The Ilen

Sailing to Baltimore

ILEN arrived in Glandore early on the Saturday morning of the June bank-holiday weekend, 1998. Her crew of eight included by Paddy Barry, Gary MacMahon, Padraic de Bhaldraithe, John Reen, Paul Murphy, Martin O'Neill and Pat Redmond. A rushed attempt to break out flags and locate a saluting gun proved fruitless as they lowered sail beneath the village and picked up a mooring. The voyage, taking only 36 hours, with rags of sails and a dicey engine, brought to mind that transport under sail was the rapid transit system of a previous age. After breakfast at the Glandore Inn, the crew settled in to enjoy their day and night in Glandore.

The following morning they set off on the last leg of Ilen's return to Baltimore, in front of a freshening easterly breeze. By two o'clock, the wind had increased and sail was set again in about 25 knots. Ilen started to move, like any emigrant returning home, she seemed impatient and, eager to complete the last leg of the journey, she lifted her skirts and sprinted. Seventy-five year old timbers strained, and recently fitted temporary cleats popped. Motor vessels in the welcoming fleet were left in her wake, the Baltimore lifeboat burning large quantities of diesel in order to stay ahead of the Ilen.

Ilen slid gently into her berth alongside the pier at Baltimore to tumultuous applause from the huge crowd gathered to witness her return home. The following month Ilen returned to Glandore for the Classic Boat Regatta. Together with Mac Duach and some of the other Galway hookers, she came right in on the tide to re-create a picture of workboats at the pier that had not been seen for many a day. She was the star of the weekend, including the Parade of Sail on Sunday afternoon, where she was worked around the tight circuit as nimbly as any of the other smaller yachts.