NYE 2014; a Cracker Night Out – by Gary

While an estimated final crowd of 1.6 million people began assembling around the shores of Sydney Harbour for the city's famous New Years Eve fireworks display, Mojombo was shipping aboard its own private crowd – all ten of us; assorted friends and relatives from as far afield as Adelaide and Seattle.  We were to spend the night out on the harbour so numbers had to be capped – after all Mojombo has berths for only six!!!.

We were excited!  Press reports indicated Sydney City Council was investing a hefty $6.8 million on the event with over three quarters of a million on fireworks alone; a whopping seven tonnes of pyrotechnics including 11,000 shells and 25,000 shooting comets.  All just to make us feel good??? Nah! Council estimates this would be generating extra spending to the tune of $156 million as the city's hotels, bars, restaurants, taxis and tour boats filled up with locals and visitors.  And we were trying our darnedest to assist the economic boost with on-board catering included a selection of still wines, champagne, beer, prawns, sushi rolls, cheesecake and much more.  What a feast!  But nothing compared to the visual feast that was to come as 12 o’clock rolled around.

We were flying the Stars 'n Stripes to honour our fly-in Seattle guest Marilyn,.

Our official on-board photographer Nigel...

… and the rest of the motley crew including dear sister Julie who'd traveled from Adelaide just for the event!

We chose an anchorage in Berrys Bay with fine views of the Bridge, CBD and Opera House.

Meanwhile those crowds ashore were still growing!

And after a long wait 2015 was finally ushered in with an awesome bang!

A real cracker!

The press boasts:
“Sydney New Year’s Eve is renowned globally as one of the most spectacular events in the world.”
They say more than 1 billion people across the globe watching the show on television.  Well we were duly impressed!

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