By Melissa Walsh Photos: Yanni
I
t’s a clear sunny morning when we meet down at the Sorrento Pier to board Searoad’s original Sorrento Ferry, “The Queenscliff”. Master Gus Rogers and his trusty sidekick, Skipper, meet us at the ferry entrance as all the cars are guided on board. Skipper, who was born at the Queenscliff ferry terminal, wears a little “security” coat the girls in the office made her, and is a real hit with the tourists, with Gus bringing her out on most crossings. As we board the 60 metre long, three storey high, 22 year old vessel, the way the crew direct the cars seems effortless, loading them all in 15 minutes between berths.
“To load and unload up to 75 cars and 500 passengers in such a short time is an extraordinary effort. When it’s busy everyone gets in and helps,” says Gus, and you can tell straight away it’s a real team environment on the Sorrento Ferry. Up on the bridge, Skipper has her own seat next to Master Gus, and seems rather at home living a life at sea. Six foot, tattooed Gus explains that getting the ferry out of the Sorrento Pier is quite easy but we have to slow down within a few minutes as it’s low tide and only one metre between the floor of the ocean and the keel. As we start gaining pace again, past Lindsay’s beach and incredible Sorrento properties on the cliff face, two ships are coming up behind us. continued next page...
SummerSummer 2015/2016 2015
E ssence | 95
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