/ireneiii/index.rss Sat, 16 Jun 2018 02:16:57 UTC /ireneiii/posts/2018/6/16/51-night-cat-rambling-s-36-11-52n-05-15-73w fall-down)


Today I thought I would share with you one of my special experiences.
Nothing exceptional, just a simple encounter from an over-excited sailor on
approaching the Gibraltar Straits. I wanted to share these thoughts with you
because they left me breathless and absolutely contented to my inner soul.
It is a humble descriptive allegory of a moment-in-time which I have been
blessed to encounter.

Having spent a number of weeks at sea, there is always a shared exhilaration
amongst the crew when nearing landfall. We are very aware that land was not
far away. Some time ago, we had passed Cape St Vincent, on the south-western
tip of Portugal. Thirty or so miles off our port beam and just outside of
our visual range. Nevertheless, we knew that tomorrow we would be going
through the Straits; Europe to one side and Africa on the other. Two
continents, less than seven miles of separation.

On this night both Donald and I had swapped our watch times. This evening I
was on duty at 21.30 (23.30 CET). The sun had fully set and John had already
been on watch for some time, enjoying every minute of his being. Top-side.
The sailing, the seas, the surroundings, all was perfect! We had had 19 -20
knots of warm-wind to our port beam with an average speed of 9/10 knots and
very calm seas. Ideal sailing conditions. "Okay, now you can wake-up again .
that's the techy stuff finished!"


As I mentioned before, I joined John on deck at 09.30pm, on the evening of
Tuesday 12 June. Incredible sailing conditions. John and I love these times
and often sit-back and soak-up the atmosphere - no talking, just soaking.
Lots of soaking! A night of cloudless skies with no moon. We were enveloped
with a motionless mantle of stars, glimmering against a blanket of
uninterrupted blackness. The glittering heavens were so resplendent that it
was difficult to make out the commonest of constellations. To the south
there was a swathe of a million stars and galaxies forming the "milky-way".
Truly breath-taking and awe inspiring. I was drawn into it. Mesmerized by
its depth and beauty. I couldn't help but to stare into the cosmos and
reflect on my own insignificance within this wondrous universe. One tiny
entity of energy amongst the vastness of the heavens!

Driven along with steady winds, Irene III glided on the surface of the sea,
cutting a path through the waves. Sweeping back the surf to her gunnels
causing an electric, phosphorescent stream on her margins. Leaving a transom
trail of a million twinkling-lights as she excited the night surface squid.
These diminutive creatures light-up the waters with fleeting, dancing
fairy-lights, mirroring the heavens above. No sounds, no noises, just
silence.

A burst of shooting stars. Everyone a wish. An occasional interruption from
a traversing satellite or fleeting airplane. A serene "capsule of time"
which I was privileged to have occupied. I felt that I was wrapped between
the sheets of a Disney story-book!

All this magnificence, while we pirouetted between a cacophony of warships,
tankers and cargo ships, all converging to enter the Straits as we marched
down each wave to our expectant waypoint.


Wednesday 13 June, the Rock is in sight. Jubilation and childlike excitement
as we make our approach. Calculated to harness a slingshot from the ripping
tides as we entered. Phones and cameras at the ready whilst John darted,
ducked and eluded a myriad of fast-moving ferries which crossed the
continents with regularity and rapidity. John sensed the inner rush of
adrenalin pulsating through his veins. A huge smile on his face, playing
with his tongue as he negotiated left and then right, then left again. The
Rock of Gibraltar is a little under-whelming, but it is OUR "mile-marker".
Memories snapped. We have spanned the Atlantic. Again!

As we salute the Rock, Champaign is called for, flutes are resurrected from
distant cupboards, corks "popped". Irene III took the Atlantic in her
stride. She embraced every challenge put in front of her and she came out
the other side with a strength and elegance of a well-groomed, but
determined Lady. On behalf of her crew, we are indebted to Irene III for
carrying us to safety and with a degree of comfort only afforded by the best
of yachts. Cheers to Irene III. I thank-you. The crew thank-you.


Cheers Johnny]]> Sat, 16 Jun 2018 02:16:57 UTC /ireneiii/posts/2018/6/16/51-night-cat-rambling-s-36-11-52n-05-15-73w (@author) /ireneiii/posts/2018/6/14/50-porta-banus-arrival-36-28-93n-04-57-58w
Porta Banus Arrival

While Monday was a dull overcast and very routine day on board, Tuesday, the
last day of our Atlantic crossing, was a wonderful exciting day. The sun
shone from sunrise at 6am and by 10am we stripping down to enjoy the warmth.
We took the opportunity to hang out our damp oilskins to dry in the
sunshine. Late morning we spotted the Spanish coast for the first time and
in the afternoon the African coast appeared on our starboard side.

The approach and passage through the Straits of Gibraltar were packed with
incident and excitement. We enjoyed stunning views of the Atlas Mountains
in Morocco, the Spanish coast and the Rock of Gibraltar. We had a bit of a
bumpy ride as we approached the lighthouse at Terifa (the most southerly
point of Spain), but thereafter, it was all smooth sailing despite our
arrival when the tide was beginning to flow out of the Mediterranean. The
Straits were extremely busy with traffic, with sailing boats, freighters,
conventional ferries and hydrofoils coming at us in all directions,
particularly so at the entrance to the bay on which Algeciras and Gibraltar
sit.

When we crossed the path we took last October on the outward delivery
passage to the Canary Islands, we cracked open a bottle of champagne and
toasted the good ship Irene III and her owner Louis. So 'Cheers Louis',
Irene III is a very fine yacht.

Tim, the new skipper arrives at lunchtime today and Donald departs for
Dublin tomorrow and so it's onward to Palma Majorca. ]]> Thu, 14 Jun 2018 04:22:47 UTC /ireneiii/posts/2018/6/14/50-porta-banus-arrival-36-28-93n-04-57-58w (@author) /ireneiii/posts/2018/6/12/49-mccavity-the-secret-cat-36-07-40n-007-16-93w Tuesday 12 June 2018 (Johnny Frey, Locumed in the Pub)

Over the past number of weeks, the crew and I have been banging-on about our
voyages across the seas. You have heard of our trials and tribulations, our
personal highs and lows. What we feel, eat and talk about. There's not much
else to say that collectively we haven't already communicated. Except one
key element.

That is Eddie Tingle our "shore Crew". The understated crew member who
"Doesn't Get Wet", ET or Echo Tango whatever we call him, he's always there.
The unseen companion of our voyages. Some would liken Eddie to "Charlie and
his Angels". That may be a drink too far?

A few years back, Eddie, Louis, Enda (Cullinane) and I, together completed
our training for RYA Offshore Sailing Masters Course. We would meet-up in
the black, winter evenings at INSS in Dun Laoghaire, managed and run by the
energetic Kenny Rumble and family. We began each evening eating one of
Kenny's mother's wonderful dinner creations, followed by the most decadent
brownies (they have to be mentioned)! Once satisfied, we would all get down
to wearing Kenny's tolerance into the ground. (I think he lost the will to
live after his stint with us and considered a vocation on the priesthood)!
There wasn't an evening that we didn't laugh, cajole and tease each other.
It was the perfect learning environment and I only wish others could share
in that same experience. I will always remember it for its pure enjoyment
while providing each of us with all the prerequisite knowledge required to
attain our papers.

Outside of normal course tuition, Eddie Tingle would organise collective
home-study afternoons. Put four sailors into a room and see how they
progress? Again, we just laughed and laughed! Nevertheless, it was those
afternoons which were invaluable and proved extremely helpful to each of us,
ensuring our understanding of the intricacies of navigation, tides and
regulations.

