9 October 2002 Glenavy man celebrates St Patrick's Day
in nautical style
A GLENAVY man who is leading in the Global Challenge Round
the World Yacht Race was celebrating St Patrick's Day 10,000
miles
from Ireland yesterday (Thursday).
Giles Mackie (30) and John Stewart (34) from Dublin were at the southern most tip of the world in the Southern Ocean.
To celebrate they dressed up in green, painted shamrocks on their cheeks and drank some Guinness to lift their spirits as they battled 60 foot waves.
Having set off from Sydney, Australia on February 27 the 12 participating yachts are currently on the most treacherous leg of the race - 6000 miles of Southern Ocean between Australia and South Africa. Speaking from the yacht, Giles said they had had to consider very carefully how to celebrate the patron saint.
"With just our 1.5 kg personal weight allowance I was worried about how we would be able to bring something to celebrate St Patrick's Day on to the boat," he said.
Allowed
"Fortunately for us we were allowed to bring six cans of Guinness and a bottle of Jameson's whiskey." John said: "These are probably the best-travelled cans of Guinness in the world.
"Brewed in Ireland, bought in Australia and savoured somewhere near Antarctica."
The yachts are due to arrive in Cape Town on April 4 where they will under go repairs before setting off to Boston, La Rochelle and finally back to Portsmouth on July 17.
Ulster Star
18/03/05
