A two-part documentary.
Part 1. Former skippers, stokers and engineers, their wives and long-time passengers join present-day ferry-master Sally Fodie on board the Devonport ferry Kestrel, which has plied the ferry routes of Auckland's Waitemata Harbour since 1905.
Sally explains how she was received on board by both crew and passengers, first as mate and then as master. One of “the old salts” Bill retells a story about breaking in a new engineer on board the Kestrel in 1939 that managed to crash both bow and stern into the wharf on two ferries, on his first day.
Prior to the Auckland Harbour Bridge being built the ferry services ran more frequently with both passenger and vehicular ferries in operation. It is agreed that Bluey Welldale and John Cole would have broken the record for transporting the most vehicles across the Harbour on a Sunday afternoon. The extraordinarily tough job of the stokers is acknowledged.
Several unidentified passengers retell their family stories as regular commuters. Harry, an engineer used to work on the Belmont to Devonport vehicular ferry, alongside Captain Parker providing a life line with emergency services. He explains how he’d often be called out multiple times through the night as a volunteer aid and then turn up for his regular paid shift during the day.
One passenger reminisces about how he and his friends sighted a Japanese float plane from the lower deck of the Devonport ferry in 1942, though did not know specifically what it was at the time and assumed it was the popular comic book character, Winslow of the Navy.
Former master, stoker and retired skipper, Alan Sandford as well as other unidentified interviewees reminisce about voyages and passengers they remember.
Part 2. Jack Perkins joins skipper, Sally Fodie and former ferry master, Bluey Welldale in the wheelhouse of the 88 year old ferry, the Kestrel where they talk about the history of the two wheels.
Sally describes what she has to think about when departing and the initial resistance to her role onboard by some men (including John Cole and Alan Sandford) and the 3-400 regular passengers waiting on the wharf, with plenty of advice when she made errors.
Sally describes a particularly violent domestic fight she witnessed in her role as first mate between a couple on board, which prompted her to call the police to meet them at the Auckland docks. After berthing, the woman chased her assailant off the ferry to be confronted by a row of police in riot gear who appeared to be anticipating an unruly mob, rather than an unruly couple.
Sally shares a story about one of the many characters she has met whilst working on the ferry, an Irishman, known as Paddy. Asked about collisions and near misses, Sally explains that although the job is 90% smooth sailing the other 10% has its moments. “Touch wood” to date she is happy to report she has not joined the Stem Club (those masters who’ve misjudged berthing, taken out the piles and stem post with the bow).
She talks about the positive and negative feedback she’s received from passengers, especially in regards to her gender in crew roles. Although there are thirteen round trips in her nine-hour shift, Sally says it’s never the same, as the harbour, sea conditions, tide and passengers are always changing.
She gives the Kestrel’s horn a long blast and explains how she (and other skippers) have a habit of steering the boat with their feet on the wheel. Sally and Bluey talk about the young children that dive off the Devonport wharf and Bluey reveals he was once one of those boys but has appreciated the trouble they would have caused since becoming a skipper himself.
Sally shares another couple of stories about two passengers; a seemingly comatose punk rocker and elderly drunk who went overboard twice in one month. Sally explains how working on the ferry has become a way of life and though she realises retirement will come at some point, she can’t imagine leaving right now. She berths the Kestrel in Auckland, at the end of her nine hour shift.