Eddie has probably completed more hours working on Irene III than most of
her sailing crew. He has been an invaluable support for our navigator;
deciphering GRIB files which direct us as to the best heading to take each
day, maximising our speed and minimising our distance. These files
incorporate complex weather patterns, pressure readings, ocean current
influences, forecast cloud and rain activities, all calculated into
algorithms which recognise Irene III's specific polar's (characteristics
such as best point of sail, canvas to be employed, speeds etc), I won't bore
you anymore, but suffice to say that it is brainy stuff and can hurt your
head if you try to understand it!

In addition to the above daily calculations, Eddie tracks our headway and
offers Irene III and her crew a shore-based security blanket by keeping a
vigilant eye on our progress and he ensures that we are still afloat each
morning! Eddie is our "screamer" if things go wrong! Send out the navy, air
force, coast guard, the girl guides, whatever. Eddie will be on the phone.
To sailors hundreds of miles from anywhere, it is very reassuring that
someone is keeping a watchful eye on your welfare. That is why we sometimes
call him "MUM".

Apart from the important responsibilities listed above, Eddie is our
news-feed. Supplying daily topical news headlines and rugby score, with at
times his own slightly "partisan" opinion. And these sentiments coming from
a Cork Man can often be very dubious, if not suspect? These snippets of
global news are read out to the crew over dinner and discussed or argued at
length. It is an important phycological link to the rest of the world.

For all the time, Eddie has put into our sailing enjoyment, our safety and
our efficient progress across the oceans we are truly indebted. Grateful to
his enduring wife Jodie and his wonderful daughters Jodie Jane and Sally
Anne for allowing him to provide his valuable time into Irene III and her
travels. We are truly, truly appreciative.

Cheers Johnny]]> Tue, 12 Jun 2018 06:24:15 UTC /ireneiii/posts/2018/6/12/49-mccavity-the-secret-cat-36-07-40n-007-16-93w (@author) /ireneiii/posts/2018/6/11/48-stop-feeding-zanax-to-the-cat-36-32-36n-009-32-46w Monday 11 June 2018 (Johnny Frey, Smothered in Locum Honey)

Every Offshore Passage is a flawless routine of Deck Watches, Systems
Checks, Eating and Sleeping with occasional bouts of Jesting. The routine is
important as it gives individuals structure onboard and ensures a greater
attention to detail and ownership of responsibility. However, we often
encounter little things that elevates the mood of the entire crew. Those
special occasions which are out of "mundane". Those remarkable little
moments, individuals file-away in the back of their brain only to be
resurrected when sharing our most special pleasures. So, below I have
collated a few of the "moments", that we can recall from previous trips and
a number of those shared by my colleagues on this trip. I have no doubt that
you too could add to them .


Occasional Encounters at Sea (Donald)
It is not unusual to travel across the Atlantic, thousands of miles and not
encounter any other vessel. So, on those rare occasions when you do stumble
upon another vessel (particularly another sailing yacht), we instigate a
conversation over the VHF. Topics discussed are departure and destination
locations, weather, time at sea, nationality etc. etc. Last December we
encountered the "MV Symphony", a 330-foot luxury motor yacht headed to
Falmouth Harbour in Antigua. She gently cruised by us doing 20 knots. Louis
was having a friendly chat with the Captain over the VHF when Louis politely
requested a Table for Six, any time around 8pm would be good? Laughter
all-around. Unfortunately, the MV Symphony was fully booked. Next time
perhaps!

That Special Morning Breakfast (Sean)
As I have previously outlined, offshore sailing can be a programme of
monotonous routine. Then occasionally, Louis or John raises their head from
the Saloon, big smiling grin and knocks out a blinding "surprise" breakfast
of either Poached Eggs on Toast or Scrambled Eggs on Buttered Muffins.
Perfectly cooked with lots of salt and pepper - yummm! It's not just the
runny eggs or melted butter, it's the aroma of freshly made toast, the taste
of the pepper, it's that familiar warmth of being at home. It's a simple
treat, but one that we all embrace and remember fondly. I will recount these
simple pleasures every time I sit down to this modest fare on land. "Did I
tell you the time that I ." Yeeesssss. Not Again. It's an Egg!

Violin Playing (Johnny)
Last December, I was lucky enough to crew with Sabine on a trip from the
Canary Islands to Antigua. I will always remember those warm, heady
evenings; while I prepared dinner, Sabine would break-out the "Fiddle". The
scene was tranquil. Pre-prepared dinners (Sabine & myself) were being warmed
in the Galley, schoolboy giggling and laughing from the guys on watch in the
cockpit, JohnH at the desk writing-up his personal log and Sabine laying
down that "Blanket of Serenity in the Saloon". To me it is one of those very
special "snapshots of my mental gallery" that I will always remember and I
will always be happy to share. Note that there is a superb photograph
available by JohnE to accompany my mental image.

Morning Solace (John Goor)
We all have our special moments. Moments which are personal and meaningful.
When asked, John's special moment is when he relieves the Night Watch and
takes control of the helm at seven each morning. John loves those early
morning solitary, meditative moments. Irene III, is on a broad-reach
travelling around 8/9 knots, slicing through the waves and very much at her
best. Irene III loves it, John loves it. For John, it is the simple harmony
of a balanced sailing boat cutting through the seas, an ascending, warming
sun and the opportunity to deliberate life's wonders in contemplative
solitude. Profound. Very profound!

Saude, Cheers, Slaunte, Salud! (Sean)
One of Sean's special moments are those which are centred around the Ching
Ching of crystal. When completing transatlantic passages, certain milestones
are often marked by the "Pop of Champaign" and duly recorded in full
spectrum of digital data (pictures). Typically, key markers would include
setting-off, our journey's halfway point, crossing an important tropical
latitude or most significantly our safe arrival at our chosen destination;
anchored and that warm satisfied sense of achievement. Pop . there's another
bottle of bubbly! Anyone for a top-up?

Virgin Tuna (Johnny)
For years and years I have wanted to catch a Tuna Fish. I have always
related this to friends and family. For many years I have been fumbling
around with fishing tackle and oversized lures. Most of which I have lost
overboard throughout my years on Irene II. Unfortunately, I was unable to
get an opportunity to fish on my outward leg to Antigua in December. But
that all changed last Friday morning when I finally caught my first Tuna.
Albeit small, it was my Tuna - don't take it away from me! I was elated and
horrified as I watched John unceremoniously hack-the-life out of the days
dinner. He broke the little guy into two bags of steaks and large piece
which included the tail. Job done. I have "tasted" the kill and now I want
to hook a second! Is any man ever happy with simply achieving his initial
goals?

Navigation (Tony)
Tony is the latest member of our crew and thankfully joined us at the last
minute. This is his first ocean voyage and when asked what he loves about
his experience thus far, he can readily real-off a litany of topics, (sorry
I asked). However, the one subject that captivates him is learning the
various aspects of navigation and the deciphering of our onboard Plotter and
AIS systems. He spends more time analysing, plotting and planning our
progress across the oceans. Angle of wind, boat speed, course over ground
and mileage achieved. A regular mathematician! His mum would be proud of
him and ask the obvious, "why has he hidden his talents for so long?"

Ocean Wildlife (Sean)
I remember as children we were drawn to our local zoo and looked in awe and
delight at the wildlife not prevalent to our everyday environment. The polar
bears, Rhinos, lions, crocodiles; everyone with an enchantment of their own.
Sean reminded us of the joy he experiences when sailing blue waters; those
regular pods of dolphins who visit us each morning. Dancing on our bow
waves, dodging the prow of our hull and leaping along the edges of our
gunnels. Our admiration for those handsome, solitary Storm Petrels; riding
the waves with all the comfort of a warm bed. Very much at home in the
elements, carefree. The embodiment of an independent soul. On the singular
occasion we encountered Pilot Whales, effortlessly gliding alongside our
small yacht. Majestic in form and movement. When man perceives these natural
wonders, he cannot help but to feel humbled and grasp the enormity of our
meagre existence in something so wondrous.

