![]() Not knowing which way was home, the group became lost, drifting further and further from land. Shortly after sailing into the ocean, the three teens lost sight of the shore and became disoriented. However, when Filo Filo, Etueni Nasau, and Samu Pelesa set sail on October 5, 2010, it would be a longer trip than any of them were expecting. The islands are close enough together that sailing from one to the other is a relatively simple, cheap, and straightforward mode of travel.įor three teenage boys on the small island of Tokelau, sailing was routine. On the bridge of the naval vessel HMNZS Monowai that day was one of the ship’s Hydrographic Surveyors Lindsay Turvey who took these rare images of Ramtha, and kindly allowed us to share them with you all.Ĭatamaran Ramtha seen from HMNZS Monowai.In many Pacific island chains, people use small boats to sail from one island to the next. Fortunately, no injuries occurred, and the crew was hauled safely aboard the ship. As things worked out just as Robyn and Bill Forbes clipped on the harnesses, the vessels rolled apart and they were jerked off their feet into the sea. Several shots were needed to establish a connection. In practice, close manoeuvring proved extremely difficult. Wearing wet suits, life jackets and safety harnesses, the crew of catamaran Ramtha would then be drawn through the water and hauled aboard. Coming along side was not an option as the navy vessel would risk crushing the catamaran in the high seas.Įventually, the chosen plan was to approach as close as possible, and with the aid of gun lines establish a connection through which a stronger line could be passed. With 10-meter waves, heavy rain squalls, winds around 55 knots gusting to 70 and occasionally more this was clearly a very difficult operation. The 3500 ton New Zealand Navy survey vessel HMNZS Monowai, on route between Raoul Island and Tonga, was asked to divert to the south to help out. Due to the high risk of capsize they decided to ask for help. They were in no immediate emergency, but by chance received a VHF radio call from HMNZS Monowai after a strange light was observed in the night sky by the ship’s lookouts. With no means of control the boat pitched and rolled heavily in the high seas. Their mainsail had blown out, and a large wave had destroyed their steering. One of the boats was the Australian 38ft catamaran Ramtha crewed by Bill and Robyn Forbes. At 00:00 UT on 4th June the Marine Rescue Centre in New Zealand received the first emergency signals. Warnings of the approaching low started arriving on 2nd and 3rd of June but since it was expanding and moving faster than the boats could travel, there was little anyone could do to avoid it. With a thousand miles to go, most boats expected to be at sea for at least a week a time during which the weather could change significantly. Winds were from the southwest and the forecast for the next few days was excellent. ![]() On 28th of May 1994 a fleet of about 35 boats left Auckland to set sail for Tonga. Seven yachts were abandoned, twenty people rescued, and one yacht lost with all three crew members. A dreadful storm that caused what is believed to be New Zealand’s largest marine rescue operation. To find the rare images used in the advertisement for Rutgerson’s Multihull Escape Hatch we had to go 25 years back in time to the South Pacific and the Queen’ Birthday Storm in 1994. ![]()
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