Still have memories of the trip, particularly trying to replenish our promised "Fresh" food. This had been bought from Auckland Markets almost two weeks earlier, then transported to the RNZN Dockyard, where it was taken out to Whenuapai and loaded onto a Hercules for the flight to Rarotonga (without refrigeration). From the airport it was transported to the port at Avarua, and ferried out by lighter to HMAS Supply, then it underwent a two day trip (in the tropics) by sea to meet us. It was jackstay transfered over to HMNZS Otago. Our "Fresh Food" came aboard over the port side, it was further man-handled through the companionway to the starboard side where we tried to identify the battered remains, then literally "poured" it over the side as it was virtually useless.

That was the supply of fresh food that the NZ public were told about by the Government at the time...... No wonder we needed the tot......

Still, as a professional sailor, and not a political protester, (We where told by Mrs Noeline Colman at the 30th Anniversary reunion, there was only one political protester, we only crewed the ships that he used - Ed) I did enjoy the trip and all that came out of it. Kind of makes you discover yourself when the going gets tough.

Haydon Ditchburn  SCPO  X17823 (Rtd)