The Morning Sunrise (Donald)
When you read descriptive books or see the default photographs on your
laptops, we invariably encounter the imposing panorama of a sunrise. To be a
participant of any of those scenes is to experience the awakening of the
world. Blue-water sailing affords any sailor a unique "grand-stand" position
to not only observe one of the most exquisite sunrises to be ever seen, but
to participate in the birth of a new day. Often dramatic, mostly inspiring,
an ocean sunrise is never mundane. For Donald, this is the zenith of his
offshore sailing. To watch the light, slowly break the horizon with a
clarity of aura, giving meaning to his wanderlust. Touching the powerful
image of a new dawn provides an inner tranquillity only experienced when at
sea. Donald is at peace!


Anybody reading this chronicle will have their own take on what are the
highpoints of a cross-Atlantic journey. These are just some of the
highlights that have enthused and excited the crew of Irene III on her
return journey to her home port of Palma, Mallorca. I hope that in some
small way, you too can share in our voyage and draw from our experiences.
Until the next journey I wish you fare winds and calm seas.

Cheers Johnny]]> Mon, 11 Jun 2018 17:46:47 UTC /ireneiii/posts/2018/6/11/48-stop-feeding-zanax-to-the-cat-36-32-36n-009-32-46w (@author) /ireneiii/posts/2018/6/10/47-quiet-times-37-07-95n-13-03-52w 15.37hrs Sunday 10th June 2018

Quiet Times!

Over the past two days we have continued to sail with the exception of a
three hour period where, in light winds, the main engine was put to work.
Speeds varied between 5 knots and 9 knots. Weatherwise, Saturday was one of
our better days, with clear skies and sunshine, however, it was cool on deck
and we needed to wrap up well. We continue to eat well thanks to Tony with
a fresh tuna dish on Friday evening and a chicken curry last night. Despite
loud protestations from our chef, he took a special order for hot tuna
burritos from two crew members while still serving the rest of us his
prescribed menu of burgers and salad for lunch today.

The crew rest and sleep for much of the time when off watch. Sean has
practiced the guitar, while Johnny spends much time on the computer writing
his next best-selling novel! John reads his book and Donald loads and edits
his photos and videos on his lap-top as Tony carefully prepares our next
meal.

Currently positioned 194 miles west of Cape St. Vincent at the southwest tip
of Portugal and some 370 nautical miles from Gibraltar, checks have begun on
the times of high tide at Tarifa and Gibraltar and the associated tidal
currents so we appropriately plan our arrival and passage through these
narrow straights.

As an aside, it is remarkable how little sea life we have seen on this
passage. On the 2010 eastward voyage we spotted and were visited by pods of
dolphins virtually every day whereas on this trip we have seen them just
five or six times. Apart from the frequency, the dolphins we have seen have
been quite small. No turtles, no whales and very few sea-birds. The
protracted poor weather has probably contributed to this.

This morning an oil tanker crossed our path no more than a mile or two away
bound for Aughinnish Island in Bantry Bay - strategic energy supplies for
the auld sod!!! ]]> Sun, 10 Jun 2018 17:58:22 UTC /ireneiii/posts/2018/6/10/47-quiet-times-37-07-95n-13-03-52w (@author) /ireneiii/posts/2018/6/9/46-where-did-the-tuna-go-for-tonight-s-dinner-that-bloody-c-at-is-dead-37-25-17n-015-59-81w
Every offshore crew has a lynch-pin member. Often or not that person is our
Chef. The person who can read our minds and know what is the order of the
day. Straight to the heart of "crew morale", FOOD. This raises a question
amongst the crew of Irene III; Galley Bitch or Domestic Goddess? Let's
discuss .


What is a Galley Bitch? I have little doubt that certain individuals within
the crew would have a more radical description of a Galley Bitch. But the
enlightened, believe it to require a myriad of multi-faceted skills. Skills
necessary to successfully fulfil the demanding responsibilities of this job.
Namely, the ability to balance steaming hot pans, juggle the sharpest
knives, to lightly toss delicate ingredients with a deft hand - creating a
taste sensation. All these skills choregraphed in tight spaces with
excessive heat, while the yacht bounces and crashes about you on the waves,
like a sugar-buzzed infant.

The term Galley Bitch may be viewed as being derogatory. Who am I kidding?
It is! It is a deprecating term and demeaning to someone who runs around
from early morning to late evening, preparing and delivering meals on
demand. Very often without appreciation of effort or skill employed to
produce the dishes placed in-front you. Another required skill is the
ability to clean and scrub the Galley and its Appliances to surgical theatre
standards (MRSI aside?).

The duties of the ships cook are multi-faceted; planning, sourcing, storage,
cooking, serving, cleaning. Minimum of three meals every day, plus treats,
coffee and teas. The "basic fare" from tins, packets and freezer, are not
Irene III. Meals tend to be born from the finest, freshest ingredients,
planned combination of flavours, blended to form the finest culinary
artistry rarely seen on land or sea. All of this in the stifling tropical
Heat.

The Chef must also be aware of individual preferences, dislikes and
allergies of his crew. When do they want their food, how much to put on
their plates, anticipate when they are going to go grazing and when are they
going to raid the fridges'. Meals on-board are expected to be served
consistently on-time, every day, as they must coincide with crew
Watch-Times.

However, there are some delicate topics which must be highlighted,
specifically; how do certain individuals (crew) broach the subject of being
vegetarian, paleo or, just being celiac intolerant? Raise the issue on board
and there is nowhere to run or hide. You are at sea! I believe that the best
way to bring up the subject with your Chef, is to mention these things well
in advance of embarkation and preferably at distance (email from the other
side of the world would be safest). By the time you get to meet
face-to-face, Chef should have calmed down. Although, be prepared to leg-it
all the same!


What makes a Domestic Goddess? Is it the friendly, cheery smile you get when
you rise from your slumber and emerge from your cabin? Is it the
light-filled summer apron that flutters in the gentlest of breezes as they
pour you a glass of Rose for lunch? Or, is it the fresh, well balanced blend
of ingredients which form a taste explosion every time you put fork to
mouth? Irene III's Domestic Goddess is expected to drum-up meals such as
Fresh Tuna Ceviche with Lime and Pickled Ginger, Soy Dipping Sauce with
Wasabi with a light pickled Cucumber Chilli Salad. For dinner Parma Wrapped
Chicken with Spinach and Goats Cheese, Balsamic Roasted Tomatoes, Green
Beans and Dauphinoise Potatoes. Menu's such as these are expected daily,
without compromise or excuse. On time, every time. And they are always
delivered. The only debate is what wines?

For those of you who know our on-board Chef for this passage - TONY, who
will never be likened to "the light-of-toe, gentile kitchen princess
associated with Domestic Goddess," one normally associates with a luxury
yacht galley. Galley Bitch? I dare you to say it to his face and then eat
the food he places in front of you? No, not I. No sir, not I. There is a
fine line between misdirected bravery and dumb-ass stupidity and I know what
side of the line I am on. The Bench!

Our resident Chef does have an Assistant. John (JLG), who awakes before
sunrise, every morning and makes coffee, tea and porridge with fresh fruit
for the entire crew, or at least for those of us awake at that time.
Occasionally, John surprises us with scrambled eggs on crumpets, graciously
served while wearing his apron and little else. A hell of a way to begin the
day, as breakfast is eaten in stunned silence.

These are some of the dishes which we have come to expect on Irene III. They
are fresh, flavourful and exquisite. Always breath-taking. Always memorable.
Far, far-removed from our vision of a Galley Bitch. Nevertheless, the
conundrum exists. The unshaven picture of Tony is still further removed from
our concept of Domestic Goddess. The debate sails on!


