Friday 4th and Saturday 5th October
40 Warships, 16 Tall Ships, 8000 Sailors, 9 Days, 1 Harbour and 1 Prince Harry. Celebrating 100 years since the first Royal Australian Navy ships arrived in Sydney.
I took a flex day on Friday in order to head out to the city to see the International Fleet Review. On Thursday, the Tall Ships sailed into the harbour, but the weather was not ideal, it was windy and rainy. Lucky for us, Friday turned out to be sunny and perfect to see the 7 navy ships re-enact the arrival which took place 100 years ago.
We headed out at 9.30am, by train and got to the Sydney Opera House in time to see the helicopters fly by overhead and the ships motor in. Being a Friday it wasn't as crowded, which meant we could find a spot to sit and watch the ships come in past the opera house and under the harbour bridge, although they were closer to the northern side of the harbour. At 10am, they had the Ceremonial Fleet entry and 21 gun salute with HMA Ships Sydney, Darwin, Perth, Parramatta, Bundaberg, Diamantina and Huon.
After watching the ships come in, we checked out the band playing in the Opera House forecourt, before heading down towards Darling harbour and Chinatown. On the way, I wanted to go snail hunting, so we took photos of the snails at Customs House, Martin Place, Hyde Park Barracks, Hyde Park, Pitt Street Mall and QVB, because this took time, we didn't end up getting to Darling Harbour, instead we went to Chinatown to have lunch at the Sussex Centre food court. Lily wanted to have fried fish which she had eaten before with Mark, so Kaylene and I just followed. I ended up having chicken instead, but the plate of rice was big.
After lunch we shopped at Daiso before heading back home. I had a dental appointment at 4.30pm.
Then on Saturday we headed back out again, by train, but this time we went to Mrs Macquarie's point to bags a good spot for the IFR spectacular. Got off at Town Hall and went to Woollies to buy some bottles of water, and ended up also buying some cheese and bacon rolls, chips and a roast chicken. Walked to Mrs Macquarie's and queued to get in, went through the bag check without getting out bags checked - could have brought water from home after all (restrictions were: We ask you to remember the environment you are entering and consider the safety of other patrons. All patrons entering the site will be subject to security searches No BYO alcohol No glass No unsealed beverages, including water No pets No plastic sheeting/tarps No tents, pegs or shade structures No barbecues No bicycles No sharp or serrated knives No bean bags, mattresses or inflatable furniture No sparklers No footballs or frisbees).
Found a spot overlooking the harbour where you could see the Opera House and part of the Harbour Bridge. Lily wanted to sit close to the fence, but it was going to be a hot day and so we positioned ourselves further up but still with a view. If people stood in front of us, we would have to stand, but at least we could still see. By this time it was 11am. We'd take turns going for walks to cool down in the shady spots and on the other side of the point which was a lot cooler than where we were sitting. Temperatures got into the high 20's but it felt like 30's to us. Lots of sunscreen slapped on. I had brought along my bike jacket which I thought would be useful if it was windy, but came in handy for keeping the UV rays off me. Kaylene got a touch of the sun, and I got a nice sock mark, but otherwise we weren't burnt like lobsters.
The program for the day was:
10:45am Navy Helicopter Display Team
11:00am - 2:30pm Ceremonial Fleet Review
11:40am Formation Flypast
12:00noon -12:30pm Navy Helicopter Display Team
2:15pm - 5:30pm "Salute to Navy" Air Displays
2.15pm 'Huey'
The Navy Heritage Flight UH-1B Iroquois that served in Vietnam was flown by Australian Navy pilots in units alongside US Army and RAAF crews.
2.30pm F/A-18A Hornet
The RAAF's Hornet fighter also provides maritime defence, capable of anti-ship strike and fleet protection, it will demonstrate it's handling capabilities.
2.45pm Heritage Trainers
Before they graduate to operational aircraft, all naval aviators have to learn to fly starting in trainers, whether in the 'Tiger Moth' of the 1930s, the Winjeel of the 50s or the Airtrainer of the 70s. The venerable C-47 Dakota was used for transport and to train Australian Navy observers.
