#mermaid – Thumbelina Mermaid no 26, completed the passage from Balycotton to Dungarvan, a distance of almost 30 miles in a little over 4 hours! a pace with which many 40 foot cruisers would be delighted. The crew skippered by Eugene Burke arrived over an hour ahead of the support boat accompanying them on the trip.
Dungarvan hosts it first Mermaid event over the weekend with several boats attending from all around the country to support the embryonic fleet in Dungarvan.
Long time Mermaid stalwart, Derek Joyce is expected to undertake the next stage and bring Thumbelina to Kilmore Quay and if the weather is kind, onwards to Wexford next week.
It is anticipated as Thumbelina starts the homeward stages up the East coast she will be joined by other Mermaids on some of the legs, culminating in a sizable fleet of mermaids doing the last leg to Skerries from Dun Laoghaire via Rush during the final weekend in July. The entire trip is estimated to be 520 miles from its commencement from Foynes on the Shannon just under a month ago. Thumbelina is being sailed in stages by different Mermaid sailors who bring their own sails and regular crew from all around the country.
