This page is your opportunity to ask Tony your question directly. Please complete the basic form and it will automatically be emailed to Tony.

Your reply, subject to him being within Internet range, will come back promptly and will also be displayed below. You may be interested to read of other questions/answers as laid out below for the question you have may already have been asked and answered.

If you just want to send a message to Tony or you don't want your question recorded here, then we suggest you use our feedback form instead.

On 26-Apr-1998, Matthew Fox asked:

How old is the boat in which you are traveling on?

Answer:

Tringriz will be 10 years old this year. She is all steel (5mm hull and deck) and was built by the renowned ferry builders Veerstra's of Goolwa in South Australia. Her full details can be seen on the site under "About Tringriz".

On 12-Jul-1999, Gary Hughes asked:

Hi Tony

I am a sailor and a computer (P.C) tech. I am very interested in computers onboard. # power drain # salt water enviorment # use as nav aid (interface with gps, plotter) # internet conection

any assistance would be appreciated

Gary "HUGE" Hughes

Answer:

G'day Gary,

Thanks for the question and here is what happes computer wise on HaCienda.

I use a Mac Powerbook 5300c which has both 240v and 12v capabilities. I use 12v power when at sea and the draw is very small.

When not in use I keep it in a zip up computer bag as the salt air environment is hard on electronics.

As for using it for navigation, I must admit to being a chart man and whilst GPS is used, I still use my sextant as I have a "Murphy's Law" distrust of any high tech that depends on power.

I will be using it for gaining HF radio Weatherfax details of the weather put out by the Bureau of Meteorology and my hope is that shortly Iridium may realise they have a massive market there if they make their global roaming more affordable.

For the interne connection, I use my Motorla mobile with a Motorola CellEct2 card.

Hope this helps,

Tony

On 08-Aug-2002, Dave Barnes asked:

Hello Tony. You have excelled in a variety of fields and appear extremely confident in what you do. What gave you that inner belief in your own ability from the outset? And was it the same thing that enabled you to persevere when things were tough or were there other attitudes/people /beliefs that saw you through difficult times? Best, Dave

Answer:

G'day Dave, Thanks for the question and sorry about being tardy in getting back but I have just had carpel tunnell surgery on both hands!

I am not necessarily confident in all I do, sometimes quite the reverse but I suppose I do have an innate belief that if I get it wrong, I can wend my way through whatever the mess is!

It seems that in life, far too many people are not game to "chance their arm" in life and yet here we are on the greatest adventure of all in living and using the greatest gift ever given us, that of life itself.

Life is about constantly expanding your own comfort zones and whilst that can sometimes (oh well, often ! lol) give a bit of gut wrenching, nonetheless in a short time it becomes your new level and yiou are ready to go again!

I suppose also my belief that the Big Fella will guide me and when He is ready call me home for the greatest adventure of all gives me a somewhat cavalier (by many peoples standards) attitude to what life deals up.

In short, I reckon you love life and live love!! I hope this has been of some help and thanks for coming aboard.

On 29-Aug-2002, Sid Goodman asked:

Tony I am a retired engineer,and would like to do some sailing next year when I get my self organize.I have owned a trailer sailer for a number of years, and have sailed of and on all my life.I currently crew on a racing cruiser at the CCYC Yepoon. I visualize doing delivery jobs of some sort,can you give me any imformation regarding this. Enjoyed readind your web page!! Regards Sid

Answer:

G'day Sid,

Thanks for the question and congratulations on being a member of one of the few genuine cruising yacht clubs left. PJ and I have great memories of our trips through on Tringriz and HaCienda having a BBQ and rum at the CCYC. It should be mandatory for all cruisers when visiting Rosslyn Bay to head their way!

Your idea of gaining experience on deliveries is a good one. I'd be chatting to someone like Bruce Bates (Sharisma) or the Keppel Bay Brokerage about availability of positions for I am sure more and more southern yachties will find time has run out and leave their vessels at Keppel Bay to get sailed south for them.

All the best for the future and remember, the sea is there to bne sailed on!

On 04-Aug-2003, Steve asked:

Dear Tony I would like to obtain a copy of Sterling Hayden`s book "Wanderer" would you please send me details. I was inspired by his quote. I have a boat ( an open one at that) and no money, so according to him I`m right for the job ---- and I`m going. Thanks, Steve.

