Celtic Sea odyssey
John, she’s got your name on it!’ shouted Pete Goss as I was about to leave Arklow for Guernsey. He was pointing to Pippin, his Francis 34 Pilothouse cutter, while crushing my hand in his paw. He was right; 18 months later I was mid-Channel in Pippin, heading from Guernsey to Teignmouth to visit the new owner of my old boat. I’d owned Pippin just six weeks, and hardly knew her, but as I am wont to say – there’s never is a best time to go, so just go.
It was a surprisingly rough July day in the Channel but I arrived without drama, shaken but not stirred in the evening sun. Next day I sat and chatted with Reg, the 86-year-old owner of my old boat, and his charming daughter Rona. Reg’s place overlooks the harbour entrance and I know he saw me run aground as I left bound for Plymouth early next day.
“You’re on the wrong side skipper,” shouted the trawler captain loud enough for all to hear, probably condemning me to the front page of that day’s Teignmouth Post.
Plymouth was a new destination for me and the fierce eddies and stiff crosscurrent outside the Mayflower marina took me by surprise; I used to think bow thrusters were for wimps, but not anymore. Anyway, it was good to meet up with my Royal Marine nephew, who I always
