The frigate HMAS NEWCASTLE, (CAPT T. N. Jones, CSC, RAN), was en-route to Hawaii for Exercise Rimpac 04, when she was diverted to rescue three Danish sailors from the yacht TICO TICO. The yacht had been badly damaged when it capsized near a Fijian atoll, and the three crew were forced into a life raft. A RNZAF Orion aircraft on patrol, picked up a signal from the yacht’s distress beacon, and guided NEWCASTLE to the raft. The crew had been in the life raft for over 48 hours when NEWCASTLE’s helicopter arrived on the scene and winched them to safety.
The largest single class of trainee officers graduated from the RAN College. 115 officers graduated on this day.