Flotsam and Jetsam

Your notes and letters...

Regarding our poll about a “Dream Small-Boat Cruise,” Welton Rotz wrote:

Your article about sailing in Ireland brought back some memories.

In 1986, my wife and I spent almost 2 months in Ireland.  We were studying myths, folk tales, fairytales, and old poetry. We rented a small cruiser to travel up the River Shanon, camping on board.  The river is a necklace of small lakes connected by locks.
Ireland was a 3rd world country at that time. The countryside was very desolate. The area never recovered from the mass exodus during the potato famine of the mid 1800s.  There were even ruins from the Viking invasion in 800s. The small villages, what there were, clustered around the locks.

Every pub in every town was playing German music, serving German food, and were crowded. Ireland was an easy get a way for the more affluent. There was a vibrant business for Germans to buy land along the river and build vacation homes.

We were happy to see money coming into Ireland.  But it was not fun.  
We returned the boat early to Limerick. With extra time, we drove up the west coast.  That was very enjoyable.  

I just Googled River Shannon. What a difference 38 years make! Wish I could go and repeat our adventure. 

I’m enjoying the on-line format of SCA.

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On the same topic, Tad Dent wrote:

It's interesting and odd how many Americans want to travel outside the U.S. There are so many places to sail here that you could spend several lifetimes and not see it all. Get a couple good charts and really look at the country; east, west and gulf coasts to say nothing of the great lakes and thousands of lakes. heck, Minnesota has 10, 000 lakes.

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About Andrew Bedwell’s unsuccessful start to a trans-Atlantic voyage, Rick Pratt wrote:

A special brand of crazy is well illustrated here. A death wish or a mad craving for attention come to mind.

Use enough boat. Crossing an ocean is a serious endeavor, not a stunt.  treat it as such.

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On our ongoing discussion of converting sailboats to powercruisers, David Bower send the following thoughts:

You were discussing modifying a sailboat to become a trawler or bridge powerboat.  Unless this one has added ballast, I'd be afraid to get onboard.  This cover has to raise the CG and lower the righting moment dramatically.