Giselle/Wahine documentary 9.30pm on TV1

[RWood]

The publicity suggests it will be a first-time expose of errors and incompetencies. I am doubtful however if it will address the issues that Ereck Brenstrum of Met. Service has raised in his research into NZ storms, particularly this one and the February 1936 storm. We'll see.

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

No comment

JohnGaul
NZTS

[Myself]

I am doubtful however if it will address the issues that Ereck Brenstrum of Met. Service has raised in his research into NZ storms,

Out of interest, what are these concerns?

[RWood]

They relate mainly to the degree of culpability of the USS company and the ship's master, as I understand it. "Getthereitis" is a term that I think applies. But I'm a bit rusty, so I'd rather see the doco. and then solicit a commnet from Ereck afterwards if the program doesn't discuss those issues adequately.

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

My next door neighbours, at the time, were on the Wahine when it sunk. They were on their way to Scotland.
After their ordeal, they never got further more than Wellington and returned home.

JohnGaul
NZTS

[RWood]

Quite dramatic with the personal stories, only brief references to mistakes or poor organisation, mostly at the end.

However these simple sentences from an article on the Met. Service site -

"... The most recent disaster was the sinking of the Wahine after striking Barrett's Reef during a severe storm in April 1968. Although forewarned of the possibility of extreme weather, the ship's master attempted to enter the harbour in deteriorating conditions" allude to the most basic error.

[jamie]

I didnt realise that it regenerated so much and became so powerfull. Something like 275km/h was its peek gust. I was blowen away. I have been trying to find an isobar map of it. Anyone know where to find it? Not even sure if isobar maps were published to the public back then. It would be great to see the two storms meeting.

[RWood]

The 275 hasn't been substantiated - a number of 270 was read at Oteranga Bay (where the cable comes in off the Strait) but the instrument was suspect. However there's little doubt that gusts well over 250kph would have occurred on many high exposed places. Swells of up to 14m occurred from what I recall.

There's probably a map lurking in a published paper in a librray, but I can't see anything online after a quick check.

[Myself]

http://www.rsnz.org/publish/nzjmfr/2003/024-lo.pdf

Has a map.

[Michael]

Its also in the TVNZ weather book with the lady on the front published around 1978-79 in the un PC days

[Manukau heads obs]

nice article, but surprised that Fergus and Drena were mentioned, when there has been TC like Tracy that could have been mentioned

[RWood]

Their context is NZ incursions - Tracy was Darwin 1974 wasn't it? Nothing to do with us.

[Manukau heads obs]

no, I meaning a TC that hit the auckland area hard in the 70's(?), with hurricane force winds recorded at Music point
I think it was called Tracy , but I might be wrong, and of course I am not refering to the Darwin one