From Marilyn Shoesmith .....

C. I have followed your trip and wish you a speedy return. I also raise money with several other girls for the John Hunter Children's Hospital Research Foundation, so I hope at some stage we might be able to get together and have you come to one of our functions to raise some much needed money for research at the children's hospital.

Marilyn Shoesmith
Chairperson JHCHRF




From Julie Delves .....

C. Good on you Tony. We are the parents of a ten year old who was born 14 weeks premature, and so appreciate what you are doing. We will be donating. Thanks and keep well.

Julie Delves




From Matt McFadyen .....

C. Dear Tony, I am just writting to let you know what an inspiration you are to me. I am 19 and from Sydney. Only recently I have decided to attempt to become the second youngest person to circumnavigate the planet solo and unassisted, and through your up dates I can to an extent find out what I'm in for. You truely are a remarkable human being and I wish you all the luck for your remaining time at sea.

God speed,

Matt McFadyen




From Hilary Heanly .....

C. We're following your progress with great interest. You're doing so well. I'm afraid the cold would put me off, not to mention the isolation, the fear, the terrible weather, etc, etc. This poem has been inspired by your account of life in the Southern Ocean.

The Lone Sailor - Part 1 (The Southern Ocean)
by Hilary Heanly

He stands at the wheel, this sailor bold,
His feet are numb, his nose is cold.
The wild wind whips across the deck,
Sends icy fingers down his neck.
He peers through salt encrusted eyes
Towards the ever threatening skies
While waves come marching in a line,
Curling tops of foaming brine
Spewing shards of icy spray
Which do their best to find a way
Through any tiny gap or tear
Within his tough wet weather gear.
He's worn his socks for 40 days,
He's living in a cheesy haze.
Luckily we won't be there
When from those socks his feet appear.
The temperature being five degrees
Plays hell with his extremities,
But through all problems big and small
He can hear his mistress call
And knows the dawning of each morn
Brings him closer to The Horn.




From Belmont Public School .....

Q. Tony, the children want to know how you stand the loneliness of the life.

Belmont Public School children

A. Hi kids, I will be out here for about 180 days, so I have to keep busy to keep positive thoughts in my mind. I have lots of things to do - change sails, navigate, sleep, cook, eat, answer e-mails, update website, read books, maintain the equipment on Solo Globe Challenger, listen to cassette tapes, etc. BUT I do still get lonely sometimes and I think about my daughter (Holly Mowbray) and my son (Jordan Mowbray) a lot. Take care, Tony Mowbray




From Gino Cavicchioli .....

C. Dear Tony,

I know that what you are doing is phenomenal and monumental. Even though I am an infant in the sailing world. It is people like you that inspire the rest of us, into living life powerfully and living a life that we love.

My name is Gino Cavicchioli. I was born in Melbourne Australia, lived in Italy in my early youth and immigrated to Canada at 13 years of age.

I am an artist (they tell me of international reputation) who has to work at a steel mill to make ends meet. My artwork is in the collection of people like: George Bush, Mikhail Gorbachev, Margaret Thatcher, the present Canadian Prime minister ..... what's his name? I think his on the way out anyway!

I have fallen in love with sailing, and sailing adventures. In the last two years I have taken all the sailing courses available in this country, both theory and practical.

I have assembled a team of advisers to explore fund raising, designing and construction of a steel boat, in which I intend to solo circumnavigate the globe. The project is based in a steel town called Hamilton located in Ontario, Canada. I affectionately refer to this dream as "CircleSteel".

I would be grateful for your participation in this project. Would you be willing to be an adviser even though you are at the "SOLO GLOBE CHALLENGE 2000", in the middle of the ocean, far far away from land, sailing in all weather 24hrs a day, in the capacity of: sailor, chief cook, cleaning grunt, navigator, maintenance technician, laborer, hero, entertainment committee, correspondence staff, doctor, public relation officer, etc.

It is preposterous for me to be asking for your help, and outrageous for you to accept at this time, but if you do, you will have made an incredible impact.

Regardless of the outcome, I will follow your adventure closely and will continue correspondence.

Thanks for having taken your precious time to read this e-mail and for considering my request. Thanks also for been the very special inspirational person that you are.

P.S. Tonight I will toast to your health & your 31 days at sea .....

God is with you,

Gino Cavicchioli
(Solo Circumnavigator wanna be)
gino.cavicchioli@sympatico.ca

A. Hi Gino, I will help you however I can while I am out here and once I return to land. To get started I need to know some things - your age, married, kids, do you want to go around solo, non-stop and unassisted or do you want to stop off as you go, what length boat are you thinking of, how far away is the nearest water you can sail on, how far away is the ocean, etc, etc. Go for it Gino!! Regards, Tony Mowbray.




From E. Lee Murray .....

Q. Tony, after reading about you on the Internet, I would like to wish you good luck. I know that the adventure that you are about to undertake will be the hardest task that any person could undertake. I look forward to following your travels. Good luck, and God speed.

E. Lee Murray
Los Angeles, CA
USA

A. Hi Lee, thank you very much for your words of encouragement. It has been a long road thus far and come the 15th October I am going to give it my best shot and it is great to know supporters like yourself are out there. My very best regards, Tony Mowbray.




From Jon Finnegan ....

Q. Hi Tony. How are your wife and children taking you being gone so long? I imagine you'll be able to stay in contact with them. Also, does your family share your love for the sea?

A. Hi Jon. In 1994 when I sailed around Australia non-stop (54 days) my daughter Holly was only 2 years and 2 months and my son Jordan was only 7 months old. I missed my kids badly and in the end it was the thing that stopped me from having a crack at around the world in the latter part of '94. Now that they are older and can understand it all a little bit better and I know I will be able to cope more easily. I don't think it will be quite as traumatic. Holly does get a bit teary when she dwells on it. And when she sees footage of the '98 Hobart race and the size of the seas she gets upset. My wife, Lorraine, is resigned to my adventurous nature and never stops me from getting on with the job I will have a variety of communication systems on board like Satcom C to allow sending of e-mails via satellite and Mini M to allow voice and data transmission as well as HF radio. My wife loves being on the water but likes it to be reasonably calm with Holly being like her mum. Jordan on the other hand doesn't mind a bit of the rough stuff so long as he is with his dad. Thank you for interest and good wishes, Tony Mowbray.




From Greg Morris ....

Q. Have you ever considered writing a book on your experiences as I think it would be a best seller?

A. Hi Greg, thank you for your contact. It is in my plans to write a book and as a part of my long term preparation I have been tape recording a diary since 1994. It is something I am looking forward to but do not have a lot of time at present. when I was preparing content for the website I found that I really enjoyed the experience of "baring the soul" through the written word. I'm not sure how sales would go but if nothing else the personal achievement of putting a book together would be good. Take care, Tony Mowbray.