Memories from an Old Sailor

A 'CELTIC MIST'
Tied onto the pontoon outside the Red Ensign Training Centre in Cowes is 'CELTIC MIST’. I noticed it on the first day here while leaning on the wall waiting for the Chain Ferry to come back across the Medina to the East Side. I wasn’t sure it was ‘Celtic Mist’, its name is small and painted in a non contrasting colour and difficult to make out, but the shape was right. Trawler shaped with a bow strongly built to push the seas aside and the relatively short masts. The cream hull a little dull for the want of a bit of spit and polish. She is Ketch rig, but probably motor’s a lot better than she sails. For those who don’t know ‘Celtic Mist’ she is Charlie's old boat. The late Charlie Haughey, that is, our former Taoiseach.
She is tied up here, I have been told, for quite a while now getting some work done on her. Funny, though I would like to find out more about her, something about her keeps me away. It’s like I shouldn’t ask. Like it’s none of my business, or like I have no right. Normally when I see a sailing boat, I wonder where she has come in from or where she plans to anchor next. I would like to listen to the stories she might tell and I can imagine ‘Celtic Mist’ could tell some stories!
It brings back memories though of summers on my own boat, sailing around the SW and occasionally coming upon her in Dingle or some other anchorage along the way.
Warm summer’s when the kids were small and ‘cool duding’ was the rage, as my daughter used to call sailing with the Lee rail under water. On an ETAP 26 that was some effort and usually indicated holding onto sail way too long. I was reminded of long walks and Goat’s Milk Ice Cream on Oilean Cleire and of visiting the Planetarium in Skull. Visits’ to Mary Anne’s in Castletownsend with friends. I remember a game we played where as each woman entered the restaurant we quickly had to assign a boat type. We had the Laser and the Hallber Rassy, The Dutch Barge and then of course in our company only Swans and Oysters . We named many other’s only constrained by our limited knowledge of Sailing Vessel’s. Funnily enough we never found a system for categorising Men.
But the other memories that ‘Celtic Mist’ bring up are not to do with the vessel itself but of her past owner. Whether any of it is true is irrelevant. It’s like finding water in the bilges. It could have got there any amount of ways and every boat will get a bit of water now and then. But when you keep finding water there, you know you have some kind of a problem. Apart from the general dampness and the extra weight carried it creates a problem in that you have to find the leak. You can’t leave it.
You have to find it and seal it because you know for sure that the inflow of water through a leak tends to increase, not decrease. It will slowly but surely rise up above the flooring and once you find it lapping around your feet it might be too late. Water finds its way into every space in the boat. If it gets to the Electrics, they short out. Water in the Batteries causes the release of noxious gases. Water in the engine, especially for a Motor Sailor will bring you to a stop quicker than an illegal Gill Net. Leaks must be found and stopped or the ship will founder.
Anyway, here is the Chain Ferry and as I crossed and walked the few hundred yards to the Classroom I felt sorry for ’Celtic Mist’. She is a very pretty vessel, looking strong and sound. I have no doubt she turns many a sailors eye as they pass. She holds the promise of distant horizon’s and both foul and fair weather ahead. I have no doubt she will carry her sailors safely as that is what she was designed to do. She will stand up to whatever the seas have to throw at her. She deserves to be looked after and I hope her crew appreciate her strengths and her weaknesses. I hope they remember the old saying, ‘Look after your ship and she will look after you’.