Yep-if i remember right.this was the year the Lions toured NZ.They refunded everyones fare and offered to cover all the repairs of vehicles damaged.The captain of that trip was in court for decisions made on that sector.Was super tired from the drive from Auckland that morning and was asleep in the TV lounge bench until worken up by all the commotion.Could have been worse. Just watched this again to show the wifey the proof of this tale i always tell and realized I was Infront of you on that ramp.Honda Accord .😂😂..that car went everywhere and yes,our row didn't suffer any damages..thank you..your recording captured an exciting part of my student life..moving around NZ..chasing qualifications.
That stretch of water is some of the wildest in the world....my wifes Grandfather used to work for the Union Steam ship company and had a picture on his wall of a ferry with the bow completely buried in a wave with the screws sticking out of the water at the stern. Modern sensibilities and passenger experience dictates these days that it is better to cancel the sailing than destroy everyones stuff and give passengers a bad experience. Like the air turbulence analogy when you fly, it is now easier to avoid turbulence with advanced technology, same with ferry crossings in NZ. People don't want to be chucked around like rag dolls...back then there was no choice...now there is. Thanks for the video.
Not just that, the operators have a duty of care, if they sailed in exceptional conditions and a ferry sank /(bow doors have led to sinking in the past) then they are liable for lose of life
Might have been when the Union company was running the rail ferries on behalf of the Government. There was a photo in the office of the top brass of the NZR Sea Rail division (Interisland Line) of the GMV Aramoana with her bow down and screws out of the water. There was a story going around that they were having some issues with the ship, and one of the agents for English Electric came across (as the engine supplier), saw the photo and told the boss that if he run his ship in seas like that again, the warranty would be null and void.
Made that crossing 7 times and it’s always interesting. Thankfully never have experienced water that rough while on a ship. Living in Island Bay watching the ferry struggle through huge waves is mesmerizing.
My friend and I took the ferry Xmas 1979 form Wellington to Picton and it was bloody rough. We had never done it before and thought it was normal until we realised we were the only ones on the deck. Most were sick inside. Was easy to get a beer as no-one was at the bar:) We were able to lead 45 degrees into the wind without supporting ourselves. The bow was burying itself in the waves and the water landing on the back deck and you could feel the screws coming out of the water as the whole ferry shuttered. In the troughs we looked up at massive walls of water towering above us. Queen Charlotte Sound was like a mill pond and the ferry leaving the Sounds followed us back in as they decided to shut the Strait. There was an ambulance at Picton and I asked the seaman by the departure door what had happened and he said there was a person whom had died on the crossing from a heart attack. I was gobsmacked. He said the previous crossing had two badly injured people on it but it was too dangerous to cancel our crossing as we would have had to turn around in the middle of the Strait. Made the return trip a bit of a nerve wracking thought till we got there and happily discovered no swell in the Strait:)
I'm so glad your T2 wasn't damaged. I worked on these ferries years before this footage was shot. On one trip we came 3 degrees from rolling the ferry upside down. That was a wild day! Thanks for sharing.
@@AureliusR - The only odd dictation here is your incorrect response. An innocent comment placed on a video unrelated to you, and you think you're better. No you are not.
@@AureliusR - I know an Engineer that BHP and a Airline would fly around the World to repair Oil Rigs, Commercial Airlines and he's even repaired Super Yatchs and built tug boats, he is partially illiterate. This is why your response over one word is odd.
When we first visited NZ in 1996 our ferry crossing took place under blue sky and a totally flat Cook Strait. Now we understand when Kiwis told us that we were absolutely lucky!
Wow‼️‼️‼️ I have traveled from the north island and returned and thought it was rough 😮 you were sooo lucky to drive your van off without a scratch. Thank you so much for the video. Hope you see my comment. Bravo 👌👍👏
the crossing I made in 2001 took close to 5 hours , after a week that the ferry could not make the trip due to high seas , that day I will never forget . Ever! great video showing just how the waves battered the ship and it's cargo.
we took a rental campervan on the blue cook ferry to picton last week and it was one the craziest ferry ride of my life. at first it was all fun and entertaining when the ferry starts rocking those big waves and everyone seems like they are having a good time watching sea water splashes on to front window until the ferry starts tilting hard side ways and all of the sudden you see chairs tipping over and hear sounds of dishes breaking from the kitchen then more and more waves keeps on coming like it would never stops and people around you starts throwing up.Luckily it went on for only 2.5 to 3 hrs and its all nice and calm when we reached the channel into Picton port.
Remember this as I was aboard. Wrecked my little Mazda 323 red station wagon and me seasick as hell and telling myself if we survived never ever to be on a boat again. So far so good but this still gives me palpitations!
Never crossed the straights in weather like that, but the first time I did in about 1996, the ship started circling for no apparent reason. Then we saw why. A diver was stranded, inflated his warning "tube" and was then rescued by helicopter. Great times had in Wellington.
I live at the entrance to Wellington harbour. There a few storms per year where I'm afraid in my house!....let alone out on a ship! Brilliant footage guys. Well done.
Those must have been 8 terrorising hours with the rough seas. The film itself was directed well and was suspenseful. It kept me going till the end. Those waves were mean enough to annoy the handling of well experienced crews out there. It's a true blessing all made it back safely with no harm or human loss. Cheers for a realy good video.
@@perryE17403 storms make the Interisland ferries take a different route. Usually via the Tory Channel, the trip is a little over 3 hours. But going the other way which increases the amount of space avaliable takes a bit longer... That coupled with a storm makes the trip take a bit longer that scheduled.
We took the same ride going the other direction in 1981. It was 6.5 hours, half the boat was seasick. We were on a rugby tour 6 games 3 on each island. I have never forgotten that trip. Sometime during the voyage a number of us young bucks ventured outside mostly to get away from the swell. Most of the locals were saying it wasn't that bad,but I noticed the bar was cleared out after the first two hours haha. We had one guy on our team who got sick before we got out of the inside passage. It must have been hell to be sick, but when we rounded into Wellington on our 3 or 4th attempt the Seas calmed and all the zombies begain to rise. No car damage I can remember. You brought back good memories. It is called the roughest stretch of water in the world the Cook straight
@@Oakleaf700 I have had 4 trips on the Irish sea, and it was like sailing on glass. Guess I was lucky! I will never sail the Cook Straight again though!!
