The Sail Chernobyl flag on the Coveneys' yacht caught the eyes of a Russian couple in Cairns, Australia. The Russians introduced themselves as musicians, Natasha and Ivan, and asked what the young Cork crew was up to.
When they heard, they offered to make their own contribution to Sail Chernobyl, along with other performers in Cairns. Natasha is from northern Ukraine, and has relatives who live near the contaminated zone.
In a couple of weeks' time, on August 21st, they will give a fundraising concert in a massive old diesel tank that was used during the second World War to refuel battleships. The tank has been refurbished with lights and a stage for use as an arts space; the interior is described as "spooky" but with atmosphere.
Rory Coveney, the boat's skipper, expects a turnout of 300-400 at the gig, given the presence of many Irish backpackers and the liquid support of Murphy's Brewery and Heineken. Chernobyl is an issue in Australia, where protesters were arrested recently for their objections to uranium mining. There are also very real fears about some 18 nuclear plants in Indonesia, some of which have been built on volcanic soil.
The money raised from the concert will go directly to the Chernobyl Children's Project, as will the £200,000 raised to date, given that the circumnavigation costs have been underwritten by the Coveney estate. Those costs include much toil and sweat as the crew overhauls the vessel for the 10 months ahead.
Now halfway round the world, the 51-foot teak ketch, Golden Apple, was hauled out of the water by crane earlier this month after a trip via the "notorious" Grafton passage through the Great Barrier Reef to Cairns. It was the first landfall at a major city since they left Panama. The crew had become enforced vegetarians by the time they docked, although a rainbow runner fish was snagged with a spear-gun in desperation and made a tasty meal.
The crew said Australian officials had confiscated their onions and garlic, and all cans of beans and pork. Most of the cans were "revolting", according to Rory, who has been filing most of the voyage log. A couple of days later, they went on a short cruise with family to the Whitsunday islands, and a 6 ft shark broke a fishing line.
The lift-out onto the slip at the Cairns Cruising Yacht Squadron is the first and last on the 26,000 mile voyage, which is due to end next June - with, hopefully, £1 million towards the Chernobyl project in the bank. "We felt quite vulnerable while it was out of the water," Rory told The Irish Times, speaking from Cairns yesterday.
There were no serious problems, however, apart from a fault in the antennae unit which has affected electronics and the satellite phone. The pitch on the propeller was changed to improve engine performance, and the hull was scrubbed and given a new coat of anti-fouling. A list of 43 maintenance and repair tasks had been drawn up by the skipper. "We have about 10 of them left."
The next leg is 1,350 miles around the north-east corner of Australia to Darwin, and from there to Bali. Running a little behind schedule, they expect to leave Cairns on August 23rd - the weekend that tall ships invade Dublin. From Darwin up to Indonesia their main concern will be pirates. The Straits of Malacca alone recorded 47 reports of piracy in recent months. "So we'll have to keep our wits about us. No lone watches at night!"
Contributions to the Sail Chernobyl fund can be made to Allied Irish Banks, South Mall, Cork, account number 11100050.