Tern's Travels

The forecast was for more strong, NE wind so we decided to stay in Waterford until the wind became more favourable for proceeding up the Irish Sea to places north. The marina is a series of pontoons along the river waterfront of the city so very convenient for all amenities. The people are notably friendly and helpful and when we contacted Geoff Coad, a previous owner of Tern, he was very enthusiastic about paying us a visit and taking us to dinner at his home.
Waterford is the oldest city in Eire, founded by Vikings in 914AD. It has centuries of history reflected in the architecture and is very well presented with museums, churches and other cultural and heritage sites. The famous Waterford glass is now mainly made abroad and a tourist centre is all that remains of the once enormous glass factory. Nevertheless, the glass is still spectacular. We particularly enjoyed a visit to Reginald's Tower, at the apex of the "Viking Triangle", the earliest settlement, which is now a museum featuring the Viking heritage.
Geoff Coad payed us a visit and seemed to really enjoy being on Tern again and seeing what we have done to her, though he had made very useful improvements during the time he had her. The following night he took us to dinner at his home where we met his wife, the wonderful, energetic Christine who cooked up a storm, with drinks served in Waterford glass. She had also been baking and made an extra cake for us, a fat-free, tea-soaked fruit cake which we are now eating and I hope to be able to reproduce on Tern. Attached to his house, Geoff has built a massive workshop and a boatshed, so he keeps his Nicholson 32 in the shed in winter so he can work on her to his heart's content. At 80 his sailing is less ambitious than in his younger days, but he and Christine are undoubtedly an inspiring couple.
Sunday morning was overcast but we felt brave enough to motor down the river and across to Kilmore Quay, by which time the sun had come out and a light wind had sprung up, though of course, on the nose. The tides rule the Irish Sea so we are waiting here to coordinate wind and tide to sail around Carnsore Point, by Tuskar Rock, and points further north. You could say our schedule is flexible!