This is so well edited! I live in Wellington. These days they are more likely to cancel the ferries when the weather is like this. What a horrible crossing!
This evokes so many memories. From the anticipation while waiting to board, driving on, finding the way up stairs, getting good seats in the lounge, first sensation of moving, lounge emptying as we reach open water, spotting the ferry going the opposite way and seeing how the water crashes over it, toilets closed because they're blocked, people flooding onto the deck once in the shelter of the Marlborough Sounds and enjoying the fresh air, to docking and driving off (first car off once!) Great editing, thanks for the video.
I worked as a cabin attendant around 2009. After the ship crested a huge wave and landed flat. I remember heading upstairs to the check if anyone who was sleeping needed new undies. it was such a huge crash. Also remember occasions where the ship was on such a lean i thought wed go over. Trucks came unstuck on that crossing too. Take note on the ARAHURA, we also carried rail.
Great video! I have fond memories travelling as a child on the Cook Straight ferries - its awesome! Glad the Kombie survived, all the newer cars needed character anyway.
The first and last time I crossed Cook strait was in 1968, April 10th. It didn’t go well for us then as we left Lyttleton heading for Wellington. But my family of 8 all made it through. Fortunately for us but not for everyone on board that day.
I remember that day, I was 7 and made to walk to school which was closed and walked home, the Wahine was stuck on the reef by then and we watched it on TV all day as it unfolded.
I was 6 and remember the storm (near Christchurch). I lived less than 100m from school but the headmaster gave us a lift home in his car. Wouldn't have wanted to walk.
awesome vid, i wish i had a camera back in 94. the waves were so huge coming over the bow. people were getting sick everywhere and it was at night too. i was having the time if my life though lol i was 11 at the time, never forget it. our return trip was beautiful.
Had a similar experience on the Seacat sailing from Weymouth to Guernsey. Fortunately the sailing was very early morning at 6.30am and in February, so the boat was almost empty. We weren't quite aware how bad the storm was until I watched a massive container ship come across behind us and the waves were coming up over the top of the containers. The water was constantly coming over the top of the Seacat. Everyone on board virtually, was ill and like I said, good job there weren't many people,. My husband disappeared into the toilets about 30 mins after we left the harbour and I didn't see him again until we docked 4 hours later. I had been throwing up into paper bags. When we went down on to the car deck, all the vehicles had moved, though they had been tied down, and luckily our car was pretty much on it's own in a space and came through it unscathed, but others didn't. When we arrived on Guernsey the sailing was the talk of the island because it was apparently a force 10 gale and the captain should never have set sail.
This is my second time watching this video. It's even better second time around. I'm a proud owner of a 1992 Eurovan... *super* happy your camper van came out of that _without_ a single scratch (as it should be, I say).
I remember a trip from Lyttleton to Wellington in 1975 on the Rangatira ferry. I don’t think the boat had stabilizers. Got rough going through Cook Strait. Really rough. So many people lined up along the deck railing throwing up during that Strait crossing. Pity the govt. got rid of Chch/Wgtn route in 1976 and confined us all to Wgtn/Picton/Wgtn instead, thus making those of us who lived in The North Island reliant on aeroplanes to get to secondary school down in Christchurch. The overnight sleeper on the Rangatira was much better. Btw., the Rangatira went on to fight in the Falklands as a troop carrier after its time in NZ was over. Your video was interesting. I’d have thought they would secure the vehicles in the roll-on/roll-off decks more effectively.
Great share ! I live in US near New York City. Every vid I’ve seen from NZ is amazing. I’m glad you shared the location and info. I was planning on a holiday in NZ in 2020 but covid happened.
I'm glad I didn't watch this video before travelling on the ship a few years ago! Excellent film, one of the best on UA-cam. One of those 'adventures' that are scary in real time but a great story afterwards.
Amazing video of the strength of nature! That passage from south to north is in my future. It will be interesting to see how it goes! Thanks for sharing!
I did this crossing in March 2007, Wellington to Picton and it was absolutely amazing. The most beautiful scenery going into Picton. The ferry was originally Pride of Portsmouth which had been painted over with the new name. Thank goodness the weather I had was fantastic. 🤞👍
people don't sue in Nz and we don't cry when bad things happen to our stuff, we accept the fact we can't control the weather. Thanks for the vid though mate that was awesome.
@@kenmackenzie9385 Point taken. And a fair cop, as they say in the UK. Or used to. And I'm not condoning the pompous, self-centered antics of my fellow countrymen, heaven forbid. The price of too much 'success,' and not enough humility. Ever taking the low road, it seems. There's probably a way to point out the irony in a self-deprecating manner. My apologies. I'll see if I can uncover something of that lost art next time.
When I was a kid my Grandfather worked on the Inter Island Ferries. During school holidays children of some of the crew members were always 'snuck' on board for the day. I had rougher crossings than this and loved it.
Good example of a rough Cook Strait crossing! I'm lucky that I don't get seasick so the rougher it is, the more I like it! Many years ago, I was aboard on a rough crossing and near the end of the crossing the fish-and-chip place was closing. The chippie offered me some chips (I think they just get thrown out otherwise) - I gratefully accepted and was pigging-out on chips while a few others sat around looking miserable, probably thinking "how can he have greasy food at a time like this!" Great times!
Outstanding video of a pretty serious mishap. Reminds me of an overnight passage I once took on the lovely "Wahine", with thirty foot waves coming up to the promenade. The wave shots are superb, especially of the other ferry. Photography of wave conditions, in my experience, makes it look less threatening and spectacular than it really is. Cook Straight is a serious stretch of water, I am stunned that the vehicles were so inadequately tied down.
