Norwegian Epic
So here we were - the moment of truth with the problematic Norwegian Epic.  Would she sail on her transatlantic on the 24th June 2010 or still have propeller trouble or something else?  Well after her jolly/speed trials she did get up to 19 knots but coming back in.  She also was assisted from Cowes to the berth by Lady Madeleine, just as we had two days before.  She was originally due to sail 4pm until all this then it was changed to 6pm and eventually 5pm.  I went on my own to Mayflower Park for her departure since it was something different, catching the 3.40pm ferry over and chatting to some people during the ride who told me that Metro was calling it Titanic!  I'd nicknamed it Eptanic so that made me laugh.  They were originally going to catch the train home but decided to watch her sail so I led the way.  My dad had to stay at home and wait for my mum to return from her day out at Oakhaven hospice day care.  It was quite packed already in the Park but the flags were still on Epic (usually down about an hour before sailing) and they did muster at 4.30pm as well as taking the flags down.  Some people I spoke to asked what it was like but then, because one had done Arcadia and the other Norwegian Jewel, acted like they knew all about it!  The one who did Jewel would argue over the slightest thing while the other insisted NCL had a band on the quayside because there was one last week and musicians on cruise ships deserve ridiculous salaries over those crew who WORK for peanuts just because her son went to music school.  Thankfully there was another lady who actually knew what she was talking about because she'd worked on ships and in the port, currently being on Indy.  The BBC turned up but for some readon no footage made broadcast.
Finally, five minutes late, she began to single up but it took ten minutes before all the ropes went.  Then she blasted as she edged away from the dock, propellers kicking up water but no tug - yay!
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		(C) Copyright Patricia Dempsey 24th June 2010 Not to be reproduced without permission