Howth YC was celebrating its annual Family Day, and Aldebaran was escorted back to her flag-bedecked home port by a flotilla of boats dressed overall. Commodore Gerry O’Neill welcomed the intrepid couple home, and congratulated them on an achievement of which many dream, but very few bring to such complete fulfillment.
It is the first time that a Howth boat has achieved the world circuit, and Aldebaran’s great voyage has not been without its adventures. For although Pat and Olivia sailed along many routes used by other oceanic voyagers, they also made their own way to some of the remotest corners of the globe.
They have experienced all sorts of weather on their great cruise, but the day before their return was one of the worst in a bad summer. However, conditions relented, and the sunshine grew in strength as Aldebaran approached her home port. Howth YC has been notably lucky in its weather despite the poor summer of 2008. They’d sunshine and good sailing for hosting the ICRA Nationals in May, and then for the great annual Lambay Race in June. Even in August’s notably inclement conditions they found good sailing to complete all five races of the Howth Seventeen Worlds, and the run of luck continued with perfect conditions to welcome home the local heroes on Aldebaran.
