Whale of a time on a Searide

03 November 2008 By Gary McHugh

Lyn and Bruce Sampey were hoping for something out of the ordinary when they successfully bid for a searide on an Anzac class frigate, and they weren’t disappointed.

The couple, who bid for the ride at a Fremantle Dockers Football Club charity auction, joined HMAS Warramunga (CMDR Andrew Gordon) at Fleet Base West (FBW) for an action-packed day at sea, complete with whale watching.

Following an early departure from FBW, Warramunga headed into the Western Australian Exercise Area to put the ship’s company through its paces in preparation for their impending series of work-ups.

The Sampeys were treated to a host of evolutions throughout the day, including a live firing of the 5-inch gun, launch and recovery of the ship’s Seahawk helicopter and boarding exercises.

CMDR Gordon even managed to give Mr and Mrs Sampey their very own whale spotting cruise later in the afternoon as the ship sailed past a pod of migrating Humpback and Southern Right whales.

The ship’s ‘big-eyes’ binoculars certainly came in handy as the mammals breached and spouted not far off the ship’s starboard quarter.

The final evolution of the day was a night-time seaboat transfer from Warramunga to Corkhills Landing at Fremantle to meet their ride home.

On leaving the ship, Mr Sampey congratulated CMDR Gordon on the professionalism of his ship’s company.

“Everybody we met today was polite, professional and extremely helpful to us,” he said.

“I will be recommending the day to my friends and hopefully they will be in a position to take part in a similar charity searide.”

The couple said it was an adventure they would never forget.

Mrs Sampey has a special tie to the ship with her father, John Vaughan, serving as a stoker during the 1950s in Warramunga (I).