Hi Honey!

by Rob Kothe on 8 Jun 2002 Paula Holland picked up the phone a few minutes after this morning's Australian sunrise to hear her husband Bretten's words.

After seven days of silence, the lone sailor had quietly sailed into the river at Mooloolaba and circled in front of the marina. He found an empty berth at the end and called out for someone to call Customs for him.

The Australian Customs officer first reaction a few minutes later was to throw his mobile phone up to the weary Kiwi, with the words, 'I guess you will want to phone home.'

Paula, who had been upbeat in her earlier phone discussion with Sail-World, said ... 'I'd just hung up and the phone rang again. When I heard Bretten say 'Hi Honey', the relief was enormous, I yelled out to every one in the house. 'He's arrived.'

Holland had battery problems, as suspected, with both batteries gradually flattening, in spite of repeated motor recharging attempts.

'It's Bretten's 30th birthday today. I am going to give him an air-ticket home so we can spend some time together as a family.

My little movie stars, 21 month old Aniston (after Jennifer) and 3 and half month old Quaid (after Dennis) will be pleased to see their Daddy.

Bretten's been keen to get a sponsor for Skiddy Too, but there has to be easier ways to get publicity than this.

The important thing, as far as we are concerned is that Bretten's dream is to be in the next Volvo race, well he's certainly proved he can stick at long ocean passages.

We could not talk for long, he had to work with the customs guy, but a shower, a beer and a big sleep were his priorities. With no self-steering, he's pretty short of sleep.

Thanks everyone who was supporting us, it's the best birthday ever.'