8 March 2006
Oh, buoy
© Greenpeace/ Sharomov
Ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding!
I scramble for my boots (in case of fire) and get myself on deck. I've been down below so I'm nearly the last there and people are already springing into action. Two members of the crew are getting an inflatable ready for launch while the Bosun operates the boat crane. Everyone else is pointing an arm out to sea. The First Mate gives me my orders: "Help the Captain steer to the man over-board. See where they are pointing? Point too." Peering out to sea I finally spot our "man over board" (a large orange buoy), and keep my arm furiously pointing at it as the ship veers around.
© Greenpeace / Sharomov
By now the crane is picking up the inflatable and lower it over the side. A couple crew hop in and the little boat is pulled along at speed by the ship. Its engine bursts into action, they unhook it and are off in the direction of the pointing.
Within five minutes it's all over. The very orange "man over board" is safely back on board, the inflatable is stowed away again and our medic is dutifully checking whether the buoy needs resuscitated.
"That buoy is too easy to spot ... next time we'll put someone in the water," the Captain muses, as I shuffle quietly behind the nearest boat and look inconspicuous!
As if that isn't enough excitement for one day ... boat training is next on the agenda. All the crew (except me), have boat experience. Today we'll practice getting people from the inflatables, on and off the Warrior while it is travelling at speed. I don a life jacket and climb in.
© Greenpeace / Sharomov
The trick is to slide in to the side of the ship in between the bow (front) wave and the stern (back) wave, then keep up at the same speed while edging in, then finally nudge the side of the ship, steering towards it. This locks the inflatable to the ship, making it safe to get in and out.
There are waves rolling down the side of the ship and I can see through the crystal clear water and under the Warrior. The view gives me a real sense of our place in the ocean.
And then... I get to drive an inflatable! I'm totally convinced I'm going to flip it, but am told that it's actually quite hard to capsize them. For a flat sea it seems quite rough to me and as we splash from peak to peak, I wonder what it's like to go out in higher seas. I'm not doing that badly at the rudder for my first time, managing to stay parallel to the ship for a while, then getting pushed aside by the bow wave. I leave the docking manoeuvres to those with more experience ... this time.
Seeing the Warrior out at sea while circling it in an inflatable is amazing; with a pang of emotion I realise how attached I am to my new home.
- Sophie
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Comments
Hi Sophie
well I guess I won't be seeing you in New Zealand!
Nice one, this sounds like a great project and it's great reading all of your stories.
good luck with the jibbooms and bobstays and stuff
lots of love
Fran xxx
Posted by: Fran at March 9, 2006 5:17 AM
Go Soph!!
reminds me of Dean when he first drove an inflatable when we did our training. His first comment: "but I don't have my driving licence" and was assured this didn't matter. He then proceeded to shriek at very loud volume whilst driving the inflatable at high speed. We didn't capsize.
take care out there we're all very excited for you. xx cindy
Posted by: cindy at March 9, 2006 9:10 PM
Hi Soph,
Sounds incredible and you've only been on board a few days. Thought you might like a joke, keep up with us land-lubbers.
Swallows & Amazons For Ever!
Leanda
A bear, a lion and a chicken meet.
Bear says: "If I roar in the forests of North America, the entire forest is shivering with fear."
Lion says: "And if I roar on the great plains of Africa, the entire savannah is afraid of me."
Says the chicken: "Big deal. I only have to cough, and the entire planet sh*ts itself."
Posted by: Leanda at March 10, 2006 7:39 AM
Hey! Nice one Soph, I could never get the hang of ROUs. Guess you'll have to teach me when you get back to the Orbital. Which currently has snow!
Love peace 'n beer, Spencer
Posted by: GCU Historical Precedent at March 11, 2006 12:36 PM
Hey Sophie and the rest of the crew!!!!
we are having a wicked time travelling round the south island and talking to everyone on the streets about the awesome work you guys are up to over there! keep it up :)
big hugs
from hannah and the rest of the south island fronties :)(NZ)
Posted by: Hannah at March 15, 2006 5:30 AM
