Fatal Storm (39 page)

Considering that the Race Management Team was responsible for the control and conduct of the Race, from just before its start until its finish at Hobart, this lack of understanding, particularly by Mr Thompson, is inexcusable.

17. I find that the Race Management Team was organised in such a fashion that at the time of crisis it was to all intents and purposes, valueless to the race fleet.

18. I find that the Race Management Team had no emergency or crisis plan from which guidance could have been obtained.

1. Glyn Charles was washed overboard when his lanyard, which was attached to the harness he was wearing, failed at the stitching. I make the following findings in relation to the lanyard:-
   
   1. I find that the lanyard used by Glyn Charles bore the manufacturer’s label “Tuff Marine Australia” which stated that it complied with Australian standard 2227;
      
   2. It is more probable that the lanyard stitching did not meet the Australian Standard (as modified for use and age) at the time it was being worn by Glyn Charles.
      
   3. I have grave doubts that the lanyard that Glyn Charles was using, would have, at the time of manufacture, met the Australian Standard.
      
2. Glyn Charles died immediately or shortly after he was last seen on the surface of the water, the time being approximately 5.10pm on 27 December 1998.
   
3. Glyn Charles died from drowning having probably sustained injuries in the roll over of
   Sword of Orion
   and being unable to stay afloat.
   

T
his Roll of Honour has been completed to the best endeavours. However it is inevitable that many others were involved in this courageous rescue effort. Special thanks is also extended to each and every one of those people.

AUSTRALIAN MARITIME SAFETY AUTHORITY AMSA)

Some 50 personnel were involved in coordination of all search and rescue activities from Australian Search and Rescue (AusSAR), Canberra, ACT including Rescue Coordination Centre Operations Officers, Management and AMSA Public Relations.

AIR SERVICES AUSTRALIA

HELIMED 1 AIR AMBULANCE

Captain Peter Leigh

Captain Howard Bosse

Captain Stefan Sincich

Aircrewman Steve Collins

Aircrewman Stephen Simpson

Aircrewman David Sullivan

Paramedic Cam Robertson

Paramedic Peter Davidson

Paramedic Terry Houge

Observer John Sloyan

Observer John Bailey

Senior Base Engineer Russell Gallattly

Operational Logistics Officer Wendy Civetta

SAR Observer Eddie Wright

Aviation Manager Ken Laycock

NRMA CAREFLIGHT

Pilot Dan Tyler

Pilot Terry Summers

Pilot Richard Nest

Aircrewman Graeme Fromberg

Aircrewman Steve Johnston

Dr Richard Cracknell

Dr Ken Harrison

Dr Arthas Flabouris

SCAT Paramedic Murray Traynor

SCAT Paramedic Steve Martz

SCAT Paramedic Ian Spencer

Engineer Mark Cruse

Co-ordinator John Hoad

Co-ordinator Ian Badham

VICTORIA POLICE AIR WING

Senior Constable David Key (Rescue Crewman)

Senior Constable Darryl Jones (Pilot)

Senior Constable Barry Barclay (Winch Operator)

Senior Constable Trevor Rim (Rescue Crewman)

Senior Constable Keith Fisher (Winch Operator)

Constable Chris Jameson (Pilot)

WESTPAC LIFESAVER RESCUE HELICOPTER

Illawarra Branch

Chief Pilot Jon Klopper

Rescue Crewman Peter Mangles

Air Crewman Douglas Smith

Air Crewman Matt Scott

Air Crewman Roger Graham

ACT AMBULANCE SERVICE SOUTHCARE

Pilot Ray Stone

Pilot Simon Lovell

Acting Base Manager Pilot Ron Maurer

Crewman Mark Delf

Crewman Matthew Smith

Crewman George Casey

Base Engineer Colin Hobbs

Paramedic Michael Abigail

Paramedic Paul Bibo

Paramedic Michelle Blewitt

Paramedic Paul Brooke

Paramedic David Dutton

Paramedic Grant Hogan

Paramedic Kristy McAlister

Paramedic Stephen Mitchell

Duty Superintendent David Foot

Duty Superintendent David Holdom

Acting Superintendent Andrew Edwards

Director of ACT Ambulance Service Ken Paulsen

Chief Executive Officer Emergency Services Bureau Mike Castle

YOUNG ENDEAVOUR

Royal Australian Navy Crew

LCDR Neil Galletly RAN( Commanding Officer)

