04/06/2009 - Tenacious

Up bright and early for Mess Duty this morning. Tasty pancakes and maple syrup for breakfast, but not too many people to enjoy them, as a result of a festive night in the watering-holes of Kinsale last night! After Happy Hour, we got Tenacious ready for departure, and waited for the Harbour Master to come to collect his dues. He arrived with his 2 young sons, who were eager to look around the ship, and then Captain John set about devising a 'Cunning Plan' to leave our moorings - where the wind had increased to Force 3-4 and was blowing us on to the pontoon. Using the bow-thrusters, plus the "Rib" and the Harbour Master's launch (ably and enthusiastically assisted by his 2 sons!) pushing the stern, Tenacious majestically sallied forth, and bade farewell to Kinsale with a long blast of her horn. Then we set the sails and (magic of magic's!) whizzed off at a fair rate of knots across the briny en route for Waterford. This is the life, and the reason that we all came! The sun is shining, we have Hammy's superb biscuits for Smoko, and we are sailing ...

Jenny Hogg, Aft Port watch