So, there you have it. A general outline of the duties of a Galley Bitch and
Domestic Goddess - very similar in characteristics with little to
differentiate them. With a contrary image of what we envisage our "Domestic
Goddess" to look and behave like. But in Tony's defence, he may be
"Ugly-as-Sin with all the decorum of a shit-house janitor", but he can
always rustle-up a truly magnificent dinner in the roughest of seas and
still serve it up with a smile! Should any crew be entitled to ask for more?


As luck would have it, I am writing this article while Sean approached our
Chef Tony requesting a change to the lunch menu and the response was
priceless . Pointed Finger, Wagging, "Don't mess with my menus Man or I will
F%@? YOU UP!" Galley Bitch, absolutely. A Goddess, not quite, not with that
language!

Cheers Johnny]]> Sat, 09 Jun 2018 19:59:53 UTC /ireneiii/posts/2018/6/9/46-where-did-the-tuna-go-for-tonight-s-dinner-that-bloody-c-at-is-dead-37-25-17n-015-59-81w (@author) /ireneiii/posts/2018/6/8/45-another-one-landed-37-38-33n-20-12-40w
Another one Landed!

With the departure of Tom, it was necessary to rejig the watch schedule. We
are now doing one man, two and a half hour watches commencing at 7pm in the
evening with John followed by Donald, Sean, Tony and finally Johnny from 5am
to 7.30am. It is lucky that Johnny was last man up as his fishing rod had a
strike at 5.30am with the very first glimmer of daylight with the line
screaming out behind the boat. With assistance from John, the yacht was
slowed by furling the main and reducing the genoa to little more than
pocket-hankerchief size. Johnny, at first thought he had lost the fish, but
after much winding and work, it was brought alongside the boat for John to
gaff and land on the deck. This one was not getting away to Johnny's
delight. His perseverance and hard work since the last catch has paid off
and he has a photo to prove it is not just another of his tall stories!

As we sail easterly towards the Straights of Gibraltar, we continue to enjoy
northerly winds of between 15 and 25 knots. Irene III is showing just how
fast a lady she can be with speeds ranging upwards to over 10 knots. On
this point of sail she performs beautifully. In the last 24 hours since,
4pm yesterday, we have covered 191 nautical miles directly along our rhumb
line to Gibraltar, a record for this passage.

With the fast smooth sailing, crew moral is high, being only slightly
dampened by the coolness of the northerly winds - we were expecting to be in
bathing trunks during the day rather than wrapped up in jackets and
oilskins.]]> Fri, 08 Jun 2018 19:40:06 UTC /ireneiii/posts/2018/6/8/45-another-one-landed-37-38-33n-20-12-40w (@author) /ireneiii/posts/2018/6/8/43-will-someone-change-the-cats-litterbox-please-37-54-55n-031-33-67w
The average person may not appreciate the required effort and dexterity at
having to go for a "whizz" when on-board a trans-Atlantic sailing yacht.
Planning is everything. Rhythm is essential and multi-point contact an
absolute necessity. I am strictly talking about a male approach to this
daunting exercise. I have no idea how our female colleagues manage it. Maybe
someday we might get an alternative gender view on this subject!

Let me explain what we encounter; Prior to embarking on your quest to use
the loo, a degree of fore-thought is required to ensure a smooth completion
of operation. It can take several minutes to unhook your life-jacket, remove
oil-skin jackets, top-drop your salopettes and fold back the multiple layers
of long-johns and T-shirts Et Al. It should be noted that much of this garb
is often wet, stinking of rancid salt-water and horrendously difficult to
peel-off. All this, prior to entering the Head!

The use of the Head at sea is governed by the oceans you are traversing.
Atlantic winds can kick-up some lively rollers and choppy seas resulting in
the boat being tossed about like an angry child with a rattle. This
continuous pitching can make getting about below decks cumbersome and
generally bloody difficult!

Once inside, you realise that those early years of gymnastics forced upon
you by the Priests had a purpose. How did they know?

To create a stable platform, you must firstly jam your feet as far apart as
possible to the floor, one hand on the window railing, the other stuck to
the wall and your head jammed into the towel radiator. This is called a
"multi-contact" foundation. It's only then that you must negotiate the
proverbial "hidden fly-opening" to your boxer-shorts which has somehow
worked itself around to the rear of your arse with the opening secretly
concealed in between your cheeks so that no amount of effort can release it.

Every man will attest that once you have initiated your "whizz", you can't
stop until it's over. As the boat is heeled to a 45 degree pitch you realise
that your pee shoots out on a curve into the bowl. It is essential that you
master your curvature, angle and speed right from the outset. Otherwise it
can be a messy affair!

Another element to a successful "whizz", is your innate ability to maintain
your balance while the boat glides up the rollers, hangs at the top of the
wave for a second or two before coming down with an almighty crash. As the
boat descends the wave, you are suspended mid-air for a fraction of a
second. You know what is coming, the adrenalin shoots through your body,
your mind goes into hyper-mode, panic sets-in as the boat lands with an
almighty "BANG" and you hit the floor of the jacks! This is where the Rhythm
comes in to play . coordinating your movements with the roll of the waves
and the pitch of the boat. It must all come together unison like
well-rehearsed ballroom dancing.

While I am not practised in alternative "whizz" methods, I have been
reliably informed that there are several optional approaches to this
activity. The first is the "Genuflecting Position". This requires the
individual to strip below the knees, bend down on one knee before the bowl
and make a reverential Sign of the Cross prior to embarking on your
business.
The other method is the "Unisex Position". This position dictates the
dropping of all hosiery and negotiating your bottom onto the pot. Jamming
both legs akimbo, with your arms gripping any immovable surface for positive
stability. Finally, complete a "Decade of the Rosary" in the hope that you
and your arse don't end-up in a mid-air squat and resulting splash.
It is common for Ocean Racing boats to have limited facilities aboard.
Racers are renowned for unzipping in the cockpit and facing down-wind,
normally off the transom for a quick pee. Splashes or oversights were
ignored as the ocean waves would soon clean any miss-directed accidents.

However, to meet ROC racing rules a yacht must have at least two heads for
the twenty odd crew members. This requirement is a contradiction of the
principals to a "smooth hulled racing skin". So many yacht designers
specified the required WC's to be fitted, but they were never plumbed into
the hull - avoiding any hull breach. The crew would use standard sea-buckets
balanced in the unfinished WC's. After completion of the
"business-of-the-day", the victim was required to complete the infamous
"Walk of Shame" . to carry the bucket with its pongy deposits through the
length of the crowded boat and discard its contents over the rear of the
transom. A quick sea-rinse of the bucket and returned to its original
position for use by the next occupant. It was essential that great care was
taken to avoid any spillage when completing the Walk of Shame. Not an easy
task when a boat is tearing up-wind at a blinding speed while the bow is
smashing onto every wave.

So, there you have it. A simple everyday task made difficult and only
likened to trying to relieve yourself while riding the steroid infused Bull
at a State Rodeo - One hand on the strap and the other behind your back,
arse in the air and a worried bead of sweat on your brow! Who needs
fair-ground roller coasters for a rush?

|BTW ... The term "Ships Head", historically refers to a plank with suitable
hole in it, located at the bow of traditional, old galleons. These ships
often carried a figure "head" just below the bow-sprit. The positioning of
the Head is such as to always be down-wind and away from the ship.]]> Fri, 08 Jun 2018 02:18:09 UTC /ireneiii/posts/2018/6/8/43-will-someone-change-the-cats-litterbox-please-37-54-55n-031-33-67w (@author) /ireneiii/posts/2018/6/8/44-has-anybody-seen-the-cat-37-59-42n-038-31-08w
Many of you know that we departed the Americas from Bermuda. To the average
person in the street, Bermuda invokes stunning colonial architecture,
beautiful beaches and Rum and Ginger Beer cocktails. But let me remind you
of the mysterious, ghostly and unaccounted-for events associated with this
infamous island. Yes, I am referring to the notorious "BERMUDA TRIANGLE".

