Rise again, rise again! Great story, Jim. I don't "continue in spite of stormy conditions"; Discretion has always been part of survival at sea, in my book. And I won't be under commercial pressures to deliver on schedule. So no worries there. I was warned that the larger Loughscan get rambunctious in poor weather.

Does anyone know what the best (beautiful or interesting) stretches of the Shannon/Erne are? Would it be better to pick up at Athlone or Somewhere else? Any familarity with different providers?