Opua: The Fighting TEMERAIRE (CANTERBURY) tugged to her Last Berth to be broken up (sunk)
Opua: The Fighting TEMERAIRE (CANTERBURY) tugged to her Last Berth to be broken up (sunk)
Some of you will recognize the title of what may be the most famous of all English paintings. If you aren’t familiar with it, you can easily find it online. While I admire Turner as one of the few great originals who also managed to be financial successes in their own lifetimes, I don’t think “The Fighting Temeraire” can compare with many of his other works. My two favorites are probably ‘Sunrise with Sea Monster” and ‘Yacht Approaching a Coast.’, though there are many, many wonderful Turners.
The photo is a modern variation on the theme. HMNZS CANTERBURY was towed from Opua Wharf yesterday morning to Deep Water Cove near Cape Brett, where she will be sunk Saturday morning to become a dive site.
New Zealand is becoming skilled at this. The RAINBOW WARRIER, refloated after being sunk by the French in Auckland, was resunk in the Cavalli Islands twenty miles north of here; and another retired New Zealand Navy frigate was sunk off Wellington a couple of years ago.
Nevertheless there was last minute panic when someone decreed that twenty-two additional holes had to be cut in the hull last weekend. Once cut these holes had then to be covered with plywood for insurance purposes during the ten mile tow to the ship’s final resting place. Once there the plywood will have to be removed.
Sinking ships in peacetime seems more complicated than in war.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007