We’ve now passed the half-way point of the deployment and the feeling that we have entered a new phase of the trip is inescapable.

The lead authority for the multi-national force has changed from a Dutch Commodore to a German Admiral, we have completed our last patrol as part of Operation Active Endeavour, we are moving from the Eastern to the Western Med and the weather is finally breaking. Indeed the first sign of rain for nine weeks brought tens of people onto the upper deck to remind themselves what it looked like – clearly not a problem we normally have in Plymouth!

As we left our last update, the entire force was sailing to Souda Bay in Crete for the ceremonial parade and handover ceremony of the Task Force Command. Commodore Wirth of the Royal Netherlands Navy handed over to Rear Admiral Witthaeur of the Federal German Navy after a year in Command. Numerous high ranking political and military figures came to witness the considerable pomp and ceremony involved in a parade made up of platoons from each of the seven ships present.

While ships from the Greek and Turkish Navies provided temporary cover on Op Active Endeavour patrol, the Task Group sailors made the most of their break and enjoyed the delights of the nearby town of Chania. This delightful holiday resort has a wonderful harbour, cluttered with shops and restaurants that extend back into the narrow winding streets of the old town.

For many, this taste of a more typical family holiday resort reminded them of the distance from their loved ones while for the younger members of our team, the numerous bars and nightclubs offered sufficient distraction and another memorable run-ashore!

To round the visit off in style, our German colleagues on board the FGS Schleswig Holstein treated us to a veritable feast on our last night in port. Unfortunately, their meat freezer had developed a fault, defrosting some 15 tons of prime steak, spare ribs, burgers and sausages. Rather than let the meat go to waste, they extended an invitation for an impromptu barbecue to the whole Force.

Once back at sea, the Ship quickly re-established her familiar routine of patrolling and hailing the many merchant ships plying their trade in the Eastern Mediterranean. Our patrol sector on this occasion was to the East of Cyprus and the considerable air activity in the area, combined with the continual round of shadowing and boarding kept us all busy.

Unfortunately, this time the boarding duties fell to our NATO colleagues but rest assured that Portland’s levels of vigilance and preparedness remain throughout, ensuring that we are ready to meet any tasking that the Admiral may have for us. It is this high level of operational readiness and the patrolling and boarding operations which we have conducted that have convinced NATO to award a medal for those involved in Operation Active Endeavour. For many on board it will be their first, while some of our more experienced crew members are fast running out of room on their chests.

As ever, the time at sea was used to continue with our training, both on board and with other assets in the area. RAF Jaguar and Tornado aircraft carried out simulated attacks on the Ship, allowing the Ops Room teams to practice their hard-won air defence skills and providing a timely confidence check that our sensor and weapon systems remain top line.

Anti-submarine and anti-ship exercises also kept the team on their toes and several live firings of the General Purpose Machine Guns and a practice firing of our Magazine Launched Anti-Submarine Torpedo System (MTLS) completed a very worthwhile patrol. When viewed in the context of the numerous other, more low-key exercises and our internal training for fires and emergencies on board, the crew will certainly have earned their forthcoming break in Catania, Sicily.

Conscious of the changing weather, the opportunity was also taken to enjoy the last of the ‘guaranteed’ sunshine. The Ship’s own flight, made up of the aircrew and engineers who look after the helicopter, held a Birdman competition. The rules? Well it’s still difficult to know but the event was a huge success with numerous entries dressing up in various outfits linked, some more obscurely than others, to the world of flight.

The flight-deck was rigged as a runway where the various entries prepared – or more accurately performed – before hurling themselves into the sea. The Ship’s divers were on hand in the water to ensure that all were kept safe while the judges and Ship’s Company enjoyed the spectacle. Rounded up with a barbecue on the flight-deck the day was a wonderful distraction from the business of the week.

As we approach Sicily there have been further exercises with the Force, a visit from Admiral Witthaeur and a ‘Crosspol’ with the Spanish tanker which is accompanying the group. A Crosspol is simply the naval term for a temporary exchange of crew. We send a boat full of sailors to another ship for the day and they send a boat full to us.

As well as an interesting tour of the ship and the unique opportunity to see how another Navy operates, the visits are often quite a culinary and cultural adventure. Whether it be plate smashing in the Greek Chief Petty Officers mess, Tapas with the Spanish or some first class German beer on the Schleswig Holstein, the visits are always popular and never dull. More news from Sicily and Malta in a fortnight.