LEUT Brenton Witt RAN

LEUT Ian Heldon RAN

LEUT Nathan Jacobsen RAN

LEUT Debra Dunne RAN

CPOCSM(AC) John Crawford

CPOMT Gregory Goddard

POMT Paul Baker

LSCK Angela Miranda

ABWTR Sally Kingston

Supernumeraries

LCDR Ron Matsen RANR

LSPH Stephen Coates

Kirsty Boazman

CYCA Radio Operators

Lew Carter

Michael Brown

Audrey Brown

Youth Crew

Benita Ainsworth

Kathy Baker

Meretta Boyer

Katy Glenda

Catherine Habermann

Louise Keogh

Amelia Mills

Alethea Mouhtouris

Clare Omodei

Michelle Redden

Desiree Wilson

Timothy Davies

Richard Evans

Steven Hammond

Benjamin Harzer

Matthew Hosie

Jason Ives

John Moir

Steven Roberts

Angus Stevenson

Chris Daley

THE NEW SOUTH WALES, VICTORIA & TASMANIA POLICE FORCES

Eden

Sergeant Keith Tillman

Senior Constable Bradley Ross

Senior Constable Craig Baker

Senior Constable Nick Markulin

Merimbula

Sergeant Colin Bell

Bega

Sergeant Mark Welsby

Batemans Bay

Superintendent John Ambler

Inspector Rick Mawdsley

WATER POLICE LAUNCH
NEMESIS
AND CREW

RAN SEA KING HELICOPTERS (HS817 SQUADRON)

SHARK 05

LEUT Alan Moore – Aircraft Captain and First Pilot

COMMANDER George Sydney – Commanding Officer HS 817 squadron, Second pilot

LEUT Philip “Wacka” Payne – Observer, (Tactical Navigator)

Petty Officer Kerwyn Ballico – Aircrewman

SHARK 20

LCDR Paul “Tanzi” Lea – Aircraft Captain and First Pilot

LEUT Chris “Ox” Money – Second Pilot

LEUT David Hutchinson – Observer (Tactical Navigator)

Petty Officer Brian “Dixie” Lee – Aircrewman

Duty Officer at HS 817

LEUT Scott Booker – Royal Navy (Exchange Pilot)

Maintenance Personnel HS817 SQN

LEUT Andrew Watson (Observer)

CPOATA Mario Cinello

CPOATA Tony Bouckaert

POATA Rohan Denman

LSATA Edson Flores (Observer)

LSATV William Miles (Observer)

ABATA Kieran Molloy

ABATV Jonathan Kick (Observer)

RAN SEA HAWK HELICOPTERS

TIGER 75
(HMAS
MELBOURNE)

LCDR Richard Neville

LEUT Nick Trimmer

LEUT Aaron “Wal” Abbott

LEUT Richard Allen

POA Shane Pashley (HS816 Squadron)

CPOATV David John Larter

POATA Laurie Tomasinni

LSATV Zoran Dimov

TIGER 70
(HMAS
NEWCASTLE)

LCDR Adrian Lister

LEUT Mick Curtis

LEUT Marc Pavillard

LSA David Oxley

POATV Jamie Edwards

POATV Henry Wakeford

ABATA Anthony Devenish-Meares

RAAF PC-3 OBION (NO. 92 WING)

FLTLT Paul Carpenter

FLTLT Mark Ellis

PLTOFF Mathew Taylor

FSGT Mark Wilson

FSGT Michael Makin

SGT Mark Koschenow

FLTLT Richard Wolf

PLTOFF Cecelia O’Leary

FLGOFF Andrew Gerkens

WOFF Mark Styles

FSGT Murray Walters

SGT Scot Bugg

SGT Shaun McConville

FLTLT Christopher Gall

CAPT Christian Martin

WOFF Christopher Kennedy

WOFF Andrew Ortlepp

FLTLT John Flynn

FLGOFF Simon Van Der Wijngaart

FLTLT Kevin Mulgrew

FLGOFF Colin Gray

SGT Andrew Kassebaum

WOFF Adam Tucker

WOFF Wayne Newberry

SQNLDR V Ludwig

SQNLDR G Roberts

SQLDR G Zidicky

FLTLT P Hay

FSGT Larry McLoud

SGT Jamie Burgess

SGT Peter Drury

SGT Gordon Tusti

CPL Ralph Bobart

CPL Paul Bonnar

CPL Scott Brady

CPL Barry Ramsbotham

LAC Michael Horner

LAC Adam Pannel

WOFF Pete Harte

SGT Garry Wood

SGT Mark Borchard

SGT Kim Nagel

CPLVaughan Wilds

CPL Antony Hawkes

CPL Shane Drew

CPL Mark Bridewell

LAC Aaron Agnew

RAAF C–130 HERCULES (NO. 37 SQUADRON)

FLTLT Paul Long (Captain)

FLTLT Michael Rosenthal (Navigator)

FLTLT Michael

Bannerman (Co-Pilot)

WOFF Joe Moellers (Engineer)

SGT Kevin Reid (Loadmaster)