Something like this happened to me around 1994. I was on the ferry from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland. A 17 to 20 hour cruise, depending on the weather. When we set off the sea was pretty calm but about halfway through the journey the sea became angry. The ship was rolling back and forth quite a bit and it was hard to walk. A lot of people got seasick and were throwing up everywhere. Fortunately I do not get seasick. So I was watching out the window and enjoying the show. Then the breakfast bell rang and I went to the galley and had my breakfast while watching the waves. I figured that if they served breakfast then we were ok (and we all know from the song that if it's too rough to feed ya that you are doomed.) After I finished my breakfast I decided to go exploring. At first I descended downward. I wanted to check out everything from the bottom up. So I started opening doors and climbing down stairs. The stairs were narrow and steep and clearly not made for the passengers. I checked everything out and saw all of the vehicles. Eventually I got back up to the main deck although I was outside of it. I could look into the windows and see the passengers who were seasick. I felt bad for them but glad that I was not among their number. Now it was time to climb. I started searching for stairs. I climbed a couple and I kept expecting for someone from the crew to tell me to come back down but nobody did. It soon became clear to me that nobody knew I was out there. I also expected to find a door locked stopping my advance but they were all open. Finally I emerged onto the very top of the ship where the smokestacks were. The very top. The sea was still angry but the view was incredible. It was windy and wet and there wasn't anything up there to stop me if I slipped: I would have plunged to my death and nobody would ever know about it until I didn't come to get my truck. It was dangerous up there on a calm day and suicidal in a storm. But I walked around on that wet deck for quite some time because it was beautiful and intoxicating. I was being pitched about by the motion of the ship, blown about by the wind and finding it hard not to slip on the wet deck. Finally I decided to go back down and emerged back into the ship and sat down like nothing ever happened. The end.
@@Reggie-The-Dog I,on the other hand, read it all start to finish. A few sentences in I realized this should be more than a comment on YT. I think you can write a whole story in that setting. It can be fiction, a travelogue, or even an article for National Geographic.
Wow! We did this crossing a couple of months ago. Welly to Picton was fine, Picton to Welly less so, but man nothing as bad as this! Those vehicles don’t look to have been stacked very securely!
I used to take a truck across almost weekly on the Aramoana or Aranui Ferries. Had some very rough crossings, but luckily not as bad as when the Wahine went down.
Wow, memories. I was on that other ferry, going to Wellington. Seeing the boat ride those swells makes my stomach churn. I had passed out in the toilet with my shoes soaked in everyone's vomit, and my own. But we still enjoyed the WWE shoe the next night :)
Thanks for posting this video. I am in awe of nature. Viewing also made me review our original plan of taking the ferry south island in late March this year. While I would certainly brave any potential storm, and even love the experience, I do not want to damage my rented car and potential disruptions in my itinerary.
Cook Strait is strangely fickle. We made a glassy smooth crossing at water-skiing speed but the next day, the ferry fought a 6m swell, the point where passengers are not carried but freight still is. If the swell reaches 9m all operations are suspended. (Info from a Bluebridge crew member.)
Reminds me of my experience on the same vessel crossing the Cook Straight in 2004. Same conditions except the ship lost power to both engines as we approached the south island. At one point the captain announced that we might have to board the sister ship which had moved alongside. How this was going to happen I don't know. There were lifeboats and helicopters all around. Luckily though they managed to regain power to both engines and we sailed into Picton. Unlucky for all the people on this crossing who's cars were damaged.
I did this trip with my wife, daughter and dad in late 2007 or early 2008. They must have figured out how to secure the cars/loads better by then because it was literally the sky, the ocean, the sky, the ocean the whole way. Everyone was on the floor we went to the bar and people were tipping over backwards in their chairs and sliding across the floor. My wife vomited and I was close....😂 When we reached the harbor the boat looked like a hurricane had swept through the inside and there was vomit everywhere in the bathroom......everywhere! Walls, floor, sink, counter and some folks actually made it into the toilet and next to it and on top of it. I was shocked when we went to our car and it was still in place. I had crossed the strait a few times before (2000 and 2003) but those were summer trips and were smooth. My wife is a Kiwi so we used to go there every few years. She had family on both islands.
When the seabirds refuse to come along for the easy pickings and, instead, stay huddled among the rocks at the shoreline, you should probably heed their advice.
I remember riding a the ferry from Picton to Wellington, it was a wild ride with waves crashing over the entire ferry, fortunately I wasn’t sea sick, couldn’t say the same for most of the passengers.
I have had calm trips across Cook Strait but more often than not it’s been rough. Remember one trip when a lot of us were hanging over the rails throwing up.
The Cook strait can be rough alright. This voyage is nothing to speak of really. I've endured far worse on-board the Aranui and Aramoana. The waves were coming over the funnel. Current protocol prevents sailings in excess of 5metre swells. When I was linehaul for NZL the Arahunga put to sea in 14metre swells once out of Tory channel heading to Wellington,nearly spilt my mince on toast.
Thanks for sharing I made the same trip ,it was just as rough !! had no train in it for ballast an bounced around like a cork an the crew were sea sick .I did wonder what they were up when all the shutters went on windows before we left port
The passing ferry is made at Aalborg yard and called ARAHURA. I worked on it in 1983 .. Great to see it again. Have another color in the film and probably have a different name. Great to see it again after so many years.
For many years I worked in Air New Zealand's Airline Ops Centre at Wellington airport. Our office had large windows looking across the tarmac and out over Cook Strait. We were in the "Box seats" when it came to watching the ferries lunging and plunging past the South end of the runway... you could make yourself seasick just watching them! On a day like this one however, we did not have a spare moment to watch; the same bad weather would result in missed approaches, diversions to alternate airfields, and a schedule in complete disarray! 🥴 (In fact, there are a number of UA-cam videos of aircraft trying to land at Wellington in bad weather; it used to bring the plane-spotters out in droves!)
Was fun watching cargo planes landing into a strong head wind I was working for the Ministry of Works then, working at the Southern end of the Airport concrete moulding Ackmon blocks to stop the runway corosion on the cook strait end. Sometimes conditions were too dangerous to work safely. Nothing for it but go home. Guess it wasn't much fun for pilots either 120km+ winds Airport closed down or should I say batten down.
daily life of seamen working on liners, trying to provide transportation of pax and cargo at a daily basis . Hats off!⚓⚓💪 you do not fear the sea you respect it!!
General Sir Thomas Picton was the Duke of Wellington's second in command at the "Battle of Waterloo". He didn't survivethe battle, his skull was penetrated by a piece of shrapnel... Not too many residents of Picton know the connection between their town and the town of Wellington
you have following seas on your crossing the north bound ferry was going against the seas having a harder time of it that your ferry. wow that was great your camper made it with out a mark amazing. great video.
