Time has just flown since the last blog… The days have been hectic after the relative simplicity of life at sea!
On that last night out there we first saw the light from Fastnet Rock, and soon afterwards also Galley Head. For hours we could see the sweeping lights of those major South Coast lighthouses, but still no sign of the Emerald Isle itself. It was well after dawn before Kinsale Head appeared over the horizon. We had made such good time from Horta we decided to stop off in Kinsale for showers and a rest before continuing on to Cobh.
At 13.00, just outside Cork Harbour, I received a phone call from an old friend, Anthony, who as well as running an online chandlery (providing me with all my charts for the trip), is also a Cork Harbour Pilot. “We’ll be there in two minutes”, he said. I turned around to see both Cork Harbour Pilot boats powering out through the waves, side by side doing 25knts, directly for us. The hairs stood up on the back of my neck. I got the feeling this was going to be bigger than I had expected… We began our sail into the harbour towards Cobh.
As we cleared between the forts, we were flanked by a Pilot Boat on each quarter, led by a Navy rib and followed by yachts, powerboats, dinghies, launches, ribs, a Marine Transport ferry carrying lots of friends and family, representatives of each of the clubs in Cork Harbour. We rounded #18 bouy, and ballasted up for a nice reach up in front of the town. Dinah lifted her skirts and powered up along the shore of the Holy Ground getting up to 9knts over the water, probably touching 11knts over the land with tide. It was great to get the conditions to let people see a sample of what Dinah can do in open water, although it did mean we left the other yachts behind somewhat. Aileen passed a bottle of champagne from a local RIB, and we did the honours just off Dinah’s spiritual home.
Cove Sailing Club fired cannons as we passed in front of the town itself, and the Commodore Male Voice Choir sang Dinah’s battle song, “The Holy Ground”. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought growing up and spending so much time sailing these waters, that one day I would sail in to such a welcome. It was the proudest moment of my life, and I will never be able to thank those who came out in support enough.
We were met on the dock by the Mayor, who hosted a Civic Reception and presentation in the Town Hall, which was full of family, friends, and dignitaries. Cobh and Harbour Chamber of Commerce also made a presentation, and the Commodore Male Voice Choir entertained all on the seafront outside the Quays Bar who kindly provided our berthing and refreshments.
You will remember when we went to Ellis Island I was keen to find the statue of Annie Moore, the first immigrant processed there. After leaving the town hall, we headed back down to the waterfront and visited the statue of Annie that sits on this side of the old emigrant route. Seeing the statue really brought home the fact that we had done it. We were home.
That evening we motored down to East Ferry Marina where Cove Sailing Club hosted a great evening. They presented me with a beautiful bronze statue, a replica of the statue of Annie Moore in the photo above, as well as making me an Honourary Member of the Club.
Dinah will lie in Cobh for a few weeks now, before I bring her back up the East Coast to Dun Laoghaire where she’ll live for the winter while we get her ready for next years adventures, whatever they may be. Currently the plan is to sail into Dun Laoghaire on the afternoon of Sunday 23rd of August.
I’ll let you know how it goes…
Barry
