This report brought to you by Forward Starboard watch, now in full working
order, with improved weather and spirits! The Aft Starboard watch proved it’s
worth being awake between 4 and 8am because Watch Leader Jenny reported:”suspiciously
smoking debris” (potentially endangering the ship) to Chris in the Chart
Room. He dashed up to the Bridge, promptly identifying a real live blowing
whale!
Later in the day Forward Starboard watch spotted three sinister
triangular fins, which almost certainly belonged to harmless basking sharks.
By this stage the Captain had decided to take us up to Waterford as wind
conditions didn’t favour Kinsale.
Our fair voyage along the picturesque
Irish coast was enlivened by dodging lobster pots. Around 2pm we entered the
wide mouth of the river Suir, which narrowed to a navigationally challenging
winding channel marked by buoys. Several bends later, we’d seen a blend of
industrial (freight crane), rural (attractively sunlit trees with birdsong)
and urban (the neat dolls-house facades of Waterford).
The ship was piloted
with extreme skill onto a pontoon in the old town centre – special mention
to Tony who ventured ahead on the DOTI boat and then dashed from bollard to
bollard with a mooring line!
After a fantastic evening meal of steak and mushroom pie (or vegetarian
lasagne) and apple sponge pudding, it was great to see the mess alive with
chatter as everyone relaxed and anticipated shore leave.
Kate and Unity