Newcastle Boat Show

by Tony Mowbray on 11 Jul 2001 Solo Globe Challenge 2000
Update # 99
Kooee from the Team Mowbray bunker. It's great to be able to write to you again after I got that little sailing trip out of the way. Thank you one and all for your great support during the project and another huge thanks to all the people that greeted me when I returned to Newcastle Harbour on Easter Saturday. 'Sal's' return into Lake Macquarie on the Easter Monday was equally overwhelming. Both days were unbelievable and will remain etched in my memory forever.

I have not had a chance to personally thank all those involved in the organisation of my welcome home and I don't think I'll ever fully realise the amount of effort and energy that some of you expended. Thank you all so much.

You have all made me feel very proud to be a Novocastrian and an 'Aussie.' I am humbled by your support, the congratulatory messages and good wishes. I am trying to personally contact and thank all those who have helped me over the years but it is a big task and when combined with the all the other things happening at present it is taking longer than I would like but I am chipping away at it. Thanks you all once again.

One of the reasons I have been locked away in the bunker is that I have a couple of exciting projects I am working hard at completing.
The first is my book which is underway and should be released Christmas. (I now understand the term 'writer's block')

The second is our documentary, which I am pleased to advise is being produced by my good friends at NBN television. 'Kevvie', 'Frankie babe' (my imaginary friends) and I managed to shoot over 100 hours of footage during the trip using our superb SONY equipment. My good friend and creative genius at NBN, Keir Enderby, is in charge of production and is putting in a huge effort. He appears to be a bit excited by the vision that we've come back with so look out for a good show. Look out for it on NBN in the next month or two. I also want to add some other footage to it and release it as a home video. I'll keep in touch with you so that you don't miss out.

This weekend 'SAL' and I will be at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre as part of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Boat Show. We lifted her out of the water on Tuesday and transported her into Newcastle on the very same low loader that was used to bring her back from Eden after the '98 Hobart race I'll be there throughout the show to let you have a close up look at my beautiful boat and talk about the trip. We had to remove the mast but I have set up the 'jury rig' as it was set to try and get us back to land after the '98' fiasco. She is 'au naturale' so you'll see the chainplate repairs and plenty of the vital gear and equipment I used to get around the world.
The show opens this Friday, July 13th from noon till 6pm and runs across the weekend from 9-6 on Saturday and 9-5 on Sunday. Admission is $10.00 with accompanied children under 16 free and parking included in your ticket price. Funds raised help Rotary and the Coast Guard. I hope to see you there.

Before I go I'd like to introduce to you a new member of my team, Luke Grant (I don't think he's imaginary?). Up until recently Luke was Newcastle's top rating breakfast radio announcer but for some insane reason has left radio to manage a lot of my affairs (some people enjoy pain). Lots of you have told me how much you enjoyed my regular reports with Luke and Paul Harragon so I'm sure to many, he is no stranger. Luke is available to talk to you about any corporate speaking engagements, merchandise or any other venture you might think I should consider. He'll write to you from time to time to let you know some of the things we are doing here at Team Mowbray.

That's it for now. I'll write again soon and I hope to see you at the boat show this weekend.

Once again, a huge thank you to all.
Take care,