No love on the rocks for these honeymooners

Life is an ocean and love is a boat, as the song goes, but thankfully, there was no love on the rocks for these newlyweds.

The Astrid grounding almost overshadowed this honeymoon couple’s voyage of a lifetime, but husband and wife Susan and Adrian Rivett said yesterday they are just glad the rescue was a complete success.

The couple, from Portsmouth in England, tied the knot in May after more than 30 years together.

Susan joked that after all their time together, she reckoned Adrian wasn’t going to get a better offer so she popped the question herself on Feb 29 last — leap day — and he said yes.

As part of their honeymoon trip, they decided to join The Gathering Cruise flotilla which had sailed down the east coast to Oysterhaven in Co Cork earlier this week on board their very own love boat, the Saleena Saree.

The Astrid was due to lead the flotilla of some 15 yachts under full sail from Oysterhaven to Kinsale on Wednesday when disaster struck.

As the couple basked on deck in glorious sunshine yesterday, they said they are just so happy that no lives were lost.

“I was playing it over and over in my head last night but it’s just great everyone is OK,” said Susan as they prepared for the next leg of their voyage.

The flotilla is part of a major tourism initiative to promote sail cruising and sail tourism along the Irish coast.

Susan and Adrian said they have been impressed by what they have seen and will spread the word.

“Where we’re from, the coast is just so busy, but here, it’s so empty compared to the south of England, it’s great,” said Adrian.

“And the coastline, when you can see it through the mists, is spectacular,” said Susan.

The flotilla departed Kinsale for Courtmacsherry yesterday afternoon where the local boat club welcomed the sailors with a barbeque and live music in the local pubs.

They also met some of the local lifeboat crew who were instrumental in the Astrid rescue.

After Courtmacsherry the cruisers have been invited to attend the final barbeque of the Glandore Classic Boat regatta tonight.

From there they will continue to explore the coast — stopping off in places such as Baltimore, Sherkin Island and Clare Island.

The boats have another week to cruise at leisure the Cork and Kerry coastlines before rallying again in Dingle on Aug 1 for the farewell gathering reception.

Susan and Adrian plan to continue their voyage on their ‘love boat’ right around the Irish coast.

- www.thegatheringcruise.ie