I was a crew member on Sea Victory and this was a crazy time with round the clock journeys back and forth to Jounieh. Ships Captain was Rhys Hannah (Sea captain and yacht designer from Auckland New Zealand. His wife and children also made up the crew and in happier times this boat would take tourists and UN soldiers on day trips between Larnaca and Fig Tree bay around Cape Greco. Rhys had worked with Israeli Navy captains ( diving to diffuse mines in the harbour!) and got clearance to go in to fetch refugees from Jounieh during the fighting - Sea Victory was an ex Motor torpedo boat with a lot of power and sharp hull - consequently about the fastest thing that could cross between Lebanon and Cyprus. It was a lucrative time for all concerned. Incidentally Annabelle Head the owner made it on to the front page of the UK sunday papers after they interviewed the 'heroic' crew who ferried so many refugees out of Lebanon to safety in Cyprus. If you are wondering what happened to the evacuees - they were passed on to a local Cypriot travel agent who arranged their flights and safe passage on from Cyprus. The Hannahs were an amazing family I was privileged to know them. Annabelle and Nick Head were pretty crazy too but had a huge repertoire of interesting friends who often came to stay aboard the Sea Victory
This is a great story. I might add one personal note. Bob was stupid enough to call our mom to tell her that he was going to Beirut. I was her next call, shrieking and crying because of the news. I don't know why he couldn't have just made up a month's vacation somewhere!
You've shared this story very slightly in conversation, but this was better than watching a great movie like Raiders of the Lost Ark - AND it was a TRUE STORY!! Thanks, Bob, for giving us great reading and sharing your amazing experiences.
I was a crew member on Sea Victory and this was a crazy time with round the clock journeys back and forth to Jounieh. Ships Captain was Rhys Hannah (Sea captain and yacht designer from Auckland New Zealand. His wife and children also made up the crew and in happier times this boat would take tourists and UN soldiers on day trips between Larnaca and Fig Tree bay around Cape Greco. Rhys had worked with Israeli Navy captains ( diving to diffuse mines in the harbour!) and got clearance to go in to fetch refugees from Jounieh during the fighting - Sea Victory was an ex Motor torpedo boat with a lot of power and sharp hull - consequently about the fastest thing that could cross between Lebanon and Cyprus. It was a lucrative time for all concerned. Incidentally Annabelle Head the owner made it on to the front page of the UK sunday papers after they interviewed the 'heroic' crew who ferried so many refugees out of Lebanon to safety in Cyprus. If you are wondering what happened to the evacuees - they were passed on to a local Cypriot travel agent who arranged their flights and safe passage on from Cyprus. The Hannahs were an amazing family I was privileged to know them. Annabelle and Nick Head were pretty crazy too but had a huge repertoire of interesting friends who often came to stay aboard the Sea Victory
Wow! just wow! many thanks for sharing, Paul! I love it!
This is a great story. I might add one personal note. Bob was stupid enough to call our mom to tell her that he was going to Beirut. I was her next call, shrieking and crying because of the news. I don't know why he couldn't have just made up a month's vacation somewhere!
I warned you not to give her your phone number...
Love it! (But the Evelyn was not the :Leopold one, should any one speculate)
I think you're safe from speculation, Evelyn....
You've shared this story very slightly in conversation, but this was better than watching a great movie like Raiders of the Lost Ark - AND it was a TRUE STORY!! Thanks, Bob, for giving us great reading and sharing your amazing experiences.
And you lived to tell the tale.
So good. So darn good.
Terrific story!
Two of my fave Gabbett girls heard from... I'm expecting two others...
They just keep coming. Great story, Bob. Question: where did you get your visa?
Thank you. Nicosia…