Back to Kinsale with the OCC

We were back to Kinsale for the second weekend in a row, this time for the Ocean Cruising Club (OCC) Irish Dinner. It coincided with the Cork/Kinsale Jazz Festival, so we made a long weekend of it. Nearly 70 members and guests arrived from all corners of Ireland, including as far off as Norway, France, England, Panama, and the US. Just about everyone had another reason for the visit and used it as an excuse to come to the dinner.

The weather had been awful during the week, with torrential rainfall on some of the days. But it was promised to clear up for the weekend and, by golly, it did as told. We arrived in Kinsale and checked into our Airbnb at about 7 pm having been delayed by bank holiday traffic. The Trident was booked out early; it was fine, as we had stayed there the weekend before. Our Airbnb was right behind the yacht club so we couldn't be better located. I had reserved dinner at Cru which turned out to be as good as the Black Pig. We had two starters and split one main, which they accommodated happily. We also selected an unusual bottle of wine featuring a grape variety we had never heard of before, Cinsault. It was very interesting. We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner. We stopped into a pub on the way home to hear some 'jazz' but, after being blown away by several rock tunes and swindled with watered-down vodka, we left. Throughout the weekend in Kinsale, we heard no jazz, only R&R played by ageing musicians for an ageing crowd. I think they should relabel the event. It was fun, but not as promoted.

Back to the OCC event, what a great time and great event thanks to Crosshaven PO Mike Hodder, with assistance from Kinsale PO Flor Long, RRC Ireland Alex Blackwell, and local members Heleen and Nigel Lindsay-Fynn. Activities included: 1) Coffee gathering at the Lindsay-Fynn's beautiful home, 2) Guided tour of Charles Fort, a large star fort, 3) Lunch at the Bulman, 4) Cocktails at the Kinsale YC, 5) Dinner at the Trident Hotel, 6) Talk about the multi-year voyage of the Mollyhawk, 7) Visit to the Lusitania Museum and Garden of Remembrance (9/11). It was chock full of fun activities.

It was wonderful to have a chance to meet people in person that we had corresponded with via email or Facebook, like Andrew Curtain, the RoRC for Scandinavia, and the young couple Rhys Walters and Niamh Harte. Rhys bought the steel hull of the boat that had been gutted by fire. It has been refurbished by a man who loved metal but didn't want to complete the yacht. Rhys has been living onboard in Kinsale and fitting out the interior himself. Niamh joins him on weekends. They are planning to eventually sail away. Lovely young couple. Their Sailing Yacht Zora YouTube channel has more than 12,000 followers.

And, being a multi-day, multi-activity event meant that we got to know some people a bit better than we might otherwise. It was a very pleasant experience. Mike Hodder did most of the work, with Alex's guidance. Heleen and Nigel Lindsay-Fynn whose beautiful home has stunning vistas over Kinsale Harbour were most generous and welcoming, hosting a coffee and goodies reception on the first morning.

The visit to Charles Fort was informative with an OPW guide, and we even got a glimpse of the classic wooden vessel Ilen as she sailed past, making it feel like we were there in the 1800s. Afterwards, we all walked down to the Bulman for lunch, then sauntered back down the hill to town which was abuzz with activity, accompanied by Arne and Mona from Norway - lovely couple. Arne is a gastroenterologist who developed a simple test for GI inflammation based on calprotectin. Unfortunately, they lost their passports on arrival and had to try to recover them or replace them before returning home. They sail a wooden classic which is now overwintering on the west coast of Norway. I hope they got home okay. Mona found out that 22,000 Norwegians had lost their passports last year. Extraordinary!

In the evening, we gathered at the Kinsale Yacht Club for cocktail hour before proceeding to the Trident Hotel for dinner. Alex had created name badges for which everyone was very grateful. I was sitting next to Mike and Joxster, which made it a very easy and pleasant evening for me.

Mike Hodder opened the dinner with a welcome and thanks to all who helped in the organisation of the event. Alex followed with a short speech thanking Mike, telling the story about how Mike helped us arrange engine repairs this summer, and about what he hopes to be doing in Ireland -- including rotating the dinner venue around the country. Next year, we'll be in Malahide. Then just as the music downstairs was getting started, I, as Vice Commodore, delivered a short speech about how healthy the Club is with 3300+ members in 61 countries and more than 200 POs around the world, and the great stuff we've been up to, including sponsoring an Irish lad, Cian Mullee, on his crossing of the Indian and Pacific oceans with the Youth Sponsorship Programme, announcing the first recipients of the Challenge Grants for adventurous or environmental voyages, and calling for nominations for the annual OCC Awards. I also announced that the AGM is moving for the first time outside the UK and will be held in Annapolis in April. Several people said they'd be making their reservations as soon as the got home! Finally, I asked for volunteers to come forward. Many people commented on how good they feel about the OCC. That made me feel good about being there.

The next morning, we convened back at the Trident for a talk about the Mollyhawk's multi-year adventure sailing around the Atlantic, with emphasis on Newfoundland and Greenland before returning to Kinsale. We broke for lunch. The Lindsay-Fynns had invited Alex and me to lunch at their place, along with Margaret and John Bourke and Keith and Poppy Hunt. Such wonderful hosts. While we sipped wine and champagne, Nigel entertained us with an impressive piano recital on his Steinway, followed by a jazz number by John Bourke - who would have guessed? Heleen had made a lovely stew and brought leeks from her garden in England. She also made a crumble with berries from the Irish Garden and ice cream made from black currants, which was divine. We felt bad about leaving early but we were due to take the coach to the Lusitania Museum and Remembrance Garden, both interesting stops.

When everyone parted, it felt like we were all now friends. It was sad to say good-bye to Mike, a very special man indeed.

Alex and I took a walk to hear some jazz, but none was to be found. We then tried to have dinner, but the Back Pig and others were fully booked. We managed to slip into the Italian restaurant down the street, Bruno's, where we had some of the best pizza in Ireland in the lovely tower room. We slept well that night. And although the clocks had changed, we got up in good time to get on the road after breakfast at Vista just down the street.

After a stop in Kilrush to pick up Aleria's sails, we made it home under glorious painted skies only to find the tide over the road on our stretch. Back to Newport for pints at the Granuaille to wait it out. Not onerous at all.

Cheers, all. Now I need a break.