Hobart sails into city

Tasmanian commands navy ship arriving for big event

EXCITEMENT is building for 10 Tasmanian sailors ahead of their return home aboard the HMAS Hobart docking this weekend.

The ship arriving into port on Sunday for the 183rd Royal Hobart Regatta is being commanded by Andrew Pepper, pictured, who was appointed to the role in December.

HMAS Hobart, named for the state’s capital city, is the lead ship of the Hobart-class air warfare destroyers used by the Royal Australian Navy.

Commander Pepper said he was pleased to be docking in Hobart — his first voyage to his home state as the ship’s commanding officer.

“It is fantastic to bring a ship like this back home to Tasmania and I am particularly excited to drive it up the River Derwent,” the former St Virgil’s College student said.

“There is no better feeling than being able to bring 10 Tasmanian sailors back to see their homeland and equally provide 214 excited sailors with their first glimpse of Tasmania

– what a great place.”

The 41-year-old, who was previously staff officer for fleet commander and was chief of staff to sea combat commander at Sydney’s Fleet Base East, said he joined the navy to expand his horizons.

“I joined the navy when I was 19 because, being a boy from Tassie, I wanted to get a university degree and see the world,” Commander Pepper said.

“The

Royal

Hobart

Regatta is going to be a great event. We have the RAN band playing and fly-pasts by the RAAF Roulettes and P8A Poseidon and HMAS Hobart will be in the thick of it, surrounded by power boats, wooden boats and the swim. “It is an exciting event.” The regatta kicks off 9am on Saturday with events including the Roulettes, Sea Scouts kayak races and the Bruny Island Yacht Race.