Crowds throng Sydney harbour for International Fleet Review
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Version 0 of 1. Ship obsessives, royal watchers and people who just want to enjoy the sunshine are among the tens of thousands of people crowding Sydney’s harbour and its foreshore for the International Fleet Review. Tall ships, navy boats and battle cruisers are part of the international fleet visiting Sydney on Saturday to mark 100 years since the Royal Australian Navy entered the harbour. Prince Harry joined the dignitaries at the celebrations, boarding the HMAS Leeuwin in the morning where the prime minister, Tony Abbott, was waiting to greet him. Close to the front of the crowd, watching the flotilla of warships, are the most serious of boating enthusiasts. Armed with binoculars, cameras and tripods, and with zinc-painted faces, they have settled in for a long day in the sun. James Murphy is a member of a Sydney sailing club who plans to spend as long as he can taking it all in. “It’s an incredible opportunity to see all these ships together in the same place – you never see anything like this,” he says, pointing out the different types of vessels to less-informed onlookers. Others’ interest in the ships is a little less serious. Jarod and Kylie Sterling from the Sutherland shire in Sydney’s south have brought their children, Aidan and Nate, out for the day to see the spectacle. “I don’t know how long we’ll last, until the kids get tired,” Jarod says, as Aidan looks up in excitement at the helicopters flying in formation overhead. Many of the boat watchers are resting on the Opera House steps, where Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Band are playing. Four trumpeters stand at the front for a rendition of Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. The music is a change of pace for some in the audience. Pockets of teenage girls wearing Rihanna and One Direction T-shirts are spread through the crowd. The Barbadian singer has played in the city this week and the British boyband are taking over All Phones Arena this weekend. Many in the crowd have found themselves here by chance. Reg Johnson, 55, is a Canberra resident who came up for the NRL grand final. “I’ve come up for the final every year since the 1990s,” he says. “When we tried to book a hotel we had a bit of trouble but it’s great to spend the day out here in the sun.” The HMAS Leeuwin carrying Prince Harry sails past the Opera House, leaving some onlookers thrilled and others unimpressed. “It does seem a little bit odd to have a British prince on an Australian military ship, but it doesn’t really surprise me,” says David Pemberthy, a Sydney architect having a day out with his family. Others are less concerned. James Murphy, the boating enthusiast, says it’s important that Britain have a presence here: “This event is about celebrating Australia but we would never have been here without the British, so it’s good that the prince came out.” The prince will attend a reception at Kirribilli House then fly back to Britain on Sunday. The skies have cleared for a light show and fireworks that are expected to rival the New Year’s Eve spectacle on the harbour, starting from 7.40pm. The fleet review along with the NRL grand final and One Direction concerts are expected to attract 1.4 million extra people to Sydney this weekend. Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |