We at the Theatre Royal are very proud to be holding this event.
It is a truly remarkable tale of both physical and mental survival.
Tony is the longest ship wreck survivor in the Tasman Sea in a life raft.
After completing and being placed third in a solo Trans Tasman race Tony’s trimaran Rebel Two was inexplicably overturned, possibly by a whale.
He survived for 20 days on a tiny life raft with exceedingly meagre provisions he managed to salvage before being miraculously sighted and rescued by a Greek cargo ship.

Tony is known to many here on the WestCoast as a fishing guide where he worked from Kawhaka Lodge which was the home and guest Lodge of he and his wife Marjorie.
Together they formed Westland Cranberries which exports Cranberries around New Zealand and overseas.
The Allans have just recently semi retired to Canterbury.

Author Les Hill is also known to many Coasters as he currently resides at Blur Spur, his home for thirteen years.
For forty years Les has been a well respected author and photographer. He has been a regular contributor to Fishing and Game Magazine since its inception in 1993 ( as well as other magazines both here and abroad) In the interim he has authored and co authored seven books on trout fishing.
Alone in the Tasman was his first foray into writing of a different genre, a challenge he enjoyed immensely.

Please do come along and meet both Les and Tony and listen first hand this remarkable tale of fortitude and survival.