Geweldig om te zien gewoon genieten. Ben is mee gevaren met een ferry naar Engeland op heen weg was ik honds beroerd op de terug weg kreeg ik een pil bij binnenkomst. Geweldig genoten
Oh yes....The infamous Cook Strait! We did it back in '76..going out from Picton . 25ft breaking waves...not swells, breaking top to bottom..OMG..and all I could think about was all the heavy train cars underneath the ferry...all the Kiwi old-timers were at the bar quaffing schooners like it was no big deal and saying things like.."Oh yes mate..one went down back in the 50's..same sorta day..hahha."
Did the the trip in Jan "74" sea was not quite as bad and the hardest bit was getting another beer [red band] from the bar and there was only 1/2doz left in there .
@@davidlipscombe916 I did a run over Bass Straight to Tasmania. It was a bit rough. They have had rougher but there was no beer at the bar. They couldn't keep glasses or jugs stationary. Anything not bolted down was sliding around. I couldn't walk down the corridor normally because I was bounced from one side to the other as I went. One thing that really stuck was the ringing crash and shudder every time the bow came down into another wave. It convinced me that I never wanted to go on a "pleasure cruise".
also 40 years ago was a ferry disaster in wellington harbour, ferry was called the wahine, my brother was a captain of that ferry but was on leave at the time
I was on a school trip 40 years ago when you could take a train to catch the ferry from Christchurch. Once we got out the sounds all he’ll broke loose pupils and passengers were vomiting everywhere. I remember sliding in the head as I was trying to take a pee and the puke rolled under the door and got all over my new school shoes I will never forget the carnage of sick passengers try to huddle near the center of the ship, it felt like it took forever to get to Wellington!
Lol, yeah when it got rough the toilets would be over flowing with puke and smell terrible. Those poor shoes, but I'm sure they were not the first pair, nor will be the last.
Been there done that, Back in the mid 70s I crossed many times as I went to Lincoln College and lived in the North Island. Those old Rail services ferry's took the cake. Good for their time but nothing like you have now!!! Eating Crayfish and drinking beer from the back of the station waggon while waiting to board. Sitting in the bar looking out the window to nothing but sea then when rolled the otherway, nothing but clouds. Never fell of the bar styools but got close at times!!! Those were the days, so tame now!!!!
Travelled over on these ferries nearly 30 years ago and we had dolphins swimming with us all the way across. Wonderful to watch and a great experience.
@@hs5942 They use the pressure wave created by the bulbous bow as a "supercharger" and travel for free.....using little energy for the crossing. Ditto for the seagulls...soaring in the disturbed lifting air over the superstructure of the ferry....
Yep-if i remember right.this was the year the Lions toured NZ.They refunded everyones fare and offered to cover all the repairs of vehicles damaged.The captain of that trip was in court for decisions made on that sector.Was super tired from the drive from Auckland that morning and was asleep in the TV lounge bench until worken up by all the commotion.Could have been worse.
Just watched this again to show the wifey the proof of this tale i always tell and realized I was Infront of you on that ramp.Honda Accord .😂😂..that car went everywhere and yes,our row didn't suffer any damages..thank you..your recording captured an exciting part of my student life..moving around NZ..chasing qualifications.
That stretch of water is some of the wildest in the world....my wifes Grandfather used to work for the Union Steam ship company and had a picture on his wall of a ferry with the bow completely buried in a wave with the screws sticking out of the water at the stern. Modern sensibilities and passenger experience dictates these days that it is better to cancel the sailing than destroy everyones stuff and give passengers a bad experience. Like the air turbulence analogy when you fly, it is now easier to avoid turbulence with advanced technology, same with ferry crossings in NZ. People don't want to be chucked around like rag dolls...back then there was no choice...now there is. Thanks for the video.
Not just that, the operators have a duty of care, if they sailed in exceptional conditions and a ferry sank /(bow doors have led to sinking in the past) then they are liable for lose of life
A good head is on your shoulders. I wish you were in charge of calling it off!
Might have been when the Union company was running the rail ferries on behalf of the Government. There was a photo in the office of the top brass of the NZR Sea Rail division (Interisland Line) of the GMV Aramoana with her bow down and screws out of the water. There was a story going around that they were having some issues with the ship, and one of the agents for English Electric came across (as the engine supplier), saw the photo and told the boss that if he run his ship in seas like that again, the warranty would be null and void.
New Zealanders are so unorganised
I wouldn't get on a ship with a New Zealanders if you paid me/they wouldn't have a clue
more people have watched this video than the population of NZ
NZ has population of 4.8 million.
5
If you ask aunty cinda
not hard with only three people living on it ,
Most countries
Been there numerous times in the 70's. A return day trip as a teen was $1.50. The wilder the better. A lot of fun to see tourists "not coping". - :)
Made that crossing 7 times and it’s always interesting. Thankfully never have experienced water that rough while on a ship. Living in Island Bay watching the ferry struggle through huge waves is mesmerizing.
My friend and I took the ferry Xmas 1979 form Wellington to Picton and it was bloody rough. We had never done it before and thought it was normal until we realised we were the only ones on the deck. Most were sick inside. Was easy to get a beer as no-one was at the bar:) We were able to lead 45 degrees into the wind without supporting ourselves. The bow was burying itself in the waves and the water landing on the back deck and you could feel the screws coming out of the water as the whole ferry shuttered. In the troughs we looked up at massive walls of water towering above us. Queen Charlotte Sound was like a mill pond and the ferry leaving the Sounds followed us back in as they decided to shut the Strait. There was an ambulance at Picton and I asked the seaman by the departure door what had happened and he said there was a person whom had died on the crossing from a heart attack. I was gobsmacked. He said the previous crossing had two badly injured people on it but it was too dangerous to cancel our crossing as we would have had to turn around in the middle of the Strait. Made the return trip a bit of a nerve wracking thought till we got there and happily discovered no swell in the Strait:)
No thanks... I'll watch the "adventure" on YT, Thank you very much!!😮
RIP
I'm so glad your T2 wasn't damaged. I worked on these ferries years before this footage was shot. On one trip we came 3 degrees from rolling the ferry upside down. That was a wild day! Thanks for sharing.
is that the photo you can see on google of the aratere almost rolled over in a huge wave
@Leanne Barnes You used to work on a ferry and you can't even spell ferry? That seems... odd.
