Retrieval mission hits rough water
The crew of a deep water long liner on a mission to retrieve 15 Kiwi fisherman from the South Atlantic Ocean experienced rough waters in the first days their 50-day voyage.
San Aotea skipper John Bennett, of Nelson, said the first night at sea had been a ‘‘rolly old night’’ as the crew dealt with a significant swell, and spent the night ‘‘basically zigzagging like a yacht tacking to avoid the worst of the swells’’.
Bennett said they had ‘‘adjusted their route slightly’’ which gave them smoother conditions, but were now back on their intended route with a promising long range weather forecast predicted.
‘‘Running before the weather is a common occurrence and one that seamen often use to keep their ship in the safest possible condition.
‘‘As the wind and sea builds, we take a more cautious approach, and we adjust the course to keep the weather on the safest quarter. As the front passed and the weather eases we can resume our best course.’’
He said despite the weather conditions, the vessel was on track to complete the 24-day voyage to the meeting point near Port Stanley, on the Falkland Islands, as expected.
Bennett is leading the retrieval mission to collect crew and fish from the San Aspiring which is located off the Falkland Islands fishing for toothfish. Sanford made the decision to collect the crew, many of whom have already been at sea for 138 days, due to the impacts of Covid-19 on their usual travel routes.
The company would usually fly its crew out from the Falkland Islands, but that is not an option now with just one flight a week going from there to the United Kingdom.
The one-off 50-day voyage departed Timaru on Saturday, after a short delay as anti-fouling of the ship’s hull could not be completed due to poor visibility last Friday.
Bennett said the trip will take them down the Southern Ocean and around Cape Horn, the southernmost tip of South America to the Falkland Islands.
Prior to leaving, Bennett said he had made the voyage many times, but never took the trip lightly.
‘‘I’ve been around Cape Horn about 18 times and the San Aspiring has been around 30 times ... but we have to concentrate on what we’re doing.
‘‘We’ve done it many times, but certainly don’t take our eyes off the game. It’s always a challenge, and an exciting one...