By Ross Robinson

As a club member I have grown to love the marine environment but in many ways feel powerless and overawed by the situation. Back in the 70 s many nations including Australia were involved in whaling. My brother’s story is an inspiration to me that the only thing that holds back change is ourselves.

Christopher Robinson was associated with the campaigns that made Greenpeace a globally recognized environmental voice. A quiet man, an exceptional navigator, and inspiring sailing Captain, Christopher put his life on the line, and inspired many others to join him.

In 1977 Christopher was the first to put hammer and chisel to the rust of the Sir William Hardy, a North Sea trawler that would become famous as the first Rainbow Warrior. He spent months in the West India Docks of London preparing the campaign ship before becoming a member of its first crew. Fittingly, he was in Auckland on July 10 1985, when two mines planted by the French Secret Service ripped thru the ship’s hull, killing the ship’s photographer, Fernando Pereira, a close friend of Christopher. Christopher was among those who completed the journey to the French nuclear weapons test site at Moruroa that the Rainbow Warrior was not able to.

It was neither his first nor last protest at the infamous South Pacific test site. In 1995 he joined David McTaggart and Henk Haazan aboard the 13 meter ketch Vega, playing a cat and mouse game to delay the French military from detonating a nuclear weapons with the French military in a campaign that brought world-wide condemnation of Jacques Chirac’s ill-advised resumption of nuclear blasts. All three were eventually arrested, the Vega seized once again, and the French government embarrassed further.

Earlier as one of the first crew of the Rainbow Warrior, Christopher had put his efforts in the global fight to save the world’s whale populations from extinction. Christopher maneuvered small zodiac boats close in to whales, blocking the harpoon gunner’s shot countless times. In one incident the Greenpeace vessel Cedarlea was anchored in UK waters, a kilometer off Brighton as the International Whaling Commission deliberated on the future of the whales. He had somehow been left behind when the last zodiac returned to the ship. Christopher slept on the beach and surprised the early morning watch when at first light, he clambered over the gunwale, dripping wet. 'You lot left me ashore' he said, with no malice or bitterness, ' it was a bit cold so I swam to get warm'

In December 1982 he was arrested along with Dr. Bob Brown, current leader of the Greens in the Senate, during the protests against the damming of the Franklin River in Tasmania where old huon pine forests were threatened.

In 1984 Christopher captained Vega for Greenpeace as it circum-navigated Australia in a series of protests against uranium mining and nuclear weapons. He led a blockade of uranium exports in the port of Darwin. In Fremantle he skippered Vega in a protest against an American nuclear submarine.

A year earlier, working with the 52 boats of the New Zealand Peace Squadron, Christopher was able to do what Prime Minister David Lange could not; force the U.S.S. Phoenix, an American attack submarine to come to a full stop as it tried to enter Auckland harbour. These were the early days of New Zealand’s ban on nuclear powered vessels. The public, and indeed international uproar was so loud, the United States has not sent a nuclear powered vessel into Kiwi waters since.

In 1991 participated in the dismantling of the Greenpeace base in Antarctica, traveling aboard the Greenpeace. He spent six weeks on the ice in cramped conditions. Fellow crewman Ted Hood, made the comment, “I noticed Christopher, one of the most experienced and respected crewmembers taking over the menial jobs. He was continually cleaning up the area where people made coffee and cut bread, always an aggravating mess. I asked Christopher about his constant cleaning. His response; This is my area, I have adopted it, I just want the crew to be happy and get along.”

Christopher’s last campaign with Vega and Greenpeace was in in 2005 when he once again skippered Vega, this time to protest Talisman Sabre, American/Australian war games off the Queensland coast involving nuclear powered warships.

Christopher Robinson crossing Bass Strait with Vega early this year

Christopher was a true actioneer, a man whose actions spoke louder than his words.

Christopher Bruce Robinson was born at Saint Elmo’s Hospital on the 27th of December 1952 in Yarram, Victoria. The second of four brothers, he spent his childhood years at Port Albert attending Port Albert Primary and Yarram High School.

Christopher lost his battle with cancer and died in his brother’s arms September 17.

Christopher Robinson crossing Bass Strait with Vega early this year.