3.00pm Emergency Services
Whether during bushfires or rescues at sea the Navy works hand in hand with our emergency services to assist when disaster strikes. NSW Police, Westpac Rescue, Careflight, RAAF Rescue, NSW Ambulance and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority will parade their aircraft as a Navy Seahawk demonstrates the rescue of a survivor from a raft.
3.15pm Heritage Helicopters
Helicopters that have served the Navy over the last 40 years return briefly with the Vietnam Iroquois, an Army Kiowa which flew from the Navy's survey ships and the Careflight Agusta A109 that trained naval aviators.
3.30pm 'Embarkation'
Watch out for the 'Seahawk', 'Squirrel', 'Lynx', 'Panther', 'Taipan' and 'Seasprite' as they return for a mass landing onboard their parent ships anchored around the harbour.
3.45pm Modern Navy
Each current type of Navy helicopter (plus the 'Huey') will demonstrate their capabilities. The Seahawk, Taipan, Squirrel, Bell 429, together with the Heritage Iroquois, will each will take a turn in front of the crowds at 5 different locations (Farm Cove, Milson's Point, west of Cremorne Point, Athol Bay and near Clark Island).
4.15pm Fast Jet Formation
Pel-Air Westwinds and Learjets provide the Navy with high speed target aircraft and will fly down the Harbour in formation, an unusual sight for traditional business jets.
4.30pm Maritime Heritage
The Lockheed AP-3C Orion represents Australia's current maritime reconnaissance aircraft and the 1930's Catalina from HARS is one our earliest. The Caribou served for many years as a transport aircraft and also as the last sight a trainee parachutist saw before their first jump at the Parachute Training School based at the Naval Air Station Nowra.
4.45pm 'Connie'
The HARS Lockheed Super Constellation opened up Australia's first round the world airline service and provided global transport and weather aircraft for the US military.
5.00pm Roulettes
The RAAF's aerobatic team will perform a show specially designed for Sydney Harbour. All Navy pilots begin their career flying the Pilatus PC-9.
5.15pm Farewell
Navy Squirrel and Bell 429 helicopters will wave farewell to the spectators.
Kaylene and I had found a spot on the Garden Island side to watch the air displays. I wasn't sure when the Roulettes would be on, but we waited and waited, saw all the helicopters and some planes, but still no roulettes. Saw the passenger cruise liner Rhapsody of the Seas head out to the Heads, and thinking the air show was over, went back and headed to the ladies. Lucky for us, when we got back to our mat, we heard the roulettes fly by overhead. No time to go see them do their tricks over the water, by the time we walked there and it would have been over, so we just saw them as they flew around overhead.
Then it was a 2hour wait for the fireworks and light show. Had dinner while waiting and saw the area fill up. The footpath in front of us was now crowded and causing a pedestrian traffic jam. Lucky for us, the people seated in front of us (a group of young guys) started explaining to the people on the footpath that we, the crowd on the hill had been waiting all day to see the view and what gave them the right to stand and block the view. With a lot of chanting from the crowd on the hill, us included, of "Sit Down", the footpath crowd sat down and applause and cheers went up...a lot of happy people, including us. They remained seated all through the fireworks as well. I guess if they didn't they would have had an angry mob go after them.
7:40pm -8:10pm Fireworks and Lightshow Spectacular
The lightshow was projected on the sails of the Opera House and went through the history of the navy, showing the wars they had served in as well as the non-combat times, such as Cyclone Tracey. Fireworks accompanied the lightshow. There was an eerie silence as the last post was trumpeted and the names of the fallen scrolled through on the sails. Then the amazing finale of fireworks and explosions echoed around the harbour. Because it wasn't a windy day, smoke hung around the harbour and some of the fireworks got covered, but we got to see the amazing sight as the fireworks lit up the harbour bridge and the skies around.
At the end of the show, there was a mass exodus. We walked back to Town Hall Station, Lily leading the way and managed to get home by 9.30pm, catching the first train out and managing to get seats as well.
Janet had taped the show for us, so we sat and watched it from the point of view of the cameras, spectacular again, but the atmosphere is not the same as being right in the middle of it.
