In July and August 2004, Harold and Vivienne Boyle circumnavigated the island of Ireland on board Gentle Spirit, their Hallberg-Rassy 38.
As part of the cruise, Gentle Spirit joined well over one hundred yachts from
the Irish Cruising Club, Ocean Cruising Club, Royal Cruising Club, and the
Cruising Club of America in the 75th Anniversary Cruise-in-Company from Cork/Kinsale
to Glengarriff where the I.C.C. was founded in the Eccles Hotel in 1929.
With receptions in Royal Cork Y.C. and the Eccles Hotel; a Dinner in Cork City Hall; and a barbecue in Schull (all catering for nearly 800 people!), the fleet was glad of a few days off in between social events calling at Glandore, Castletownsend, Baltimore, Schull, Crookhaven and Lawrence Cove (Bere Island).
A valiant attempt to construct a sunflower raft at Glengarriff with 130 yachts was only defeated by a 20 kt. breeze which blew up as the raft was begun and died away as soon as the attempt was abandoned! (Murphy is alive and well and lives in Glengarriff).
The Cruise-in Company over, Gentle Spirit continued her voyage calling at Dingle, the Aran Islands, Inishboffin, Broadhaven and Lough Swilly on the way back to Carrickfergus.
Fastnet Rock and Lighthouse with Gentle Spirit.