NAVAL TRAINING

Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1932, Page 3

NAVAL TRAINING

TEACHING A SEA SENSE.

WAKAKURA’S PART

WELLINGTON, May 21. ' A small ship in a rough sea is far from comfortable, especially if she is a trawler. The minesweeper H.M.S. Wakakura is known by nun of t:e New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy ns a safe “bus” in heavy weather, and although she performs some cur-

ious tricks, the ratings who are on

board trust her. Since she has been ill commission for training Royal Naval Volunteer Reservists the Wakakura - has been in many big sens, especially when on her South Island cruises, but lias' always arrival in port “all present and correct" When the Wakakura puts to" sen with a draft of naval lesorvists and pushes her head into one of the many southerlies which seem to bp always lying in wait for her around these coasts at this time of the year, the recruit thinks that the next roll is going to be the last and she will turn over. Sue pushes her bows into it, the spray rising in sheets to full on the decks, then —evidently to make things as exciting as posihle for those board—she rolls to port and ships a sea, and recovers her equilibrium For several minutes the trawler plods on wallowing in the trough of one wave and rising on the crest of .inother. Then, apparently tired o l 'this method of progression, she give a shudder which threatens to break-every piece of crockery on board, and allows some more seas to come inboard and wash round the scuppers. So on she sails until the entrance to the sounds is mcfvell, and then come, ii few maddening minutes in the rip till calm water is reached. “Does she oftmi behave like this?’’ says the recruit to a grimy stoker, who has come up from below for a “Inmr. ful of air.” “That’s nothing, nT'ed.”says the grimy one. “when 1 was.in tlm North Sen, some of the trawlers T was ill would do everything but sink. Tin's was a joy-ride when compared with some of the storms T have been in.” The recruit does not think so, hut wisely keeps bis peace. He knows, however, that a trawler is the host vessel "or training, and before his time has fin'shccl he can take an intelligent interest in her antics.