninsula. As we proceeded up the coast, fishing vessels from Dunedin, Timaru, Akaroa and Lyttelton were inspected over a two day period.
In Lyttelton we held a Saturday training day for RNZNVR personnel from HMNZS PEGASUS. Two of the PEGASUS ratings remained onboard for the final leg of our patrol back to PHILOMEL. Tuesday 11 May, we sailed to conduct the sombre task of a final farewell and scattering of the ashes of the late Able Seaman Eric Walter (Wally) Donald and Chaplain Selwyn Hadlow. We stopped the ship to the east of Godley Head on that quiet and calm morning for our service.
On completion, we returned to Lyttelton to embark CN and conduct an overnight passage to Wellington. For our ship’s company it was a good opportunity to spend some time face-to-face with CN and the WON.
We disembarked CN in Wellington and departed for Auckland. We had been in rough weather for the majority of the patrol, so why should the last week be any different? HAWEA spent two days zig-zagging up the east coast against a nor’easterly swell and the 40 knot winds. On finally rounding East Cape, we saw the weather slowly start to ease.
On a sunny, clear Auckland morning we shared a short set of OOW manoeuvres and formation entry with MANAWANUI and ROTOITI before securing alongside, after our five week circumnavigation of NZ.
[HAWEA underwent a planned maintenance period throughout June and July, and she will return to sea in mid-August.]
Previous | Contents | Next