their loved ones yesterday.

And although the "Tiger Cruise'' got off to a rocky start, by the end of the afternoon over 1,000 people had been transported on and off three vessels, which were anchored a couple of miles east of St. David's Head.

"I'm feeling numb with excitement more than anything else,'' said Frank Caldwell who made the journey to the Island to see his 20-year-old son at the end of his six-month cruise.

"Being a navy dad has its moments,'' he added. "It can be fairly difficult and sometimes I worry but, at the same time, I feel proud.'' The US Navy aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy , the cruiser USS Monterrey and the supply ship USS Seattle set sail for the US east coast last night, on the last leg of a cruise that took them as far afield as the Persian Gulf. It was originally hoped that the transporting would be done by a Government ferry but the vessel's first attempt to dock at the stern of the John F. Kennedy met with failure.

Marine and Ports director Ron Ross said: "We were trying to help out the US by taking passengers on the Deliverance but it didn't turn out to be that straightforward.'' He said the Somerset ferry suffered minor damage to its canopy after it was knocked into an overhang on the John F. Kennedy by swells. The ferry headed back to Hamilton Harbour and, instead, two utility boats from the Seattle shuttled back and forth across the turbulent seas, making sure that family members boarded their loved ones' vessels safely and depositing crewmen at Ordnance Island, St. George's so they could catch a charter flight home.

Swell way to reunite families US Navy combat direction center officer Cmdr. Kevin Mason told The Royal Gazette yesterday that the operation went "very well''.

"The hardest thing about it was managing to off-load the people from the utility boats and on to the ships,'' he said. "The decks were wet and it can be quite dangerous when the boats are rolling all over the place in the swell.'' Cmdr. Mason explained that the utility boats, which hold around 70 people at a time, made trips back and forth for about six hours.

In all, more than 550 crewmen were taken off the sturdy grey ships, replaced with the same amount of family and friends for the three-day "Tiger Cruise'' ("tiger'' is the navy nickname for family members) back to Jacksonville, Florida and Norfolk, Virginia.

Among the family members waiting anxiously on Ordnance Island yesterday morning was Atlanta, Georgia resident Joe Staffieri Jr., who made the trip to see his 30-year-old son, who flies S-3 Viking submarine chaser aircraft from the John F. Kennedy .

"It's exciting to finally be able to see what my son does,'' he said. "I'm glad to be able to experience it first hand.'' Asked how it was having someone so close to him in the Navy, Mr. Staffieri said: "I feel good about him being there. Of course at times it can be a dangerous job, but I'm proud of him.'' Travelling to see his sonar technician dad was 12-year-old A.J. Wittle, who said he was "excited'' to be here.

"It's a unique experience because it's the first time I've gone out to see where my dad works,'' A.J. said.

"It's kind of hard having a dad in the navy because he's always out and we worry about him sometimes,'' he added.

On the other side of the fence were enlisted John F. Kennedy crew personnel William Goddard and Janel Coco, both 19.

Having just completed a six-month cruise to the Persian Gulf, the two operations specialists were waiting to go home on one of three charter aircraft that were waiting at the airport.

Baltimore, Maryland resident Mr. Goddard said he was experiencing a mixture of feelings knowing that he was going to be with his family again, ranging from anxiety to "wonderful excitement''.

Of his duties, he said: "I can't complain about the navy. It has its ups and downs, but that's life.'' Ms Coco, from Long Island, New York, said: "I miss my family and it's a great feeling knowing that I'm going to see them again.'' Asked how she dealt with not seeing her family for such a long time, she said: "I try to call them every chance I get but I think they feel it's good that I'm going all over the world like this and meeting lots of people.'' Cmdr. Mason explained that he would be seeing his two children and father for the first time in six months yesterday.

"It's great knowing that I'm going to see them again,'' he said, "and it's difficult being away from them for so long.'' Precious Cargo: A utility boat from the United States Navy supply ship Seattle ferries around 70 family members and friends to see their loved ones from Ordnance Island, St. George's yesterday morning.

Photos by Arthur Bean Queasy feeling: The Marine and Ports pilot boat St. David rides the swells of the Atlantic Ocean yesterday morning as it heads towards the United States Navy aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy , anchored off St. David's Head yesterday morning.