ACROSS THE TASMAN SEA

23rd - 27th Aug 2011

Same-same but different.

I boarded the good ship Bahia on the afternoon of the 23rd in Auckland's Waitemata Harbour. Trapped on board until sailing time because the port authorities won't let you 'go ashore' again once checked in. I went well supplied with extra rations, just in case. The Bahia was remarkably similar to the others, Tanzania and Cap Cleveland in shape and size. There were two notable differences; it had a lift between decks ( luxury ) and it was carrying a 'stable' of six horses. If they had been on the Cap Cleveland we would probably have eaten them.
The Captain this time was, surprisingly, a Scotsman called Peter Handley. Not many Brits on freighter vessels nowadays, I was told. The remaining officers were predominantly eastern European and the crew, as normal, Philippinos. We set sail at about 2030hrs, or however many 'bells' that is.

Our initial route took us north up the east coast and across the top, passing good old Cape Reinga, of Maori spiritual renown ( bad photo left ). Then directly west across the Tasman Sea to Sydney.

Right: The 'stables'. Three trotting horses, two hacks and a 28 year-old Clydesdale. Their groom was called Carl; an ex-Jockey in NZ. He told us that they can get very seasick. I don't think these did. Just for your info, should you be considering it, it costs $NZ3000 per horse for a passage from NZ to Oz.

Left: Carl, the groom ( right ), trying out the life-boat. As per the other ships we were given good instructions on how to launch and drive the life-boat if, in the entirely unlikely event of the ship sinking and none of the crew were left, we had to do it ourselves. Difficult to imagine this happening somehow. 

The horses would go down with the ship. 

Right: Another pic of a container ship at sea. Different ship, different sea but surprisingly similar scene. The weather was calm most of the way across.

Left: The only other passenger, Tiziana. She had been on board for about 5 weeks since the ship left Savannah, Georgia. A very interesting lady.

Right:  Captain Peter, from Edinburgh.

We arrived in Sydney Harbour at about 2200hrs on the night of the 26th. Not under the Harbour Bridge and in sight of the Opera House,  that's where the posh passenger ships go, but into the boring container port, so no interesting photos of the well known sights.

We disembarked the following morning.

More to follow after a few days in Sydney. I will be on the lookout for boomerangs, billabongs, XXXX, didgeridoos, Sydney Opera House and things with which to tie my kangaroo down, sport.
No worries, mate!