Answer:

Steve, I saw a copy in Boat Books at Crows Nest NSW last week. There is a Boat Book outlet in each State so it should be easy to obtain. Another quote, and which put us out to sea cruising (and which I appear to have forgotten lol-not really-I intend to be back in a couple of years) comes from the great book "Sell up and sail".

It is:- " Man must choose whether to be rich in things or the freedom in which to enjoy them!"

Hope we cross wakes one day!!

Tony

On 05-Jan-2004, Shayne Doyle asked:

Hi Tony, reading your latest news (31 Dec) and a couple of your comments particularly attracted my interest. The small ship Seerauber - any info available on what that is likely to be ? I've been following your adventures and travails for the past 4 years now and was a bit disappointed when you sold HaCienda and appeared to abandon the "sea life", so am very interested in seeing you back out there, so to speak. Also, whack me if I'm too personal, but the shoulder reconstruction - was that due to arthritis ? I've got arthritis and had a total hip replacement in Feb 2003, some days my shoulders feel as though they're heading for a replacement job as well, so I am wondering what the shoulder replacement experience was like. (The hip job was freaking painful for several weeks, and I'm not too keen to repeat the experience on any of the remaining 3 major joints)

Anyway, best regards and good health to yourself and Pam for 2004, Keep the bastards honest !

Shayne Doyle Melbourne

Answer:

G'day Shane,

Thyanks for the email and yes, I agree, it is time this old dog returns to the sea. As it looks at the moment "Seerauber" will most probably be a Roberts Spray 28 but built from wood,steel or aluminium I am not sure.

All have their advantages but given that I wish her to be as traditional as possible (bronze portholes, lanterns, ample nav table space etc etc)I must admit that my inkling is towards traditional wood or steel.

I am hoping to have her construction under way this year through a professional boatbuilder (boy are they hard to find today) and in the cwater by '05.

As PJ is doing the grandmotherly bit these days, sailimng is off her agenda so it looks like it will be Tiger and I who set out again hopefuly in late '05 for another go at going around the blue marble.

The logic behind the S28 is that she is a very seaworthy, if not swift, vessel and one which one person can sail competently.Her shallow draught allows you close in to see places.

I will have her equipped with probably a Fleming or Monitor windvane and as few "you beauts" as possible, including SSB,VHF,good instruments and maybe a watermaker.

As regards my shoulder, it was a total shoulder replacement and it traces back to a major prang I had 30 years ago when waterskiing and has gone downhill since then.

It was painful, not helped by the gaining of an infection in the hospital but that is now behind me and I am about to undergo the wrath of the physio!!

Thanks for your email again and you will see more nautical notes on the site this year.

Tony

On 15-Oct-2005, vijay raj asked:

I have conducted more than 2000 auctions in India.I am a well qualified Engineer coupled with M.B.A degree very well versed in the auctions would like to work under your guidence for a reasonable pay/remuneration to work in any part of globe as per your instructions.May I have your approval with VISA fecility please. It`s my dream to work under your control. Thanking you,

(Vijay Raj)

Answer:

Hello Vijay,

Many thanks for your email and I must say that I am impressed by your 2000 strong record.

Are auctions a strong or minor part of real estate selling in India? Are they conducted mainly on-site or in-rooms?

I have long had a fascination with your country with my father having exported for many years horses to India for both the Maharajahs and the Indian Army in the 1930’s.

Add to that a very keen interest in British/Indian history and you do indeed, in my mind, live in a truly fascinating part of the world and in a country that is rapidly heading towards world leadership- a view that upsets some Americans, a great many of whom have a scant knowledge or appreciation of history!

I am certainly very interested in talking further and I look forward to hearing from you at your convenience.

Regards

Tony

On 30-Mar-2007, Phill Politz asked:

Tony after Tringiz & Seerauber you planned to build a 28' Spray (05 Jan. 2004) Whats happened since? I've just order study plans and envisage having pro built pilothouse version Spray. Did you find a good to excellant pro builder?

Answer:

G'day Phil,

I must admit that my ardour for a Spray 28 (no fault of the boat or design) was dampened by my lack of ability to find a builder. I tried all over Sydney and the NSW coast to no avail although I was quoted $92,000 hull only to have it built in aluminium. In the meantime, I spotted a Roberts Tom Thumb 24 for sale in Adelaide on the internet and after looking at her, falling in love with her and all the usual traps of boat ownership, I now own her and her name is Seerauber. I wish you well in your quest- I even looked at having a timber S28 built in Tasmania but that also caved in through lack of builders.

All the best and fair winds

Tony