Department of Tourism and Leisure

Sea Terminal Building
Douglas
Isle of Man
British Isles
Tel : +44 (0)1624 686702
Fax : +44 (0)1624 686800

News Release

Manx treats for Isle of Man yacht crew

6 October 2000

A hamper full of Manx goodies is to be flown to the crew of the Isle of Man while they rest after the first leg of the BT Global Challenge at Boston.

Thanks to the kind generosity of Freeport Freight/Skynet, at the Isle of Man Freeport, Ballasalla, the hamper is being dispatched by air freight to reward crew members after the first gruelling 3,200 miles of the round the world yacht race.

The basket has put together by Dawn Cleator of The Food Directory on behalf of the Department of Tourism and Leisure and the International Services section of the Treasury. It contains Manx cheese donated by Isle of Man Creameries, handmade chocolates from Roly's, Manx Spirit from Kella Distillers, kippers from Geo Devereau and Son Ltd and bottled water from the Mona Aerated Mineral Water Company.

Tourism chief executive Terry Toohey said: 'We wanted the crew to know that we're thinking of them. They had a marvellous send off from Southampton and it would be a bit of an anti-climax if they never heard from us before their return. This is a taste of home kindly donated by local producers to inspire them to put their best spinnaker forward.

He added: 'The generosity of the sponsors has been most heartening and we would like add our thanks to Skynet for agreeing to air freight a hamper to each of the ports of call.'

Press contact Terry Toohey on 686702

Photo captions: Packing the hamper (left to right) are: DoTL member Dominic Delaney MLC, chief executive Terry Toohey, Skynet's sales manager Kelvin Edgar and Dawn Cleator of The Food Directory (Photo by Bill Dale)

DoTL chief executive Terry Toohey (centre) and Andrew Smith (right) of the Treasury's International Services Development Division load the hamper into Freeport Freight/Skynet's van to start the Manx food hamper on its way to Boston. Skynet's Kelvin Edgar looks on (Photo by DoTL)

Editor's note: Mr Toohey's letter to the crew is attached.