Photo: Frank Miller/The Irish Times
The Dublin Tall Ship Festival is well underway this weekend in Ireland, with 40 tall ships and at least a dozen accompanying vessels. A million vistitors are expected to throng the docks. There was already considerable drama prior to the arrival of the ships and boats in Dublin. Teen crew on the three masted 30 meter schooner, Kapitan Borchardt, battled 60 knots winds in a storm which snapped one of the ship’s booms. No one was reported injured and the ship arrived safely in Dublin. Ecuadorean navy’s tall ship, Guayas, also reported ripped sails.
Teens battle 110kph winds as Tall Ship damaged in storm
The Class C, 45 foot long, Black Diamond of Durham, also bound for Dublin, gave essential aid to the 34 foot yacht, Quest, which had been rolled over in heavy seas, lost its electronics and engine, and had been drifting for three days. The boat was being singlehanded by Chris Laycock from Yorkshire. In high seas, the Black Diamond‘s skipper Calvyn Whitehand launched a dinghy loaded with provisions and equipment including a spare battery. With the assistance from the Black Diamond, the engine on the Quest was restarted and Mr. Laycock is reported to have brought the Quest safely into Brest.
Thanks to Irwin Bryan for contributing to this post.