SGT Scott Willacott (Loadmaster)

FLTLT Mike Mayfield (Captain)

FLTLT Andrea Harman (Co-Pilot)

SGT Brad Horton (Engineer)

SGT David Helmore (Loadmaster)

WOFF Graeme Clark (Loadmaster)

HMAS
NEWCASTLE

CMDR SR Hamilton (Commanding Officer)

LCDR BJ Wheeler (Executive Officer)

LCDR M Richardson (Marine Engineering Officer)

LEUT LD Van Stralen

LEUT C Dummett

LEUT L Brick

LEUT N Brett

LEUT M Harris

LEUT A Cox

LEUT NN Marshall

SBLT A Banks

CPOB PR Kiely

CPOET DA Stratford

CPOSN DJ Russell

CPOMT AE Vernon

CPOMT PT O’Keefe

POBPLWood

POSY RMH Tadin

PORS SB Dummett

POCSS P Hassall

POSN M Hancock

POET RM Glover

POET GL Cruickshank

POMT AW Sims

POMT A Bowman

POMT DB McCelland

POMT MJ Jakes

LSBM SA Nesbitt

LSBM(SE) MJ Golding

LSBM(FF)SRCannan

LSPT DA Hunt

LSCSO RP Pringle

LSSIGKViant

LSRO SD Colder

LSRO DC McLeod

LSMED GJ Davis

LSET D Fielding

LSET JG Seguin

LSET MP Weidenhoffer

LSET D Levett

LSMT G Santini

LSMT J Strange

LSMT G Criado

LSMT P Armour

LSMT D Plummer

ABBM DA Low

ABBM DJ Brearly

ABBM RL Fealy

ABBM PW Beckwith

ABCSO CW Woodland

SMNCSO PA Keitly

ABCSO DA Wruck

ABCSO JD Allen

ABCSO DC Seaman

SMNCSO SS Allan

ABSIG J Upton

ABSIG G Judd

ABSIG L Hillier

ABRO MT Dwyer

ABRO PA Hunter

ABWTR P Aldridge

ABSN A Corr

ABSTD R Furner

ABSTD M Walker

ABCK J Holmes

ABCK G Janes

ABET GA O’Connor

ABET S Sandwell

ABMT P Marriott

ABMTAWalsh

ABMT G Beech

ABMT P Williams

ABMT N Thomas

SMNMT D Goodbun

ABMT S Atkins

ABC TV HELICOPTER

Gary Ticehurst

Peter Sinclair

IBIS AIR

AIR SAPPHIRE

AIR AMBULANCE VIC

SOUTHERN REGION SLSA

DIRECT AIR

TASMANIAN AERO CLUB

NATION WIDE

JOYCE AVIATION

AUSTRALIASIAN JET

AUSTRALIAN AERIAL PATROL

GENERAL FLYING SERVICES

SOUTH EAST AVIATION

BRINDABELLA AIRLINES

AIRTEX

TASAIR

VEE H AVIATION

VESSEL
JOSEPHINE JEAN

Owner Lockie Marshall

Skipper Olli Hreinsson and Crew

VESSEL
MOIRA ELIZABETH

Owner Joe Pirrello

Skipper Tom Bibby and Crew

T
o create a book of this magnitude in just 16 weeks was nothing short of a massive effort that I could not have completed alone.

There are many people to whom I am deeply indebted, none more so than the large number of sailors, search and rescue participants, families, friends, and race officials who committed time to telling their story.

On the production side no one made a greater effort than my assistant, Nicky Ronalds. She was tireless in her assistance with the coordination of interviews, research and reading – and in keeping me organised. My media mate Mark Rothfield kept me on course with the writing while Carmel Paterson put in an inordinate number of hours at the computer transcribing interviews. From the publishers, HarperCollins, John Ferguson was an ever-enthusiastic tower of strength while Rod Morrison did a great job guiding a journalist towards being an author. Photographers Richard Bennett and Ian Mainsbridge were also important parts of the project.

On the personal side I must thank Lindsay “The Duck” Walker for being such a great mate and providing the ideal writing environment at his waterfront home – “The Duck Pond”. Peter Sutton gave invaluable advice when it was needed most while a host of other friends gave me exceptional morale support over what was a very demanding period in my life.

Footnote – December 2008:
In recent years I have moved north from Sydney and established a wonderful new life at Main Beach, on Queensland’s Gold Coast. For
this latest edition of
Fatal Storm
I must extend additional thanks to my personal assistant, Liz Christmas, for her efforts in coordinating the project.

S
ailing has been Rob Mundle’s life – his sporting passion and the principal path in his career. Equally, the Sydney to Hobart has been a major element of that life – he has covered the annual classic on more than 35 occasions and been a participant three times.