No footy what's everyone up to?

[WanChaiMiller]

That’s right, Wanch. Chris Blake is the brother of my brother-in-law, Nick Blake.

Im trying to work this out. Doesnt that make him the brother of your wife?

[WanChaiMiller]

Yes, I read that when I was looking into the background. There isn’t much about it on the web. The one that is recognised is the one I’m talk about and that Grist and I have had some involvement with. It was used as a sail training school during the round the world trips. Chris Blake is a great teacher. While the vessel is powered for the most part by wind, as it was in Cook’s day, it does have a diesel motor and satnav equipment (and a bloody great big fridge for keeping fresh food and cold beer!

Interesting that Endeavour was commissioned by the infamous Aussie businessman Alan Bond. Like many of his projects he left it half done. He also financed and led an Australia team to and Americas cup victory.

[CTMilller]

Interesting that Endeavour was commissioned by the infamous Aussie businessman Alan Bond. Like many of hiss projects he left it half done. He also financed and led an Australia team to and Americaske cup victory.

As
True. He went bust while it was being built and there was a major scramble to pull in public and private funding to finish it. There was still outstanding debt on it when it went to sea.but it quickly covered that with paying passengers

[CTMilller]

Im trying to work this out. Doesnt that make him the brother of your wife?

Nick is the husband of my wife's sister. Chris is Nick's brother

[WanChaiMiller]

Nick is the husband of my wife's sister. Chris is Nick's brother

Ok. Im not married so no idea how in-laws work!!

Alan Bond was some character - really high profile in Australian life, up the with Packer and Murdock. Was Chris ever involved with him on any of his sailing exploits?

[WanChaiMiller]

Just reading up on him. Bond bankrolled the Aus 1983 Americas cup team at New York Yacht Club.

[CTMilller]

Ok. Im not married so no idea how in-laws work!!

Alan Bond was some character - really high profile in Australian life, up the with Packer and Murdock. Was Chris ever involved with him on any of his sailing exploits?

I don’t think there’s much of a contact between Bond and Chris. Chris took command of the Endeavour in 1993 several years after Bond pulled out of the venture and went bankrupt. By the time he was sailing her, Bond was in prison and the Endeavour was run by a foundation.

[Grist_To_The_Mill]

Ok. Im not married so no idea how in-laws work!!

Alan Bond was some character - really high profile in Australian life, up the with Packer and Murdock. Was Chris ever involved with him on any of his sailing exploits?

Packer used to be my boss

[WanChaiMiller]

Packer used to be my boss

Really. Where did you work for him? In Aus?

[Grist_To_The_Mill]

Really. Where did you work for him? In Aus?

No in the U.K.

I worked for Aurora plc and they got bought out by Australian National Industries (ANI) and as ANI we’re majority owned by Packer then technically he was my boss, all be it a bit distant.

One year in their ownership Packer decided to give a Christmas hamper to every employee of ANI world wide. Quite an expensive one too and this is an organisation with thousands of employees. He funded it himself rather than the company paying so it didn’t trigger off perk or tax issues.

One family I knew ended up with 5 hampers because there were 5 family members working for ANI

Sadly it was a one off because in the following year Packer sold his shares in the company