As a reasonably well-educated team of sailors we view these tails with some
derision and a great deal of scepticism. However, as we collectively discuss
(Sean, Tony and I) the day's events it is clear to us that there are some
unusual forces at work here?

At first, eye-brows were raised when we began noticing AIS Targets on the
Console screens. These are ships which appear in or around our tracking
course and Rhumb Line. However, when using the old reliable eye-ball vision
. they don't exist. There's nothing on the water??? Nada. Zip. Just empty
seas! We check the distance and time to closet point of contact and
confirmed that they are in range. Check the horizon, the foreground,
nothing! Are these apparition's or ghosts of the past?

A VHF radio operates on a "line of sight" basis as signals don't bend over
the horizon. It all started on Monday night when we received a call over the
VHF in "French". It took us a few minutes to recognise that it was Irene III
that was being hailed. We checked the screens and there were no signs of any
other vessels in the area. Naturally, we responded and began a conversation
with "Grande Ourse", a Spanish registered Yacht with a French Crew. Our
discussions took place in half French and a great deal of pigeon English. We
discussed the weather forecast, current position, departure points, planned
destination, the usual diatribe of boats at sea. Now I accept that there is
nothing peculiar in any of this detail. However, there was no sign of the
Grande Ourse, who we plotted to be two nautical miles on our starboard side.
Neither was there any sign of her on our radar or AIS plotters. Strange.
Very, very strange. We understand that she may be without Transponder, but
invisible? I should also point out another peculiarity; I don't speak French
nor do I do Pigeon! At least not sober! Yet we had a full-blown conversation
for nearly twenty minutes. Were these lost voices from history or shadows
living in parallel seas trying to contact us?

To further raise our "heckles", Sean keeps hearing noises on the boat. These
noises are predominantly knocking, high pitched squeaks or electrically
operated devices emanating from far under the floor boards. Only Sean hears
them. Why only Sean? In the middle of the night he has us lifting floor
boards, checking electrical components, shining flash-lights in hidden
crevices, looking for the sources of these sounds. Nothing. No noises.
Silence! Just the crashing of the waves! Being good sailing colleagues, it
behoves us to support Sean and console him in his machinations of ethereal
echoes and point to the unexplained. The Bermuda Triangle!

Then there's the lone "Arm Band" episode. Tony noticed a solitary arm-band
floating across the sea to our starboard. An eerie sight. He was very
concerned. Was there a partner arm-band? Where did it come from? Where is
the owner? Was the arm-band simply a child's lost toy or was it a
life-saving remnant of a downed world war II fighter pilot? Or, is this
another encounter with the strange, the unexplained, the Bizzare? The
inexplicable Bermuda Triangle!

As I compile this dissertation, we are nearing the Azores (391 NM's). We
have emerged from the other side of the Intrigues of the Bermuda Triangle.
We have discussed this topic amongst ourselves and carefully eye each other
with suspicion. Was he abducted and replaced back on board without our
knowledge? What is his behaviour like? Any different to last week? He looks
different when he doesn't shave? Is he Alien???

I ask myself the question, are any or all of them Alien? I'm taking no
chances. I have heard about the Marie Celest and others. I am sleeping with
the cabin door locked. Full wet-gear on. (It takes me twenty minutes to put
it on anyway - It should take an Alien much longer to remove it if I
struggle hard enough). Bible and crucifix in hand, garlic bulbs from the
Galley and so on. And before you tell me that these are only pertinent to
Vampires. I DON'T, CARE. I'm taking no chances!

There you have it, another example of the impaired thinking of TransAt
sailors. It may be attributable to too much sun, alternatively the
psychology of living in close-quarters with limited alcohol. Who knows? Once
ashore and a drink in hand the mind reboots itself and nobody is any the
wiser!

Cheers Johnny]]> Fri, 08 Jun 2018 02:18:09 UTC /ireneiii/posts/2018/6/8/44-has-anybody-seen-the-cat-37-59-42n-038-31-08w (@author) /ireneiii/posts/2018/6/5/42-ponta-delgada-37-44-41n-25-39-58w
Ponta Delgada

Strong southerly winds continued through Sunday afternoon and we covered the
82 nautical miles into Ponta Delgada in just nine hours. We tied Irene III
up at the customs reception quay at 11.50pm and settled in for the night.
The customs and immigration offices opened at 9am on Monday morning and it
did not take long to clear formalities. We also took the opportunity to
refuel taking on some 550 litres of diesel. We moved to our allotted berth
in the 'new' marina, which incidently, is the same one we stayed in when
returning from Antigua in 2010 on Irene II.

Ponta Delgada is situated on the south coast of the island of Sao Miguel the
principle of the nine islands that make up the Azores. Monday was a dull
overcast day with torrential rain all day long. It pounded the decks and
washed off the salt crystals which had accumulated on the passage. With the
weather being as it was and with the tiredness of the crew from the rough
passage, Monday was very much a rest day. The electrician from the local
Mastervolt agent arrived, fitted and tested the replacement charger which
had been ordered by Louis and gratefully we can report that all seems well
on that front.

We had a late lunch in a nearby restaurant and in place of dinner we snacked
aboard on grapes Azorean cheeses and drank a few glasses of excellent local
wine. A few of us had sourced the wine from a seafront wine store where we
also enquired about Gordon's gin, only to be told by the charming
proprietress that an elderly gentleman had come in an hour before us and
bought her entire stock of the product - some six bottles at Euro 9.60 each.
Returning to Irene III, we discovered that the elderly gentleman was non
other than our skipper. After our supper, the 'younger' crew members set
out for a night on the town returning at 4.30am this morning.

Today, Tuesday has been bright and sunny and the marina has been buzzing
with yachts returning to Europe having completed the ARC in late 2017. Many
of the boats are bedecked in bunting ,making for a colourful sight. The
crew have been busy with chores progressively ticking them off the long 'to
do' list. A provisioning expedition was made to a supermarket on the
outskirts of the town and the contrast in prices between here and Bermuda is
stark with produce some 3 to 5 time dearer in Bermuda.

We now plan to leave Ponta Delgada early on Thursday morning.
Unfortunately, Tom Fitzpatrick will be leaving us here as he must return to
Dublin to sort out issues on his new house build. Tom has been a great
shipmate and we will all miss him on the next leg of our voyage.]]> Tue, 05 Jun 2018 19:27:09 UTC /ireneiii/posts/2018/6/5/42-ponta-delgada-37-44-41n-25-39-58w (@author) /ireneiii/posts/2018/6/3/41-language-lessons-37-45-06n-27-22-14w Language Lessons

I am pleased to report that the 'gas crisis' has been averted partially
through prudent use of the microwave oven. We enjoyed an excellent lasagne
for dinner last night which been defrosted and reheated in the microwave.
This was accompanied by coleslaw and a glass of white wine.

The forecast reduction in wind speed has not occurred and we have enjoyed
15-20 knot winds on or just forward of the beam for the last two days.
These have pushed us forward at speeds between 7 and 9 knots enabling us to
rapidly close on our destination which is now just 82 nautical miles away.
We placed our 10 euro bets on the arrival time yesterday when we still
believed the winds would moderate, so even the most optimistic choice looks
like it will be bettered by a wide margin.

With our imminent arrival in Portugese territory and the EU local language
training is proceeding with great gusto. Sean, who is a fluent Portugesev
speaker, is the master in charge and has defined the essential vocabulary as
follows:

Por favor - Please
Cerveja - Beer
Obrigado - Thank you
Ci/No - Yes/No
Bom - Good
Saude - Cheers/Slainte
Banhiero - Toilet
Qual O Preso - How Much?

