Cruising on the Shannon

[Fintan Murphy]

Life never ceases to amaze me. :shock:

Take my wife for example.

When I married her I was well aware that the only time I'd get her on a boat was when she was scattering my ashes in Cork harbour. As this event would hopefully not be for a while yet, I'd resigned myself to the fact that my love of the water and boating would be a solitary indulgence, paid for by countless "honey do" tasks.

Then I must confess, I did something sneaky :twisted:

I suggested to her parents that a four day cruise on the Shannon would be a great idea. They took the bait She was outnumbered and pressganged into submission. I organised a four day trip, and rented a Shannon 31 sports through Shannon Castle Line, one of the many cruise organisers on the Shannon

http://www.shannoncastleline.com/

I assured them that a great time would be had by all, we wouldn't get seasick, marooned, shipwrecked, boarded by pirates, or infested by weevels or get a bout of scurvy. (I made some sacrifices to Neptune just in case. )

Obviously I made the wrong sacrifices, or he just plain wasn't listening.

We had the wettest Spring in about 50 years, the river was so high you couldn't see the banks, as they were underwater. Some of the jetties and quays were underwater as well. The bigger boats couldn't get under either the bridge upriver or downriver of the harbour, and so the people who had rented them were confined to about half a mile of crusing up and down, up and down, up and down.

I remember one particularly white-knuckle ride as we had to traverse a lake, with scary waves.

Anyway, Irene's parents commented that it would have been a lovely holiday, if we had the weather. By the way, this is a common Irish saying, and is a nice way of telling someone "you bloody edgit, that's the last time we're letting the likes of you organise a holiday for us. Our daughter is too good for you, and we don't know what she sees in you anyway"

So, fast forwarding to last week.

I never learn.

Irene and myself were talking about this summers holidays. We are going to Verona for the opera in August for four days, and I said to her

"Why don't we go on the Shannon again the week after"?

(Of course, I said this while out of reach, with myself between any sharp or heavy kitchen utensils, and with at least two exits within easy reach).

"Yes" she said, "but I'd only go for four days, a week might be too long".

You gotta LOVE this woman!

So this year, the two of us (on our own!) are going to potter around the Shannon, eat fine food, drink fine wine, and make a few waves :shock:

Who knows, I might get her in the Weekender yet :wink:

[Fintan Murphy]

Yea,

I've been told that the most common mistake (male) sailors make is to treat their wife as a crewmember as opposed to an (honoured) guest.

A mistake I hope never to make. :?

[Greg Luckett]

My wife is Irish and German heritage....you can imagine what that mix does

She likes fishing and wine, gets ill anytime the boat heels, but she still likes boating on the big lake and river. I think she likes the river better....thinks I am a bit nuts to venture on the big lake when sailing is good......15 knots, 5 foot chop and swells. The scariest part is navigating the river mouth when the wind is hard from the west. The waves get really big and choppy (10 to 20 footers). The river empties towards the west. The small boats bob over it like corks, but the 20 to 25 footers take a beating, while the 35 to 60s with the weight just plow through it. Sailboats I mean. The power boaters hide when it is like that....oops I mean they are all drunk at the slips and having a big party.

I think it is cool that your woman is warming up to boating. My advice is to keep her feeling safe and dry.

[Greg Luckett]

Sorry, I had to repost. Sam had been logged on and I did not see it in time. He is only 9, no wife yet....

[Greg Luckett]

Man, I love this forum. Getting to visit with like minded folks from all around the world is really neat!!!!!

Thanks again Frank for doing this.

[Fintan Murphy]

Greg,

I was wondering what happened. My reply arrived before your post (which appeared to be written by a married, red headed, 9 yearold.) :shock:

People might think I'm talking to myself (Ahh, is it yourself Mr. Murphy, and you with the big head on you?)

I haven't told her of my ultimate plan :twisted:

Which is to take a month off, go to America, hire a bike and travel around, getting to sail on as many weekenders as possible.

Do you think she'll buy it :?:

German/Irish heritage...... now there's a mix of contrasting outlooks

Ve vont it done NOW :!:

Ahh, calm down lad, it'll be ready in a minute

No, do it NOW :!:

There's no need to get your knickers in a twist. What did you want it for anyway ? My brother used to have one of those, when was it anyway, I think it was last year, or maybe the year before, but it doesn't matter when it was, cause the wheel fell off on him, and wait 'till I tell you what he did, or was it the year before last...................

I know a few Germans living in Ireland, and it really is a culture shock that some of them never get over.

Most Irish people think Manyana is a bit too urgent a concept.

[Steve Downs]

Hey Fintan, good to hear from you again. You trip up (and down) the Shannon sounds great. Still planning on our trip to Great Britain in June but I still don't have any details as to when we'll be in Cork. I'll let you know as soon as I do. Ireland is a great place and I look forward to visiting again if only for a few days. How's your boat coming along? I finally hit the 3-D stage and am working on details right now - building the rudder box, steering gear and finishing the inside etc. Take care man and good luck to you and your lovely wife.

[Dave R1]

Keep working at her. You might get her on your boat yet.

Is this you and Irene?

[Dave Fleming]

Fintan, ever heard of the book 'The Shannon Sailors' by Leanard Wibberly author of 'The Mouse That Roared' ?

Really is worthwhile searching out at one of the webs used book perveyours.

He wrote a fiction novelette entitled 'The Hands of Cormac Joyce'. A precious little read.

For a deeper kind of novel find 'Rain On The Wind' by Walter Macken.

A Galway Hooker is featured in that one. :wink:

[Fintan Murphy]

Dave R1,

no, Irene would never wear a hat like that. But I wish we were on the boat behind it 8)

One thing I must do when the weekender is finished is to trailer it up to the top of the Shannon and spend the week sailing down. Maybe next year.

I haven't touched the boat since last September, as I was caught up with the (night) college course, but my last assignment is due in a months time. Then it's full speed ahead with the finishing. There's about a month of work left with the rigging and sails, then it's launch time

Dave (The other Dave), I must look up the books, and maybe bring them along on the trip. Sitting on deck, glass of wine in hand, with nothing to do and all day to do it. Ahhhhhhh.