@@AureliusR ferries and ferry, easy mistake to make
@@AureliusR - The only odd dictation here is your incorrect response. An innocent comment placed on a video unrelated to you, and you think you're better. No you are not.
@@AureliusR - I know an Engineer that BHP and a Airline would fly around the World to repair Oil Rigs, Commercial Airlines and he's even repaired Super Yatchs and built tug boats, he is partially illiterate. This is why your response over one word is odd.
When we first visited NZ in 1996 our ferry crossing took place under blue sky and a totally flat Cook Strait.
Now we understand when Kiwis told us that we were absolutely lucky!
You were lucky! I luckily haven’t experienced as rough as this but I’ve been across The Cook Straight in rough weather.
Ditto us when we crossed the Strait in April 2004 - Thank you God!
You know I think I was on that trip too! Almost singular in its calmness. Never seen before or since.
Wow‼️‼️‼️ I have traveled from the north island and returned and thought it was rough 😮 you were sooo lucky to drive your van off without a scratch. Thank you so much for the video. Hope you see my comment. Bravo 👌👍👏
Hi Kevin, Thanks for your comment. Best wishes, Alec
It's a good thing my kids didn't see this vid before we took the ferry for holiday this summer. They would've been so scared.
the crossing I made in 2001 took close to 5 hours , after a week that the ferry could not make the trip due to high seas , that day I will never forget . Ever! great video showing just how the waves battered the ship and it's cargo.
we took a rental campervan on the blue cook ferry to picton last week and it was one the craziest ferry ride of my life. at first it was all fun and entertaining when the ferry starts rocking those big waves and everyone seems like they are having a good time watching sea water splashes on to front window until the ferry starts tilting hard side ways and all of the sudden you see chairs tipping over and hear sounds of dishes breaking from the kitchen then more and more waves keeps on coming like it would never stops and people around you starts throwing up.Luckily it went on for only 2.5 to 3 hrs and its all nice and calm when we reached the channel into Picton port.
Remember this as I was aboard. Wrecked my little Mazda 323 red station wagon and me seasick as hell and telling myself if we survived never ever to be on a boat again. So far so good but this still gives me palpitations!
Me too and my children.
Never crossed the straights in weather like that, but the first time I did in about 1996, the ship started circling for no apparent reason. Then we saw why. A diver was stranded, inflated his warning "tube" and was then rescued by helicopter. Great times had in Wellington.
I live at the entrance to Wellington harbour. There a few storms per year where I'm afraid in my house!....let alone out on a ship! Brilliant footage guys. Well done.
Those must have been 8 terrorising hours with the rough seas. The film itself was directed well and was suspenseful. It kept me going till the end. Those waves were mean enough to annoy the handling of well experienced crews out there. It's a true blessing all made it back safely with no harm or human loss. Cheers for a realy good video.
The crossing is only 4 hours though
@@perryE17403 But that one, because of the storm, took 8 hours.
@@perryE17403 storms make the Interisland ferries take a different route. Usually via the Tory Channel, the trip is a little over 3 hours. But going the other way which increases the amount of space avaliable takes a bit longer... That coupled with a storm makes the trip take a bit longer that scheduled.
We took the same ride going the other direction in 1981. It was 6.5 hours, half the boat was seasick. We were on a rugby tour 6 games 3 on each island. I have never forgotten that trip. Sometime during the voyage a number of us young bucks ventured outside mostly to get away from the swell. Most of the locals were saying it wasn't that bad,but I noticed the bar was cleared out after the first two hours haha. We had one guy on our team who got sick before we got out of the inside passage. It must have been hell to be sick, but when we rounded into Wellington on our 3 or 4th attempt the Seas calmed and all the zombies begain to rise. No car damage I can remember. You brought back good memories. It is called the roughest stretch of water in the world the Cook straight
Irish and North Seas can be pre pretty bad as well
@@Oakleaf700 I have had 4 trips on the Irish sea, and it was like sailing on glass. Guess I was lucky! I will never sail the Cook Straight again though!!
This is so well edited! I live in Wellington. These days they are more likely to cancel the ferries when the weather is like this. What a horrible crossing!
Thanks Victoria! Don't Forget To Like And Subscribe For more ConTENT!
Are you deaf? What about that terrible music throughout was well edited?
This evokes so many memories. From the anticipation while waiting to board, driving on, finding the way up stairs, getting good seats in the lounge, first sensation of moving, lounge emptying as we reach open water, spotting the ferry going the opposite way and seeing how the water crashes over it, toilets closed because they're blocked, people flooding onto the deck once in the shelter of the Marlborough Sounds and enjoying the fresh air, to docking and driving off (first car off once!)
Great editing, thanks for the video.
I worked as a cabin attendant around 2009. After the ship crested a huge wave and landed flat. I remember heading upstairs to the check if anyone who was sleeping needed new undies. it was such a huge crash.
Also remember occasions where the ship was on such a lean i thought wed go over. Trucks came unstuck on that crossing too. Take note on the ARAHURA, we also carried rail.
yep im not going on one especially to nz
I’ve been on a crossing like this. Everyone was vomiting everywhere. I stayed out on deck in the wild fresh air or I would have been sick as well.
Great video! I have fond memories travelling as a child on the Cook Straight ferries - its awesome! Glad the Kombie survived, all the newer cars needed character anyway.
This is the most 2011 video I've ever seen, in the best way possible. Love it!!!
Haha, posted in 2011 but recorded in 2006!
Great vid. Love the attitude of everyone. Accept nature as part of life
The first and last time I crossed Cook strait was in 1968, April 10th. It didn’t go well for us then as we left Lyttleton heading for Wellington.
But my family of 8 all made it through.
Fortunately for us but not for everyone on board that day.
I remember that day, I was 7 and made to walk to school which was closed and walked home, the Wahine was stuck on the reef by then and we watched it on TV all day as it unfolded.
I was 6 and remember the storm (near Christchurch). I lived less than 100m from school but the headmaster gave us a lift home in his car. Wouldn't have wanted to walk.
thanks for sharing . some spectacular shots of returning ferry i rough weather. Glad your campervan survived without a scratch.!!
awesome vid, i wish i had a camera back in 94. the waves were so huge coming over the bow. people were getting sick everywhere and it was at night too. i was having the time if my life though lol i was 11 at the time, never forget it. our return trip was beautiful.
