The only specialised marine publication in Oceania that focuses on the maritime industry, from super yachts to small craft to large commercial ships, including coastal shipping, tugs, tow boats, barges, ferries, tourist, sport-fishing craft
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OUR PEOPLE SNOWBOARDER LOVES BEING AT SEA BY CAROL FORSYTH M elissa Morgan's early seafaring background was gained with Christchurch Sea Cadets, Coastguard Canterbury, Jack Tar Sailing School plus sailing as a trainee and leading hand on the TS Spirit of New Zealand. Keen to broaden her sailing skills, Melissa looked to the America's Cup racing yachts and when she realised a woman was never on board, she went behind the scenes. A five-year sailmaking apprenticeship with Doyle Sailmakers saw her moving to Auckland. In her spare time she went sailing with the Ponsonby Cruising Club, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and the Hobsonville Yacht Club. "When I was at Doyles, we stitched our way through 2200sq m of cloth to make the sails for the superyacht Kokomo – the biggest of the biggest – so after that I was wondering what was next." Even achieving the role of department manager couldn't keep her in the sail loft! A close friend and mentor, Sean Patterson, prompted Melissa to go along the waterfront to the New Zealand Maritime School to do her second mate's foreign-going masters ticket. She became one of three women in an intake of 50 students. "It was a big change from sailing vessels to big boats – one extreme to another!" says Melissa. With no job guarantee at the end of the course, she had to be sure this was an option she wanted to follow. "It is really important to suss it all out before you sign up." As often happens, things fall into place once you take a step in a positive direction. As with all tickets, gaining sea time was essential. "As soon as I walked in the door at the Maritime School I started looking for sea time on vessels over 500 tonnes." She contacted numerous New Zealand coastal shipping companies asking for a berth to gain experience and sea time hours. If you want something badly enough you are going to push for it!" says Melissa with a smile. When Melissa joined the Spirit of Resolution, operated by the shipping company Pacifica, as a cadet, her life revolved around the weekly loop around the coast. Their cargo could be anything from hazardous tanks to containers and general freight. Melissa was seasick on her first trip offshore. "I nearly died! But there's nothing you can do except accept it and carry on." She has enjoyed whale watching up the Kaikoura coast and rough seas, while learning as much as she can. "All the crew are very kind to me and because of the age differences, they treat me like a granddaughter. There are never any sexist comments, which is good, because it's just 12 men and me on board." As one of a small number of the New Zealand's female coastal shipping cadets, Melissa soon became well known in the coastal seagoing community. "I don't want to upset people. This is my career and job, so if I'm bad as a cadet they're not going to want me back. My footprints are always there – they don't disappear!" All ports have a unique character, she says. "Onehunga is cool with a two-hour pilotage. On my first trip to Lyttelton we were snowed in at the port and the wharfies couldn't work, so we stayed there for days. "It's always nice at Nelson, especially at night with all the lights. In New Plymouth we blew the turbocharger, which was quite an experience, and then there are the huge West Coast swells." 38 Professional Skipper March/April 2012 As one of a small number of the New Zealand's female coastal shipping cadets, Melissa soon became well known. Melissa is always keen to learn from different people and takes two watches a day, one with the master and one with the chief mate. "You are there to learn and I became a sponge to take in all I could. I also accepted that it was their home and I was invading it." She says it's nice to have the wives on board to make life a bit more balanced. While at sea with Pacifica, Melissa keeps busy with task books, assignments and goals to achieve. "I set myself goals so each week I have something to aim for. It's important to keep pushing because it's so easy to fall into a lazy pattern, and you can't afford to be lazy when training." She really likes assisting the chief mate with cargo planning. "It's a good brain challenge and another avenue or pathway to keep in the game later in life, it's always an option and we have to keep all our options open!" Sometimes Melissa will get off the ship on a Thursday and breathe for five minutes before jumping on a 360˚ Discovery ferry as a deckhand. "They are very supportive of the whole situation and will work around my time at sea or in the classroom." The last time Melissa was in Lyttelton, the Spirit of Resolution was in drydock. "I just did what I was told to do and at Christmas/ New Year, especially with the earthquakes, I learnt a lot." One of her jobs was painting the anchor. "It took me days!" She also cleaned and painted the lifeboats and anchor cables. She says it's good to have people to bounce ideas off in the industry. "People like that get you through. Without their support, it makes life so much harder. If I really want something, I ask." As we said, although Melissa loves snowboarding, her life has snowballed into a life in the marine industry and she loves it. Melissa Morgan