With the above, we should have all situations covered. ]]> Sun, 03 Jun 2018 17:08:24 UTC /ireneiii/posts/2018/6/3/41-language-lessons-37-45-06n-27-22-14w (@author) /ireneiii/posts/2018/6/1/40-crisis-after-crisis-37-58-88n-34-23-89w
Crisis after Crisis

Since noon yesterday we have closed on Ponta Delgado by some 200 nautical
miles and are now 420 nautical miles away. This means we should make it
there by sometime on Monday 4th June after thirteen days at sea. This has
not been the smoothest of passages as in sailing parlance, we have been
enjoying the 'high seas'. That is the term for the sea state when it gets
rougher than 'very rough'. You will be happy to hear our surfing skills have
improved no end, with speeds in excess of 14kts being achieved in gusts of
up to 40 kts..Wind and sea conditions, while invigorating on deck, make life
below deck difficult even for simple tasks like getting out of bed and
getting dressed. Our 'younger' crew members Sean and Johnny continue to
carry out the tricky foredeck work with great aplomb.

Now to the latest crisis!!!!

We started in Hamilton with the 'Charger' crisis which is now largely
forgotten as we routinely run the main engine to recharge the batteries.
This was surplanted by the great 'Fuel' crisis,.wherer the concern was that
we would run out of fuel before reaching the Azores. Estimates of
consumption proved to be 50% greater than what was actually consumed. We
have also spent the last number of days sailing so concern has evaporated.
The latest crisis the 'Great Gas' crisis concerns our stomachs and is as a
result really serious. We set out from Hamilton with three full cylinders
of gas which should we are told last one week each yet after just eight days
we were down to the last one. Tea production and other non-essential cooking
activities have been curtailed in the hope that we can continue to enjoy a
comforting hot meal at least once a day!!!!!

Life is good!]]> Fri, 01 Jun 2018 20:10:02 UTC /ireneiii/posts/2018/6/1/40-crisis-after-crisis-37-58-88n-34-23-89w (@author) /ireneiii/posts/2018/5/31/39-rapid-progress-37-58-99n-38-37-17w 12noon 31st May 2018

Rapid Progress

After the lengthy epistle from St. Johnny the Divine, this will be kept
short. For the past two sails we have been 'enjoying' winds varying from
strong to strong gale from the southwest propelling us along our easterly
course at great speed at times surfing down waves at over eleven knots. The
result is that now after nine days at sea, we are 620 nautical miles and
roughly four days from our destination in the Azores.

The purpose of a 'preventer' on a b oat is to prevent crash gybes which can
be harmful to the boat and to life and limb. On board this yacht, the
'preventer' has been renamed 'the steadier' as it is designed to steady the
boom while on a run. It does not prevent a crash gybe with the result that
the stock of sacrificial blocks has now been exhausted and thankfully there
has no damage to yacht or crew.

We have now travelled over 26degrees east yet the ships clock remains on
Bermuda time. This avoids confusion and permits the crew to use their
phones as alarm clocks without adjustment. When we make landfall in the
Azores, the ships clock will change to reflect local time.

With rapid speeds come some discomfort in the galley yet Tony continues to
perform miracles producing food that lifts the spirits. All remain fit and
healthy.]]> Thu, 31 May 2018 19:12:09 UTC /ireneiii/posts/2018/5/31/39-rapid-progress-37-58-99n-38-37-17w (@author) /ireneiii/posts/2018/5/30/38-will-the-last-person-to-leave-put-the-cat-out-37-42-35n-043-01-38w
The short version .
The past twenty-four hours, we sailed easterly for 168 NM's with moderate
winds to our starboard, got wet, had a nap, a laugh and we will do it all
again tomorrow!

Now the long version .
Typically, the night watches are run by Johnny, Tony and Sean (1.00 am to
8.00am). A watch is always preceded by checks of wind direction, strength,
ships course, sail trim, AIS targets etc. Once the "necessaries" are
concluded we generally settle down to a night of coffee, tea's and chat with
lots of banter.
Three men will discuss everything from points of sailing, sports, women and
food, exaggerated claims of prowess to comical images of the absurd.
Nevertheless, last night we concocted a plan to shake things-up on board by
swopping our pre-assigned chores. It was deemed that Donald would be asked
to tackle the catering for the day, enabling Tony to have a well-earned
day-off from the Galley. I was to take over Donald's Blog Recording duties
and Sean would basically just kick back.
Now we dream-up these ideas, but they never actually pan-out as planned.
Sean Boyle started his day by scrubbing out the forward head at 5.00am this
morning, followed by the cleaning/scrubbing of the cockpit and pedestals
with John, assisting our new chef in putting together lunch, along with his
general duties of weather, navigation and comm's. Finishing his day with the
cleaning of the Galley post dinner. Bless him, he's sleeping now on one of
the Saloon settees while I write this Blog.
As for Tony Frey, Murphy's Law leapt all over him today. He partially helped
Donald in the Galley to set-up and devise his dinner menu for the day.
Following that he ended-up having to remove everything from the fridge and
clean-it out in search of the "smelly French cheese" which Donald found
intensely offensive. After which, Tony was seconded into having to locate,
repair and replace the pump/pipe work for the Galley sinks. From early
lunch-time to late evening (9.00pm) he disassembled, sighed, cursed, cursed
again (in Irish) before he eventually tracked down the source of his angst.
Now you know why plumbers always take that heavy inhalation when you ask
them to quote on something!
As for myself, I stayed on watch this morning with John and thoroughly
enjoyed our early morning conditions. Auto-helm off, I returned to simpler,
less complicated days of wind, sea and boat. I loved every moment of it.
Powering through the waves with 18-20 knot winds on our starboard beam,
reasonably flat seas and a motivation to just get to our destination.
Idyllic! Needless to say, this euphoria was short lived before I got drawn
into the Galley Pump Repair Team (plumbers apprentice with dropped trouser
waist to rear - comes natural to me!). This was compounded with requests as
to "Johnny, what is this piece of rigging block I found on the deck".
"Johnny did you know that the Domestic Batteries are down to 68%?" Yes, I
did know. "Johnny is the Staysail strapped down properly?" And, "Johnny can
you help me with these dishes please - I'm swamped". Enough already! I need
to sleep for a few hours and give my head peace. Despite my protestations, I
love Irene III and will always find time for her, she's a precious, giving
lady who occasionally needs a supporting hand. I will miss her in future
months.

