RUGBY FANS are travelling in their thousands to Cardiff this weekend for the Heineken Cup final between Munster and French rivals Toulouse, but few will make the journey in as much style as Peter Crowley, who is bringing his boat over for the match.
Crowley is due to set sail “at the crack of dawn” this morning from Cork Harbour for an estimated 12-14-hour journey to Cardiff marina.
The Irish Sailing Association president travelled to Cardiff two years ago when his beloved Munster last won the Heineken Cup final. At that time the ferry between Cork and Swansea was still in operation, but with its loss, many rugby fans have had a mad scramble for flights to Wales.
Large groups have been left with little choice but to fly to London and make the long journey by bus to Cardiff.
However, Crowley, his friend Tommy Dwyer and two other avid sailing enthusiasts are masters of their own destiny and have decided to sail to Cardiff on Peter’s aptly named Spare Time. He believes the group will make it to Cardiff far quicker than fans travelling by more conventional methods.
“We think the journey will take about 12 to 14 hours but we will be over as quick if not quicker than if we had to go to the airport and fly and then get buses and so on.
“We will have our accommodation on the boat at the docks in Cardiff. We also can eat on the boat if we need to. So we have none of the hassles you could have if you were going by plane.”
Crowley, from Blackrock in Cork city, insists it won’t be all fun on board. “I will be very conscious of the safety aspect of it all, but we are really looking forward to it. And the match, of course.”
An estimated 60,000 Munster rugby fans are expected in Cardiff for tomorrow’s final. Some are travelling from as far away as Australia.