The Irish Times photographer had in the meantime sought us out in the Glenans sailor's alternative habitat, Bushe's Bar. Yvon was apparently fed up with the French never being able to sing, this time it would be different. On Monday the weather calmed and we started the serious business of sailing, checking out the boats and starting to practise harbour manoeuvres. We had the use of a very varied fleet, two 570s, a Mousquetaire, a Tonic, a Cavale and the Hooker. As most of my sailing for the past five years has been on an IDRA 14, I had a lot of relearning to do.
Big boats do have more momentum after all.
My apologies, Jean Pascal and Claude. Tuesday saw us continue with more harbour manouevres in the morning and then after lunch we took off on a trip around Sherkin. I am not sure whether the arrival of some of the French contingent's store of wine that evening was to help drown our sorrows. Incidentally Yvon and Sylvie, thanks for the wine and the cheese and the saucisson, a little taste of France in West Cork. The following morning we discovered that the Veterans had more stamina than the beginners.