The Day Watch; A combination of Chiefs looking for Indians. No Indians on
board I'm afraid. John Goor (our skipper), Donald Gordon and Tom
Fitzpatrick. All highly qualified sailors with enough years on them to
remember Columbus setting sail for the new world. "I might get it in the
neck for that one!"
John is the first to rise every morning. Supporting that big cheesy grin as
he emerges from the companionway. Just as the sun begins to warm the teak
decks, John makes those of us that are awake, a cup of coffee and a bowl of
Organic Porridge with fruit. My own body goes into shock in the first few
days of sailing with him. It's just not familiar with this "healthy
digestive" concept. As the sun rises the Night watch team steadily
disappear. Gradually, as the heart gains its rhythm and the blood begins to
warm, John gets into action. "Fix this, clean that, can we do something to
make this better" and so on... If you can't be of assistance keep out of his
way. I believe the safest place to be at these times, is to hide in the
covered tender at the rear of the boat or scale the mast in the pretence
that the pennant requires securing. For those of you who know John, his
daily pace is only interrupted by feeding and resting (but not always).
There may be something in that? This evening John finished his daily tour
and evening watch by sharing a beer with Tom, Tony and myself. Reflect on
the day's events and laugh. Tomorrow is a new day!
Now every team has a "Quiet Man" in the background. Ours is Tom Fitz. Who I
believe sees and notices everything; crew interactions, observing points of
discussion and interceding in heated debates with that calm, authoritative
voice of reason. Now, given that we have upset every body's routine today
and that things didn't necessarily work out as planned, some of our tetchier
moments were arbitrated by our Tom's graceful intercessions. We admire Tom
for his ability to supress other people's tensions while fighting his own
Demons of Sugar, Sugar and more Sugar! But he has another side. A darker
side. Power hungry! Tom spends much of the day monitoring the ailing battery
situation for me. Ensuring that we never drop below our preferred 72%. He's
like an eagle on a fish. Inverter on. Inverter off. I wonder if Tesla has
heard about him yet?
Poor Donald, I believe that he awoke this morning with a smile on his face,
safe in the knowledge that today is going to be another good day for
"Donald". Bless his innocence! The plan now devised and assigned amongst the
remainder of crew. Donald was assaulted with his new "temporary duties" for
the day; Preparing and cooking lunch and dinner for six people in a boat
with Atlantic waves crashing into it every thirty seconds. He will be
excused from his day watch duties to enable him to fully focus on his new
responsibilities. You could see the anguish in his eyes. But Donald isn't
one to back-off from a challenge. He inhaled a large breath of fresh air,
called Tony and Sean in for help and got underway. Collectively Donald and
Sean mutually decided on a Luncheon Dish of Salad Nicosia's using the
remainder of our fresh Tuna. While Tony talked him through an Almond and
Parmesan coated Chicken Breasts with Lemon Roasted Potatoes, Green Beans and
Carrots. All very good. You would think?
Donald and Sean's idea of the classic Salad Nicosia is a unique take on any
known form of food preparation . its mainly formatted around healing the
boat over off the wind as much as possible, aim the bow into the biggest
Atlantic waves available, toss for a few minutes and then open the fridge
door. What falls out ends up in the salad. While I paint a picture
representative of a Jackson Pollock, the morning after, the "Salad" was
surprisingly very tasty and thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Donald really excelled himself in preparing a wonderful dinner for the crew.
Fresh and delicious. I wanted more. Sean wanted more (but that's not
unusual, he always wants more)! But given the difficulties in the galley
with inoperable sinks, Donald did a great job in creating a wonderful meal.
I wonder if he is up to doing a job-swop again?

There you have it. My interpretation of the events of Tuesday 29th May,
2018. Nothing unusual for us. Always battling the seas, our playground, for
improved speed, better angles, smoother rides. It's what we do for a laugh
and we love it!
Cheers Johnny]]> Wed, 30 May 2018 11:36:28 UTC /ireneiii/posts/2018/5/30/38-will-the-last-person-to-leave-put-the-cat-out-37-42-35n-043-01-38w (@author) /ireneiii/posts/2018/5/29/37-slow-progress-36-07-07n-51-24-61w
Slow Progress

We have slowed down significantly in the past 24 hours. With no wind at
all, we motored through yesterday afternoon and evening before turning the
engine off to sail at 1am this morning and over the past twelve hours, we
have closed on our destination by just 50 nautical miles. Happily the
weather has been very pleasant and the sea state fairly flat.

Last night we enjoyed tuna steaks for dinner with a crunchy salad and
sticky rice accompanied by a choice of hoisin, teriyaki and sweet chili
sauces - Excellent! Thank you Tony for catching the fish and cooking it so
beautifully.

At 12noon, with our destination now directly downwind, skipper John decided
on a goose-wing rig with the main out to starboard steadied by a restrainer
and the genoa out to port held in place by the spinnaker pole. The result
was that in mild 10 knot winds, we were making 5 knots directly towards our
destination.

With regard to the crew, while the skipper and the commodore (Tom), continue
to shave the rest of the crew are getting hairier by the day with facial
features progressively disappearing behind grey fluff! All on board remain
fit, healthy and well-nourished with all signs of motion sickness having
disappeared.]]> Tue, 29 May 2018 12:23:23 UTC /ireneiii/posts/2018/5/29/37-slow-progress-36-07-07n-51-24-61w (@author) /ireneiii/posts/2018/5/26/36-more-squalls-36-26-66n-57-11-64w-
More Squalls!

The winds built and the cloud cover increased yesterday afternoon as we
continued northeast under sail with the boat speed touching over 10 knots at
times. A succession of heavy rain squalls were encountered accompanied by
gusts up to 42kts and occasionally by thunder and lightning. The rain was
torrential but thanks to the newly water-proofed bimini cover, those on deck
remained largely managed to stay dry. We have travelled approximately 150
nautical miles in past 24 hours and are now some 1500 nautical miles from
Ponta Delgado on the Azorean island of Sao Miguel.

Dinner last night was Balinese Meat balls with Ceylonese sauce accompanied
by boiled brown rice - sufficient to say that the lot was demolished by a
hungry crew - again the highlight of the day.

We continued under sail throughout the night in 20kt winds, however as the
morning progressed, the winds died down, and the skies cleared,for a
beautiful sunny but cool day. Our thoughts turn to home and the referendum
taking place at home. The crew vote was 100% in favour or repeal and we
feel confident that the people of Ireland will fell very much the same.]]> Sat, 26 May 2018 15:35:27 UTC /ireneiii/posts/2018/5/26/36-more-squalls-36-26-66n-57-11-64w- (@author) /ireneiii/posts/2018/5/25/35-the-flying-skipper-35-39-75n-60-14-01w
The Flying Skipper!

We are now some 300 nautical miles from Bermuda and sailing eastward at 7
knots. Progress has been steady over the past 24 hours as the crew have
settled into the watch routine and the daily list of chores. Sleeping has
been difficult for some of us due to the following winds and the choppy sea
state. Overnight we have observed the clouds building.

After a delicious dinner of beef stew and boiled potatoes, we settled down
for the night. At 5am this morning a rain squall accompanied by a rapid wind
shift caused an accidental gybe (not jibe!). This in turn caused the
skipper to be catapulted out of his bunk landing head-first on a bedside
locker. It was a pity nobody was present to video this inaugural flight
aboard this fine vessel. We are pleased to report that the skipper suffered
only from minor bruising and a little shock from the fact that his
cabin-mate slept through the entire incident. Tony's motion sickness is
nearly gone as he continues to slave away in the galley conjuring up his
magic. We have been running a very 'dry' boat since leaving Bermuda with a
total of just one beer consumed! Will it continue>? Let's wait and see!]]> Fri, 25 May 2018 18:23:15 UTC /ireneiii/posts/2018/5/25/35-the-flying-skipper-35-39-75n-60-14-01w (@author) /ireneiii/posts/2018/5/24/34-an-electric-solution-34-38-33n-63-03-88w
We continue to head in a north-easterly direction and have picked strong
north-westerly winds earlier than expected gusting up to 28knots.. These
winds are driving us along at up to 9 knots.
In slack winds on Tuesday, we motored through the day and all through the
night and it was not until this morning, we were in a position to turn off
the engine and sail. The engine had charged the batteries to 85% of their
capacity. Over a 2.5hour period sailing, the charged detiorated by just 5%.
The engine was restarted and running at 1000 revs, recharged the batteries
back up to 85% in just under 30 minutes. This exercise together with some
other contingency planning gave us the confidence to progress on towards the
Azores.

Tony, our chef extrordinaire, cooked up a dinner of Parmesan Breaded Chicken
and a mixed salad which we all enjoyed. Unfortunately, Tony was not feeling
under the weather with motion sickness but has recovered well today.
Both Johnny and Tony have had fishing lines out trailing behind the boat but
no strikes as yet - we live in hope!! ]]> Thu, 24 May 2018 16:58:50 UTC /ireneiii/posts/2018/5/24/34-an-electric-solution-34-38-33n-63-03-88w (@author) /ireneiii/posts/2018/5/23/33-finally-away-32-31-33n-64-36-51w Johnny and Tony smoked their last cigarette ever, we got a great send off
from Carla Burgess, the Customs Chief at St. George. Departing through 'The
Cut' into open water the vista opened up and the challenge ahead became a
reality. Our planned departure early on Monday morning was delayed until
11.30am this morning. It became clear on Sunday night that replacing the
Inverter had not resolved the power related problems that occurred during
the passage from Antigua to Bermuda as an attempt was made to recharge the
batteries using the generator. All of Monday and some four very early hours
of Tuesday morning were spent tracking down the problem with the help of
Oyster in the UK and Mastervolt technical gurus in Holland. The conclusion
arrived at by the Mastervolt guru was that the charger was defunct and
required replacement. We hope that by the time we arrive in the Azores that
a replacement charger will be waiting for us curtesy of Louis back in
Ireland. In the meantime we will use the main engine to charge the
batteries and during Tom's sleeping hours the generator will be run to
permit operation of his ventilator.

