With gales and heavy rain forecast for Saturday I was slow to head out to sea and opted instead to do some much needed work out at Waterford Airport. The near gale force winds kept all the smaller aircraft on the ground, but the forecast rains never arrived. And thats when Neill called me and we decided to go sailing right in the middle of Waterford City! So rushed back to the marina and out onto the river in the middle of town! With a howling wind blowing directly up the river we set out just 2/3 of our mainsail and less than 1/2 of our headsail and Neidin was immediately in her element. Tacking over and back across the airflow she held steady sixes and sevens despite her repeated changes of direction. Since shipping can berth either side of the channel we were fairly sure of the depths, and we used the entire width of the river, Neill on helm and I (breaking a sweat) on the winches. And it was seriously hard work, calling the depths, releasing the sheet, crossing the boat, winching in the headsail back into shape, again crossing the boat, and loading the drum for the next tack. And Neidin did what she does best, accelerating effortlessly close to the wind, and heeling steeply onto the area of low pressure caused by her sails. We reckoned it must have been quite a sight to see a boat under full sail in the middle of town and we were chuffed to see a gentleman on the Tower Hotel pontoon position himself and his camera not 40 feet away from one of our tack positions. I wouldn't mind seeing that photo!
Passage: Waterford City Centre.
Date: Saturday 7th May 2011.
Crew: Neill Mc Grory. Fia.
Duration: 2 Hours.
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