Team Mowbray Update

by Tony Mowbray on 9 Oct 2006 'In early December 2000 I sailed less than a mile off Cape Horn on my solo around the world trip. I so vividly remember gazing at that black hard rock called 'The Horn' and letting my eyes wander off to the background and being absolutely captivated by what I described at the time in my email update as 'the jagged snow capped peaks of Argentina'

Then and there I promised myself that one day I would return to that part of the world for a closer look.

Well, that day has nearly arrived!....and I can't wait..remember when you were a kid and you just couldn't wait for a birthday or a special event? Well. mixed in with all of the pressure of getting 'Commitment' prepared is that child like expectation...bring it on!

Our new boat 'Commitment' was built essentially for the cruising charter market in 1981.

As soon as I laid eyes on her in July 2005 in Adelaide I knew I was in love. She is a beauty!

With only 16 sleeps left until we charge off into the Southern Ocean the refurbishment phase is drawing to a close. An incredible effort from a whole range of my friends and supporters has seen 'Commitment' be completely rewired, replumbed and rerigged. We have added a complete new wardrobe of extra heavy duty sails plus all new instruments including radar, chart plotter, radios, Sat phone, laptop computer, satellite email etc etc

My father, William Henry Mowbray (Bill) died in 1982. For a long time I have harboured a desire to nickname a boat after him so 'Commitment's' nick name is 'William Henry'. Sounds a bit regal for an underground coal miner.

I think my old man would be proud.

'William Henry' has had his 25 year makeover and is ready to be unleashed in the place where they make the cold, where they make the wind, where they make the big seas, where they make the ice.

I call it the factory... other people call it Antarctica.

This expedition has attracted a very diverse range of people, motivated by different factors, to join the team and over the next 6 months or so you'll get to know some of these people. Leaving Newcastle for Wellington will be 'Chas', a jazz player who specialises in the trumpet...on the day I asked Chas if he knew the 'Last Post' he quick as a whip replied 'Yeah, and I know the first one as well!'

Also on board we have a coal miner, a Kiwi, a kitchen maker, an Optometrist and two of my right hand men whose combined age is 163 (they reckon they're gonna mount a class legal action against me for abuse of the elderly!)..

Then there's little old me, 'Tony from Belmont'; all I've got is a drivers licence! Anyhow it's going to be a lot of fun so hang on for a great ride.