The 25ft community-built Shannon hooker Sally O'Keeffe of Querrin and Kilrush in County Clare has successfully completed three long open sea passages to join the huge traditional fleets taking part in the current Festivals of Sail & the Sea at Brest and Douarnenez in Western Brittany.
Sally's Kilrush boat-builder and crew leader Steve Morris reports an enjoyable sail from Baltimore in West Cork, though they did think it prudent to take an overnight stop at the handy cove of Porthcressa on the south side of Hughtown in the Isles of Scilly "to let a little weather go through".
FAIR WIND
They went into full "overnight at anchor mode", with Sally's long bowsprit retracted in a neighbourly gesture to nearby boats, and the special tent tautened over the mainboom. The cross-channel passage to western Brittany was then made in mostly grey weather, though with a favourable north to nor'east wind. But as they closed on the Breton coast last Friday evening (July 12th), the weather was clearing, and they were sailing in bright sunshine when fortuitously met by friend Jean Francois and his wife of L'Aber'wrach, sailing their 22ft Francois Vivier design round the coast to the festival.
In all, there seem to be just six Irish boats taking part, including three Gleoiteogs from the Galway Hooker Sailing Club with thirty members present. But the total fleet is so huge, with France's 42-metre barquentine flagship La Recouvrance leading spectacular sail-pasts in the Rade de Brest, that all other ensigns are overwhelmed by the universality of La France's tricolore.
However, Sally O'Keeffe's voyaging crew of Steve Morris, Peter Ranalow, James Devane, Enda McDonagh and Niamh McGivney are doing their best for the Banner County, and hope to continue through increased number, with reinforcements flying out to join them for the Brest - Douarnenez stage.
GENEROUS WELCOME
Meanwhile in Brest they've swept away by the generosity of the welcome, with berthing and any accommodation arrangements provided free of charge if you arrive with a traditional-style boat, and Sally O'Keeffe passes that test with flying colours.