Dits from the Droggy Chapbook

 

Some dits from the Droggy Chap Book.

 

As with most branches, dits rule our (Droggy) lives.  Below are a few from my pen.

Where – Foveaux Strait

When - Sometime in 1981

Who – Inshore Survey Craft Takapu and Tarapunga surveying?

On the western side of the strait (Kawakaputa Bay Tidal Station), I was part of a team rescuing the fallen tidepole (freezing bloody cold and no wetsuits) We were taking a break and to keep warm we all hunkered down in the Green Peril (Short Wheelbase Straight 6 Blueframe Toyota Landcruiser)

The Green Peril, as with all our 4X4’s, was fitted with an HF radio and we were always monitoring traffic from the ISC’s.  Suddenly SMB Astrolabe (one of Monowai’s boats) come booming through the speaker.  They (LHA Steve Winsloe Coxn) were talking to Monowai.  I could hear him loud and clear, but not Monowai. So I replied to him.  They sounded close by so we chatted until they died off.  Crazy thing was we were on the very south of the country and he was off Hick’s Bay BOP, 1772km away.

 

 

Where – Port Underwood, Cook Strait

When - Sometime in 1984

Who – HMNZS Monowai, myself?

 

We had a tidal station in Port Underwood, over the hills from Picton.  Every day we had a Drog, or hanger-on, stationed at the station to read the tide pole every 30 minutes and monitor the tide gauge. For the drogs it was seen as a day off from the rigours of work life onboard.

Anyway, it was my ‘Day Off’ and armed with bag lunch, book, and tools of the trade I was dropped off early morning and settled into a routine.  As always with my side of the work, the weather was superb.

I was stationed on a flat rock by the pole (with another flat rock adjacent) and gauge, and the book was being chewed up. Then all hell broke loose.  This massive bloody Sea Lion came out of the sea and landed on the adjacent rock and shook himself off.  I was in need of clean Knicks.  Don’t know who shat first but he turned and hightailed it back in the water. The rest of the day was boring.

 

 

Where – Bay of Islands

When - 1989

Who – HMNZS Monowai Fishing dit?

 

One night after another day’s hard work, Monowai anchored opposite Kororareka, and all the fishermen mustered on the AX to ply their trade.  As always, I fished with two hand lines, while everyone else used rods.  I can’t remember who but the guy next to me was piped elsewhere on the ship, placed his rod through the guardrails and asked me to keep an eye on it.

Anyway, not long after I saw the tip of his rod suddenly bend wildly so I dropped my handline and reached out for the rod.  Before I could grab it, it unwound itself through the guardrails and disappeared over the side.  By the time it hit the water it had travelled 15 odd metres.  When the poor fisherman returned I told him what had happened, backed up by some others.

Next night after another hard day’s toil, Monowai again anchored in the same area.  Fisherfolks mustered as usual, me included.  The first handline cast was hit immediately with a good bite, and I started to wind it in.  The bite was more a tug that a bite.  Pretty soon the hook cleared the water I could see no fish but there was some nylon through the hook.  I kept winding in and took the nylon off the hook and started hauling in the nylon in and soon a rod manifested itself.  The rod that took off at a great rate of knots was now reunited with its owner.

 

Where – Foveaux Strait out from Bluff

When - Sometime in 1981

Who – Inshore Survey Craft Takapu and Tarapunga in transit?

One thing there is plenty of in Aotearoa, sea life.  We see all facets of them and take them largely for granted.  We see Whale’s blowing spume, dolphins and porpoises riding bow waves, whale sharks and the likes of manta rays.

 

One day in 1981, both ISC’S were east bound from Bluff and heading for R&R in Dunedin.  The day was calm and warmish and a small easterly swell running.  ISC’s were stationed keeping abreast, both dipping in and out of the mild swell.  I was on the bridge on TP and noticed TK slow down.  Our skipper (LtCdr John Stokes RIP) got on the blower as TK’s crew suddenly burst into life on the focsle.  Turned out a 400-pound Porpoise riding the bow wave miscalculated and landed on the focsle deck.  Sadly, the beast was too heavy so getting it down the waist was a great mission.  Eventually they managed to get it back in the water but due to it’s long time out of water she was bleeding from her blowhole.

 

Where – Yankee River, Stewart Island (Rakiura)

When - Sometime in 1981

Who – Inshore Survey Craft Takapu and Tarapunga surveying?

 

As part of our job, tidal stations are a must be.  During the later stages of the Foveaux Strait survey, we had a station on the north coast of Rakiura at the mouth of Yankee River.  Daily, tide pole readers are dropped off using the ISC’s Rubber Zodiac and ordinarily done without fanfare.  However, this day, as usual, we hoved to about 300 metres out and sent the zodiac in.  Once again, no worries.  The crew were landing their cargo and the walkie talkie burst into life.  TP had spotted a large fin swimming between the vessel and Yankee River.  We spotted it too, and it was swimming back and forth in the bay.  Basically, we were stuffed.  Foveaux Strait was well known for White Pointers, so we decided to stay at the station until it took off, maybe 4 – 5 hours later.

 

 Orca contact.

1980

Awanui River (way up north)

I was helming my survey boat back and forward across the river and I spotted a pod of Killer Whales (Orca) coming up the river.  I told my Boat's Officer I intended to stay put until they passed and he ordered me to continue working.  I stopped and noted the Orca were happy I did. Orca have been known to attack small boats. He was an idiot anyway.