Shelduck - Sat 7 Dec It's a Small World

Sat 7 Dec 15:09.749N 35:42.080W Distance travelled 24h 138 miles

 

Back on the 18 Nov while waiting in the queue for the bus tour of Gran Canaria we met Jane who we discovered, like Anne, was a recent widow and proud owner of a Nicholson 35 yacht.  We were then found by Francis Williams owner of the Swan 44 Mk II NYAMINYAMI II. He and Jane are now partners, another two yacht couple. Karen, Francis’ wife died 18 months ago of cancer. Anne and Neil first met Karen and Francis in the Azores 2009 at the RCC/ICC Rally, on which Brendan crewed for Neil on the outward leg.  They were on the return of their Atlantic Circuit having done the ARC in 2007. We met them again at the RCC Norway meet in 2010 at Skudneshavn when we were on Anne’s boat Tam O’Shanter, also crewed by Gabby and Brendan.

 

Francis lives in Exmouth, Devon, and was at school with Neil’s first cousins Denis and Patrick Doyle, sons of Dr Billy Doyle, eldest of the Doyle family.  Billy spent most of his life practising as a medical doctor at Exmouth leaving the running of the business in Cork to his brothers Tom and Denis.  Francis’ was also at Trinity College Dublin with Billy’s daughter Claire.  Small world. Francis came to our pontoon in Gran Canaria before the start to wish us luck!