Peter
Born 1951. Of Australian decent, Peter studied law but prefers writing fiction. Peter plans a "coffee-table" book of the journey, but also a book more specifically tailored for yachtsmen. He says enjoys engineering problems which helped him enormously building his yacht, "Loquax". Husband of Sally and father of Ruth, Suzy and Sophie.
Sally
Born... (well, 40-something). Sally works with special needs children. She is a remedial masseur as well as an artist. Wife of Peter and mother of Ruth, Suzy and Sophie.
Ruth
Born August 1978. Ruth is an talented linguist, speaking French, Spanish and Portuguese. She has recently spent time in Brazil, working with the street children. She has won a place at DeMontfort University, Leicester to study Dance and Drama at degree level. She will be joining her family whenever she can, returning to study in Leicester during term times.
Suzy
Born May 1982. Blame Suzy! She's Australia mad! Peter says it's Suzy's fault that this journey has to be done. Suzy loves the sunny Australian lifestyle and wants to taste it for herself. But she's not going to let her studies slip whilst she's away. Like Sophie she will be enrolled into a virtual on-line college where she'll study by e-mail and over the internet. She'll be doing A-levels in Geography, French and English.
Sophie
Born September 1984. Sophie's in her "option" year at school, currently deciding on what GCSE subjects to take. She'll be keeping up with her studies at the same on-line college as sister Suzy.