boldexplorer.com | Adventures
[Spring Season 2002]
Our season is underway with some
memorable events and fantastic sailing to look back on. We were welcomed in
Baltimore, our first Irish port of call with traditional friendliness. Fishing
boats inviting us to moor up alongside and within an hour of our landing,
shopkeepers at the other end of town saying "You will be the people off
the boat, enjoy yourselves and just ask if you need anything".
During our westward cruise, a
competition developed to see how many different ways we could devise to
position the boat. The Fastnet Rock, and how close we could safely get, was the
object of our desire.
Simultaneously we were using
transits, clearing bearings, satellites, depth contours, course to steer,
radar, vertical and horizontal sextant angles and a monocular with a
distance-measuring device. Virtually everyone aboard was using some cunning
tool. The helm was subjected to a chorus of different commands. The spinnaker
was gybed as we rounded. And the Irish courtesy flag fluttered to spur us on!
Irish fishermen aboard two anchored
boats were content to regard us with satisfaction and pride … Well … I'm sure
that’s what it was.
They are used to a variety of
racing, shouting, tired sailors, 'sitting out' on the sides of yachts with
their feet dangling over the toe rail, descending on them every other year for
the Fastnet Race, but we were clearly of a different breed! Just a slight hint
of perplexion was apparent when one of our number shouted " We are surveying
it, ready for the new wind farm!"
Our final "Skipper for the
day", taking us up the Shannon under sail was Roy. An excellent
Yachtmaster of many years experience. Having just briefed the helm and on deck
crew about the need for some precise helming and full attention to the job
whilst we approached narrows, Roy then went below to study the chart,
continuing with his 'skipperly' duties.
Unknown to Roy, we quietly backed
the staysail - which enables Boldexplorer to sail herself as straight as an
arrow, and with no one on the helm - we came below, one by one to sit quietly
around Roy, still engrossed in his duties.
The truth sank in gradually, his
eyes, slowly widening, scanned around, and counting our number! Seeing the
empty cockpit he collapsed into laughter with allegations that we were all out
to get him!
Two Americans called Duane and Mike joined the leg from Kilrush to Portrush in Northern Ireland. Two fantastic Ambassadors for their country.
The first noticeable thing about them was that they wore their bright white 'shrimper boots' whilst aboard, and were easily persuaded to wear them to the pub also! They became wonderful conversation pieces at every port of call. Free drinks were offered, photographs taken, invitations to join in with the live band, and even gifts of fresh bread the following morning, all ensued because of the white Wellington boots.
On the 20th/21st May it blew at over 60 knots for several hours. The comments written in the log book by Mike pay credit to Boldexplorer's seaworthiness and Dave, the skipper's ability as they rounded "Bloody Foreland" - Ireland's North West corner and anchored for shelter in Lough Swilly.