Stuffed me fush ind chips up brooooooo
Great video, one hell of a memory too, never mind the haters, I thought the film had plenty of atmosphere, thank you for sharing.
All people have to do is turn sound down and take in the images.
thanks for the video, I took the same trip myself in 1997 and it was completely flat, amazing to see how different that journey can be.
Had a similar experience on the Seacat sailing from Weymouth to Guernsey. Fortunately the sailing was very early morning at 6.30am and in February, so the boat was almost empty. We weren't quite aware how bad the storm was until I watched a massive container ship come across behind us and the waves were coming up over the top of the containers. The water was constantly coming over the top of the Seacat. Everyone on board virtually, was ill and like I said, good job there weren't many people,. My husband disappeared into the toilets about 30 mins after we left the harbour and I didn't see him again until we docked 4 hours later. I had been throwing up into paper bags. When we went down on to the car deck, all the vehicles had moved, though they had been tied down, and luckily our car was pretty much on it's own in a space and came through it unscathed, but others didn't. When we arrived on Guernsey the sailing was the talk of the island because it was apparently a force 10 gale and the captain should never have set sail.
Love Weymouth, there used to be a Royal Navy base there dont know if it still is
🪔Im so glad your van made it out without a scratch and you guys are safe.....
This is my second time watching this video. It's even better second time around.
I'm a proud owner of a 1992 Eurovan... *super* happy your camper van came out of that _without_ a single scratch (as it should be, I say).
Wow! I was feeling seasick watching this! And all those vehicles that where damaged, what a shame. Great vid.
I remember a trip from Lyttleton to Wellington in 1975 on the Rangatira ferry. I don’t think the boat had stabilizers. Got rough going through Cook Strait. Really rough. So many people lined up along the deck railing throwing up during that Strait crossing. Pity the govt. got rid of Chch/Wgtn route in 1976 and confined us all to Wgtn/Picton/Wgtn instead, thus making those of us who lived in The North Island reliant on aeroplanes to get to secondary school down in Christchurch. The overnight sleeper on the Rangatira was much better. Btw., the Rangatira went on to fight in the Falklands as a troop carrier after its time in NZ was over. Your video was interesting. I’d have thought they would secure the vehicles in the roll-on/roll-off decks more effectively.
Great share ! I live in US near New York City. Every vid I’ve seen from NZ is amazing. I’m glad you shared the location and info. I was planning on a holiday in NZ in 2020 but covid happened.
That sure is BEAUTIFUL LOOKING VESSEL/SHP. THANK YOU FOR SHARING A SPLASH IN A VERY BIG BATH.
I've watched this 4 or 5 times. Totally amazing still. Thanks for sharing
I'm glad I didn't watch this video before travelling on the ship a few years ago! Excellent film, one of the best on UA-cam. One of those 'adventures' that are scary in real time but a great story afterwards.
Amazing video of the strength of nature! That passage from south to north is in my future. It will be interesting to see how it goes! Thanks for sharing!
Sailing access the straight in a slight sea. Looked up wild weather and found this wow. Amazing video bro, that was one wild crossing 🤯
I did this crossing in March 2007, Wellington to Picton and it was absolutely amazing. The most beautiful scenery going into Picton. The ferry was originally Pride of Portsmouth which had been painted over with the new name. Thank goodness the weather I had was fantastic. 🤞👍
people don't sue in Nz and we don't cry when bad things happen to our stuff, we accept the fact we can't control the weather. Thanks for the vid though mate that was awesome.
Ty bot It used to be that way here,but now no one is liable for their own doing,it’s always someone else’s fault.
What like the WAHINE disaster imagine not meeting Ur grandparents
@@kenmackenzie9385 lol. It's the BLAMING that's the problem, you numskull. Hilarious.
@@kenmackenzie9385 Point taken. And a fair cop, as they say in the UK. Or used to.
And I'm not condoning the pompous, self-centered antics of my fellow countrymen, heaven forbid. The price of too much 'success,' and not enough humility. Ever taking the low road, it seems.
There's probably a way to point out the irony in a self-deprecating manner. My apologies. I'll see if I can uncover something of that lost art next time.
Well, NZers are obviously really grown up adults. WHere in the USA, many of us are perpetually CHILDREN!
Very professional video. Very well shot and collated. Thanks for posting.
+Neil M He should of used the Enya song.
+haywood jeblome May it Be lol
***** Is that a song?
+haywood jeblome yah. Enya sings it. LOTR man
***** the orinoco flow song
When I was a kid my Grandfather worked on the Inter Island Ferries. During school holidays children of some of the crew members were always 'snuck' on board for the day. I had rougher crossings than this and loved it.
Thanks for sharing, pal. 😊
sounds like a great place to keep an eye on your children allday
I've been on the Aratare to and from Picton, but nothing like this. The Aratare will be decommissioned in a few years. It's seen a lot of action!
Good example of a rough Cook Strait crossing!
I'm lucky that I don't get seasick so the rougher it is, the more I like it!
Many years ago, I was aboard on a rough crossing and near the end of the crossing the fish-and-chip place was closing. The chippie offered me some chips (I think they just get thrown out otherwise) - I gratefully accepted and was pigging-out on chips while a few others sat around looking miserable, probably thinking "how can he have greasy food at a time like this!"
Great times!
Outstanding video of a pretty serious mishap. Reminds me of an overnight passage I once took on the lovely "Wahine", with thirty foot waves coming up to the promenade. The wave shots are superb, especially of the other ferry. Photography of wave conditions, in my experience, makes it look less threatening and spectacular than it really is. Cook Straight is a serious stretch of water, I am stunned that the vehicles were so inadequately tied down.
Wow the wahine, my mum was on that ferry the week it sunk thankfully not the day it sunk. Rip wahine and those who perished
Well done, great video. I cant get over the old camper van, bit of a godly hand looking after that one.
Some cosmic space daddy had NOTHING to do with it.
