Sailors from the British Royal Navy chose Wollongong this week for some rest and relaxation while their ship was docked in Sydney.
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The group of eight sailors wanted to Skydive the Beach and do a bike ride. Despite the weather not being perfect they made the most of the opportunity.
Skydive Australia arranged Just Cruisin’s Steve Melchior and his motorcycle tour mates Barry Roberts, Craig Thams and Peter Holm to pick them up from Waterfall Station after they travelled from Kings Cross.
After the skydive they lunched at Headlands Hotel before heading north on the fleet of motorcycles to Seacliff Bridge, Bald Hill, the Royal National Park and then back to Waterfall.
Electronic warfare director Matt Titmus said he and his crewmates from the Type 23 Frigate HMS Sutherland had been on deployment in Australian waters since late February and leave Sydney on Friday.
“Today was a day off the ship so we chose to get outside the city and do the coastal ride,” he said.
The sailors decided they would like to do a combination of skydiving and a bike tour. They were not too worried about the rain because they are used to being exposed to the elements.
“I thought the weather was good,” he said.
“It worked out really well because we got to skydive through the clouds. Above the clouds we had blue skies and we then got to free fall through clouds and come out the other side where we go a good view of the city and coastline. I hadn’t heard of Wollongong before. We had such a good time and everybody was really friendly.”
Laura Sharpe, of Headlands Hotel, said it was something a little different.
“We love it when Just Cruisin turn up here. It was a great package for the visitors.”
Mr Melchior will next line up in the arts prectinct at Wollongong for Explorer of the Seas visit when the biggest ever cruise ship to berth at Port Kembla arrives on Sunday morning.
He is also in big demand providing rides for people with disabilities in the Illawarra.
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