Famous explorer salutes latest navy recruits

THEY’LL certainly get tossed around in the water in the next few years, but the navy’s newest recruits are unlikely to ever have to cope with the conditions experienced by the guest of honour who attended their passing out ceremony yesterday.

As it was the passing-out of the 21 personnel from the Recruit Class St Brendan, the navy decided to invite explorer and seafarer Tim Severin to Haulbowline, Co Cork, for the ceremony.

Severin, a very sprightly 71 years old, is probably most famous for his adventure in 1976-1977, when, to prove the possibility that Irish monks led by St Brendan the Navigator were the first Europeans to reach America, Severin and three crewmen built a 6th century replica boat.