Something like this happened to me around 1994. I was on the ferry from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland. A 17 to 20 hour cruise, depending on the weather. When we set off the sea was pretty calm but about halfway through the journey the sea became angry. The ship was rolling back and forth quite a bit and it was hard to walk. A lot of people got seasick and were throwing up everywhere. Fortunately I do not get seasick. So I was watching out the window and enjoying the show. Then the breakfast bell rang and I went to the galley and had my breakfast while watching the waves. I figured that if they served breakfast then we were ok (and we all know from the song that if it's too rough to feed ya that you are doomed.) After I finished my breakfast I decided to go exploring. At first I descended downward. I wanted to check out everything from the bottom up. So I started opening doors and climbing down stairs. The stairs were narrow and steep and clearly not made for the passengers. I checked everything out and saw all of the vehicles. Eventually I got back up to the main deck although I was outside of it. I could look into the windows and see the passengers who were seasick. I felt bad for them but glad that I was not among their number. Now it was time to climb. I started searching for stairs. I climbed a couple and I kept expecting for someone from the crew to tell me to come back down but nobody did. It soon became clear to me that nobody knew I was out there. I also expected to find a door locked stopping my advance but they were all open. Finally I emerged onto the very top of the ship where the smokestacks were. The very top. The sea was still angry but the view was incredible. It was windy and wet and there wasn't anything up there to stop me if I slipped: I would have plunged to my death and nobody would ever know about it until I didn't come to get my truck. It was dangerous up there on a calm day and suicidal in a storm. But I walked around on that wet deck for quite some time because it was beautiful and intoxicating. I was being pitched about by the motion of the ship, blown about by the wind and finding it hard not to slip on the wet deck. Finally I decided to go back down and emerged back into the ship and sat down like nothing ever happened. The end.
@weforgotthecrackers So don't read it. I don't care.
@weforgotthecrackers You're forgiven. Glad you liked the story.
@weforgotthecrackers And yes I am glad I didn't slide right off the ship!
@@Reggie-The-Dog I,on the other hand, read it all start to finish. A few sentences in I realized this should be more than a comment on YT. I think you can write a whole story in that setting. It can be fiction, a travelogue, or even an article for National Geographic.
The lower you descend in a ship, the less roll you feel, but a trip like this one, you still feel it heaps.
It'll be amazing to watch the video hearing the natural ambient sound rather than the music
Wow you were very lucky to come out unscathed and the VW
The power of the sea
I love doing that trip. One of my favorite things to do. Must do it again soon. Seriously. If you come to NZ, go on the interislander.
Wow! We did this crossing a couple of months ago. Welly to Picton was fine, Picton to Welly less so, but man nothing as bad as this! Those vehicles don’t look to have been stacked very securely!
I used to take a truck across almost weekly on the Aramoana or Aranui Ferries. Had some very rough crossings, but luckily not as bad as when the Wahine went down.
Wow, memories. I was on that other ferry, going to Wellington. Seeing the boat ride those swells makes my stomach churn. I had passed out in the toilet with my shoes soaked in everyone's vomit, and my own. But we still enjoyed the WWE shoe the next night :)
Thanks for posting this video. I am in awe of nature. Viewing also made me review our original plan of taking the ferry south island in late March this year. While I would certainly brave any potential storm, and even love the experience, I do not want to damage my rented car and potential disruptions in my itinerary.
I miss the hard seas.. it has been a long time.. I just wanted to see (and remember) one more time.. thanks
It's not just a ferry crossing, it's an Adventure!!!
Isn't the ocean awesome. I've been scared many times , but it does make you feel alive. Good video 👍
Scary it certainly is.She doesn't stop to let you off
Try it on a 30 ft cutter. Outward Bound school does the sailing part there in the Marlborough Sounds, Cook Strait.
Happy to have both of my feet on dry land! What a brilliant video!
Cook Strait is strangely fickle. We made a glassy smooth crossing at water-skiing speed but the next day, the ferry fought a 6m swell, the point where passengers are not carried but freight still is. If the swell reaches 9m all operations are suspended. (Info from a Bluebridge crew member.)
Guessing force 8. Just curious what the actual wave height and wind speed were?
That's a really well produced film - very enjoyable!
Man...I grew up on a sailboat...I would love to see this weather again! Thanks for uploading!
Great job on this clip! Glad you and your ride made it out ok. Total carnage!
How do they get all the squashed vehicles out ? That would have been interesting to watch
Very good video. Have travelled it many times but never struck it this way.
Reminds me of my experience on the same vessel crossing the Cook Straight in 2004. Same conditions except the ship lost power to both engines as we approached the south island. At one point the captain announced that we might have to board the sister ship which had moved alongside. How this was going to happen I don't know. There were lifeboats and helicopters all around. Luckily though they managed to regain power to both engines and we sailed into Picton.
Unlucky for all the people on this crossing who's cars were damaged.
Sounds like an extremely incompetent ferry.
It's New Zealand, conditions change extremely quick.
Hi all we cross from Nth to south about 4 yrs ago the waves outside Wellington heads were about 7 m tall , what an interesting trip that was .
I did this trip with my wife, daughter and dad in late 2007 or early 2008. They must have figured out how to secure the cars/loads better by then because it was literally the sky, the ocean, the sky, the ocean the whole way. Everyone was on the floor we went to the bar and people were tipping over backwards in their chairs and sliding across the floor. My wife vomited and I was close....😂
When we reached the harbor the boat looked like a hurricane had swept through the inside and there was vomit everywhere in the bathroom......everywhere!
Walls, floor, sink, counter and some folks actually made it into the toilet and next to it and on top of it.
I was shocked when we went to our car and it was still in place.
I had crossed the strait a few times before (2000 and 2003) but those were summer trips and were smooth. My wife is a Kiwi so we used to go there every few years. She had family on both islands.
When the seabirds refuse to come along for the easy pickings and, instead, stay huddled among the rocks at the shoreline, you should probably heed their advice.
I remember riding a the ferry from Picton to Wellington, it was a wild ride with waves crashing over the entire ferry, fortunately I wasn’t sea sick, couldn’t say the same for most of the passengers.
Dunno why but loved the way the captain smiled at 2:02
Thats not the captain. Thats Robert, the manager of the Blue Kiwi Memorial and Funeral Services.
C'mon man don't spoil the moment..
On the flip side, on a fine coming into Picton through the Marlborough sounds is absolutely stunning!
I have had calm trips across Cook Strait but more often than not it’s been rough. Remember one trip when a lot of us were hanging over the rails throwing up.
