42:45.817N 008:56.764W

Whisper
Noel Dilly
Sun 19 Aug 2012 19:21
"Sunday - 19th August"

Sadly an overcast and at times wet day for the Fish Festival.  The festivities last night continued well into the early hours, music could still be heard at 3am.  We walked into town to see the procession from the Church down to the harbour.  Eight men carried an enormous statue of the Virgin Mary, at her feet was a lighthouse and a wrecked boat.  Every hundred yards or so the pole bearers were relieved by fresh men. The congregation of the Church followed, the band behind playing a slow march.   Many onlookers lined the streets most dressed in their 'Sunday Best' and walked more quickly along the pavements.  At the harbour an Altar had been assembled,  the back drop a very old fishing net.  The statue was placed and the clergy took their places along with the two small children who had been in the procession but were now sitting on two chairs, the girl in a very prettily decorated white dress and an older boy in a full sailor suit.  An all female choir waited patiently with microphones set up and sang a beautiful song as people assembled.  A Church Service followed as fine rain gently fell. 

Later in the day accompanied by  rocket detonated explosions and sirens, all the dressed fishing boats, now laden with visitors began to leave the quayside, other small craft joined in and the Life Boat took its station. It was hard to judge if there was any organisation to the parade, as these large vessels jostled about.  The ships left the safety of the harbour and disappeared out into the mist and were lost from our view. 

An hour later as we quietly enjoyed our dinner, the explosions started again and a quick glance on deck confirmed the flotilla was arriving home again.  What a cacophony of noise followed, the ships all blasting their hooters, rockets exploding and sirens blaring.  The ships danced around in circles close to the bay at the harbour entrance, looking as if they might bump into each other.  Soon the first boats powered into the harbour, the 3 knots speed limit ignored,  I wondered if they would be able to stop in time.  The next 15 minutes looked to be pure chaos as these large vessels manoeuvred themselves back into their berths alongside the quay.  Forwards, backwards, turn around, there was no telling who was trying to get where, but eventually they all settled down and the noise abated.  I wonder if we shall be watching fireworks tonight?
 
Photograph: "Fishing Boat Flotilla"
 

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