With little wind we motor on a course of 015 degrees with the expectation
that we will pick up wind in due course. One of the departure greetings we
received was - "To the ships of the sea and to the ladies of the land, may
the former be stoutly rigged and the latter well manned". ]]> Wed, 23 May 2018 13:17:02 UTC /ireneiii/posts/2018/5/23/33-finally-away-32-31-33n-64-36-51w (@author) /ireneiii/posts/2017/12/20/32-the-end-of-our-shared-adventure-
Skipper Louis loves his flags.. There's been a special ritual about the
hoisting and lowering of Irene III's ensign at dawn and sunset since we left
La Gomera. If there was even a few minutes delay at either end of day, the
skipper's displeasure was palpable. During our final days at sea, the burgee
which sits atop of the mast, had become misaligned and as far as our skipper
was concerned - this unsettled the feng shui of his boat.

Shortly after first light, Louis was strapped into a bosun's chair and
hoisted 90 feet into the air. He scaled the mast like spiderman and soon the
burgee was restored to its correct flying position. Then he raised our
clothes line of signal flags and the tricolour, declaring the boat's name
and country of origin for those with the correct decoding manual. With these
essential maritime protocols completed, Louis headed into the dock to begin
customs clearance.

This was a rigorous, multi-stage process involving a series of different
officials, each of whom dealt with one element of the clearance. Louis had
been advised by a French sailor who had spent five fruitless hours in
customs the previous day, to ensure that there wasn't a single typo or
misplaced passport number in the online profile he was required to fill out.
Otherwise, just like in a game of snakes and ladders, he would be pushed
back several stages on the board.

When Louis returned to Irene III after 90 minutes, we could see that he was
not alone. His young children George & Charlotte, who had flown into Antigua
three days ago with their mum were going to join us for the final mile from
Freeman's Bay to Nelson's Dockyard. Also in the tender was 83 year old, Lisa
Nicholson. It was her late father-in-law, Vernon who had sailed Mollyhawk
into this very harbour in 1949 with his wife and two sons, one of whom,
Desmond, Lisa subsequently married.

Lisa stepped like a teenager from the tender onto Irene III's aft deck and
presented Sabine with a colourful bouquet of Plumbago, Begonia and Red Ixora
flowers, freshly picked from her hilltop garden, overlooking Falmouth Bay.
Having spent almost six decades of her life in Antigua, she knows her boats
and love the sea.

How fitting and special it was that Lisa joined us for the very final ankle
of Irene III's voyage. When we tied up - Lisa mused that we were berthed in
exactly the same position on the dock as Mollyhawk had been all those years
ago.

The shore-based welcoming party included Louis's wife Fish, their children
Charlotte & George, Louis & Sabine's sister Monique and her husband Arnaud
and Nancy Nicholson, Lisa's daughter who also lives and works here as an
artist.

On touching terra firma for the first time, surprisingly none of the crew
felt 'landsick'. We had expected to feel as footloose as tipsy sailors, but
the unexpected calmness of our night at anchor in Freeman's Bay seemed to
have rebooted our internal gyroscopes.

After hugs, laughter, reminiscences, some family photos and dare I say it -
a brace of expertly chilled Carib lagers, it was time to get back to work on
Louis's interminable list.

And so now 24 hours later, the fridges have been deep cleaned, the heads
scoured and made pristine, all the bedding laundered and folded, four bags
of clean, segregated recycling have been collected, the decks scrubbed, the
brightwork polished and just an hour ago, under the waving palm trees in
front of the original Officers' Quarters in Nelson's Dockyard, our bright
blue spinnaker was treated to a rinse and blow dry in 35 degree sunshine.

In two days' time, the crew will disband and disperse. Sabine will return to
Napa, arriving home on Xmas Eve, just in time to put the finishing touches
to the Christmas dinner she and Donny are hosting for 22 guests. Did I ever
mention that she likes to party?

Sean Boyle, has had his months old, shaggy dog beard completely removed and
now looks like a different person to the one we sailed the Atlantic with.
However his characteristic broad smile has been growing ever wider as he
prepares to rendezvous this weekend in Bogota, Colombia with Margareth, his
Brazilian kite-surfing/skate-boarding lawyer friend. So cool....

John Hunter-Holme's partner, Warsan flys into Antigua this Friday to kick
off phase two of the birthday boy's 50th celebrations. John let it slip that
the Guildhall has been arranged for what he described as "an intimate
gathering" of 400 guests after his triumphant return to London in
early-January.

John Egan will be escorting Johnny Frey from Antigua to Gatwick securely
where they'll both be dashing for a connecting flight to Dublin. The
prospect of appealing to Ryanair's customer services team should there be
any delays on the Antigua to London leg, fills them both with dread.

Meanwhile, Louis and Fish will return to Irene III with Charlotte and George
and spend a week meandering the coves and white sandy beaches of the island.
An inflatable Christmas tree and waterproof lights will be installed. Santa
Claus has already been informed of C&G's likely whereabouts.

Following Louis's near-drone-death experience (previously reported) Fish
very sensibly packed the instructions for the drone's 'follow-me' feature in
her luggage. Rudolph et al should have no difficulty transferring Santa's
gifts to the drone mid-air - assuming of course that C&G are impeccably
behaved and fast-asleep at the time of the nocturnal Caribbean reindeer
visitation.

Before signing off, a sincere word of thanks is due to our seventh 'virtual'
crew member, who has been with us for every waypoint of the voyage. Shore
mother, Eddie Tingle was the co-navigator for Irene III's Atlantic debut.

Eddie and Sean Boyle debated the melting speed of butter, interrogated Time
Zero ad nauseam, facetimed and emailed each other as often as new lovers..
and that was before we ever left La Gomera!

However, once on the high seas, St. Sean the Navigator was flying almost
blind. The limitations of Louis's Chinese knock-up-shop satellite phone
service meant that Sean could not download the 16 days advance forecast that
was advertised in his job specification. If you remember the burbles and
squeeks of first generation dial-up internet connections - then you'll
appreciate the level of IT resources available to Sean.

However, from the comfort of Irene III's virtual 'bridge' in Captain
Tingle's hill-side residence, overlooking Dublin Bay, TimeZero was run
through its paces, various alternative scenarios were examined and then ET,
as he calls himself, would compose a short summary email, suggesting 'riding
instructions' for his 'jock' on the boat.

Actually it worked a treat and all the residual scepticism about the colder
more northerly route we followed to get here was thrown overboard yesterday,
when a lone sailor who had followed the standard 'butter melting then turn
right' option described to us how his passage had taken 30 days to complete
- including four days when he was completely becalmed.

A word or caution to end. Perhaps crew members will feel somewhat becalmed
when they return to their families and normal life. We've shared a rare and
unusual experience together which will take some time for each of us to
fully process. Should you find that your returned loved-one is somewhat
distracted or you notice them clutching the table and peering at the horizon
(during dinner) please cut them some slack, just like you would a mooring
rope on a tidal berth.

Here ends the blogs of Irene III's epic Atlantic adventure.

Over and Out.

16:00 Hours - 20171220 - John Egan - Nelson's Dockyard, Antigua.]]> Wed, 20 Dec 2017 20:54:21 UTC /ireneiii/posts/2017/12/20/32-the-end-of-our-shared-adventure- (@author)