The Cook strait can be rough alright. This voyage is nothing to speak of really. I've endured far worse on-board the Aranui and Aramoana. The waves were coming over the funnel. Current protocol prevents sailings in excess of 5metre swells. When I was linehaul for NZL the Arahunga put to sea in 14metre swells once out of Tory channel heading to Wellington,nearly spilt my mince on toast.
Spent a long time in the Royal Navy and no matter how bad something was, there would always be someone who said they had experienced worse.
Bless.
Thanks for sharing I made the same trip ,it was just as rough !! had no train in it for ballast an bounced around like a cork an the crew were sea sick .I did wonder what they were up when all the shutters went on windows before we left port
The passing ferry is made at Aalborg yard and called ARAHURA. I worked on it in 1983 .. Great to see it again. Have another color in the film and probably have a different name. Great to see it again after so many years.
When the seagulls look nervous, you know you are in for a ride!
For many years I worked in Air New Zealand's Airline Ops Centre at Wellington airport. Our office had large windows looking across the tarmac and out over Cook Strait. We were in the "Box seats" when it came to watching the ferries lunging and plunging past the South end of the runway... you could make yourself seasick just watching them!
On a day like this one however, we did not have a spare moment to watch; the same bad weather would result in missed approaches, diversions to alternate airfields, and a schedule in complete disarray! 🥴 (In fact, there are a number of UA-cam videos of aircraft trying to land at Wellington in bad weather; it used to bring the plane-spotters out in droves!)
Was fun watching cargo planes landing into a strong head wind I was working for the Ministry of Works then, working at the Southern end of the Airport concrete moulding Ackmon blocks to stop the runway corosion on the cook strait end. Sometimes conditions were too dangerous to work safely. Nothing for it but go home. Guess it wasn't much fun for pilots either 120km+ winds Airport closed down or should I say batten down.
daily life of seamen working on liners, trying to provide transportation of pax and cargo at a daily basis .
Hats off!⚓⚓💪
you do not fear the sea
you respect it!!
crazy how different this would seem in the dark
I would be shitting myself
@@FARQs me too -remember the Wahine?
General Sir Thomas Picton was the Duke of Wellington's second in command at the "Battle of Waterloo". He didn't survivethe battle, his skull was penetrated by a piece of shrapnel... Not too many residents of Picton know the connection between their town and the town of Wellington
Moreover, are you in the mink breeding business?
Thanks i just learned something. Poor General Picton
In Wellytown- Salamanca Road, Talavera Terrace, Wellesly Hotel, Blucher, Douro Streets.Waterloo Station.
you have following seas on your crossing the north bound ferry was going against the seas having a harder time of it that your ferry. wow that was great your camper made it with out a mark amazing. great video.
Geweldig om te zien gewoon genieten.
Ben is mee gevaren met een ferry naar Engeland op heen weg was ik honds beroerd op de terug weg kreeg ik een pil bij binnenkomst.
Geweldig genoten
Capt. Cook sailed these seas in a wooden sailing boat - respect!
Burlats de Montaigne the Polynesians sailed these seas in canoes
Kanakanokaoi I was just going to say that
Oh yes....The infamous Cook Strait! We did it back in '76..going out from Picton . 25ft breaking waves...not swells, breaking top to bottom..OMG..and all I could think about was all the heavy train cars underneath the ferry...all the Kiwi old-timers were at the bar quaffing schooners like it was no big deal and saying things like.."Oh yes mate..one went down back in the 50's..same sorta day..hahha."
Did the the trip in Jan "74" sea was not quite as bad and the hardest bit was getting another beer [red band] from the bar and there was only 1/2doz left in there .
@@davidlipscombe916 I did a run over Bass Straight to Tasmania. It was a bit rough. They have had rougher but there was no beer at the bar. They couldn't keep glasses or jugs stationary. Anything not bolted down was sliding around. I couldn't walk down the corridor normally because I was bounced from one side to the other as I went. One thing that really stuck was the ringing crash and shudder every time the bow came down into another wave. It convinced me that I never wanted to go on a "pleasure cruise".
Very well edited, nice video and a hell of a memory I would imagine!
hu
elams1894 o
Very well edited? U fucking dumbass..
i made same crossing in very rough weather, but had left hire car in picton then had another hire car after 3 day stay in wellington
also 40 years ago was a ferry disaster in wellington harbour, ferry was called the wahine, my brother was a captain of that ferry but was on leave at the time
Watching this 2 hours before my ferry goes 👍🏼
I remember it being up n down but this looks like another level of up n down. Thanks for sharing.
I was on a school trip 40 years ago when you could take a train to catch the ferry from Christchurch. Once we got out the sounds all he’ll broke loose pupils and passengers were vomiting everywhere. I remember sliding in the head as I was trying to take a pee and the puke rolled under the door and got all over my new school shoes I will never forget the carnage of sick passengers try to huddle near the center of the ship, it felt like it took forever to get to Wellington!
Lol, yeah when it got rough the toilets would be over flowing with puke and smell terrible. Those poor shoes, but I'm sure they were not the first pair, nor will be the last.
Reminds me of a crossing I did from Larne (Ireland) to Stranrear (Scotland) in a Force 9...
Boke!
💪
The guy with tears streaming down his face was the ship's insurance agent.
Timestamp?
@@Mwc07 5:22
no insurance there
Awesome video, just shocks me how much damage those strapped down trucks and vehicles got...
Been there done that, Back in the mid 70s I crossed many times as I went to Lincoln College and lived in the North Island. Those old Rail services ferry's took the cake. Good for their time but nothing like you have now!!! Eating Crayfish and drinking beer from the back of the station waggon while waiting to board. Sitting in the bar looking out the window to nothing but sea then when rolled the otherway, nothing but clouds. Never fell of the bar styools but got close at times!!!
Those were the days, so tame now!!!!
The sea was angry that day my friends… like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli!
Seinfeld lol
Nice one George.
I said easy big fella!
Great video, have awesome memories of travelling the interisland ferrys in those conditions
It's just amazing the power of the ocean, a beautiful but scary thing to see
Travelled over on these ferries nearly 30 years ago and we had dolphins swimming with us all the way across. Wonderful to watch and a great experience.
aw
@@hs5942
They use the pressure wave created by the bulbous bow as a "supercharger" and travel for free.....using little energy for the crossing.
Ditto for the seagulls...soaring in the disturbed lifting air over the superstructure of the ferry....
The crossing is quite lovely when calm 😎