NT 103.indd - Royal New Zealand Navy

A SEARIDER’S TALE
TE MANA’s XO, LTCDR Dave McEwan, observed by LTCDR
Nick Davey (who was sea riding) and CPOSCS Shane Dixon
as the frigate manouvered in Sydney. MC 05-0342-29
HMNZSTEMANA
By Jane Reilly, DNB Photographer
On 17 July I joined 20 tri-Service
personnel in HMNZS TE MANA
for the passage from Sydney
to Auckland. While my fellow
sea-riders were there to experience
‘Sea-familiarisation’ I was aboard to
document life in a frigate (in particular,
to provide photographic evidence of the
apparently elusive creature ‘an offi cer
at work’!)
Our RNZAF flight to Australia was
punctuated by the crew’s gleeful updates
on “the terrible sea state down
there”. One Air Force sea-rider gazing
down at the surging Tasman threw up,
while another laughed at the suggestion
they would require seasick medication
“as it was just like fl ying”.
Upon arrival, after a brief on the
rules, I was shown my berth and then
the heads by the two girls below my top
bunk - who asked if I got seasick. Settled
by noon, there was time for a walk up to
Kings Cross. The boys had been busy in
my absence taking note of every sink
and toilet they passed in case it needed
to be returned to urgently…. it would be
several days before any of us managed
to locate the bridge. Over dinner we
compared messes, the Army exclaiming
“Luxury, Bloody Luxury!” - they had
expected to be sleeping in hammocks
on the Quarterdeck. Those of us who
ended up in the 3rd level messes were
very cramped! We tended to spend most
of our spare time in the Dining and Rec
rooms. My cabin mates, besides calling
me a spaceman, were very friendly and
happily explained their roles and day-today
working of the ship. I also got to hear
some great stories!
It was noted there appeared to be
only one small boat to clamber into. The
safety demo the following morning assured
us that liferafts did exist, the bum
bags did not carry Donald Duck water
wings and you are able to put a plastic
bag over your head safely. The sea riders
then quickly assimilated into the crew
learning about the ship and making
themselves useful where possible.
Time to sail; twice there were “technical
diffi culties” leaving the wharf and the
engineers’ best efforts were thwarted by
the guy who forgot to put the part on the
plane. (Later, under cover of darkness, a
party of engineers was observed allegedly
heading stealthily in the direction
of the Australian dry dock.)
Our hosts entertained themselves
by scaring the sea riders witless with
tales of the voyage from Cairns to
Sydney. “The picnic tables on the
quarterdeck were smashed, a 120kg
pump toppled, various safety equipment
was now missing and the store
compartment full of water.” Gleefully
they informed us it would be much worse
on the way home…by now we were
getting nervous.
Tuesday, and all nervousness was
quickly forgotten as we sailed out of
Sydney Harbour, a wonderful sight
– and a highlight of the trip. Once past
the Heads however, the Tasman took a
toll on our jolly swashbuckling band so
that by Day Two only four of us remained
standing.
With the Tasman well on its way to the
predicted 7 metre waves, the scheduled
Seasprite fl ying and live night-fi ring exercises
were cancelled, but we did observe
the FB10x operating, man overboard,
toxic gas drills and several sea-sick
sailors. An RNZAF Orion joined us for an
exercise and fl ew past providing a photo
opportunity at sunset with Cape Reinga
in the background.
The Ops Room and Machinery Control
Room were pretty high-tech, but I
thought the Bridge would have had more
‘bells and whistles’. But when the ‘high
tech’ dishwasher broke down, the team
on dishwashing duty had to do the lot by
hand! Once in calmer waters the sea-riders
began to emerge. Assisted by the sea
riding MAF offi cer, the crew emptied the
freezers throwing the remaining foreign
produce (veges and fruit from Australia)
overboard. Bob, the MAF officer, said the
NZ products in the freezer did not have
to go overboard as they were returning
to their country of origin. The crew also
offered to empty the beer fridge, which
was stocked with foreign product.
At dawn on the home stretch into
Devonport we said goodbye to the Seasprite
crew and then enjoyed the scenery,
having joined the crew in Procedure
Alpha on deck.
Those of us who weren’t violently ill
enjoyed the experience immensely and
have no reservations about going to sea
again. I didn’t even feel queasy – and
now I am currently doing my Day Skipper
course - so if someone tells me to
go to port or starboard I can head in the
right direction!
Thank you to the crew of TE MANA for
their hospitality and for sharing the many
tales of their adventure up to Russia. All
who disembarked, both crew and sea riders,
had no doubt they had experienced
the trip of a lifetime.
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