On the day we left our home to move the boat to Upwey ready for a dawn getaway for Melbourne, I was staggered to see a great mobile television van arrive, the crew of which literally took over, insisting that we be interviewed for a national news telecast. When we reached the township there were literally hundreds of people around the boat. Their enthusiasm was tremendous. As only half a dozen locals had ever called in in seven years it seemed like some sort of crazy dream in which we were on all sides accosted by friends we did not know. One thing is certain, in Upwey they love schooners.
The journey to Melbourne was uneventful apart from the aniety we felt as the 90ft outfit reached 40 mph odd and the boat bounced out of its cradle one more than on occasion, denting the hull slighly. When asked for an explanation of this cross negligence, the irrepressible carrier nonchantly replied. "Better ask me the next question, Lex, I can't think of an answer to that one yet".
A few days after we arrived at The Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, Alex Rose arrived in Lively Lady, and in the following weeks we had the opportunity to get the know that charming quiet man.