Described as a meteorological bomb, a severe storm struck the South Pacific in June 1994.  At the time the annual Auckland to Suva yacht race was in progress, with the yachts around the half way mark.  The storm caused havoc amongst the fleet, badly damaging a number of yachts and injuring some crew members.  HMNZS MONOWAI, the Navy's survey ship was in the area and successfully rescued the crews off several yachts in the most difficult and dangerous conditions.