TINKERBELL NEARING FALMOUTH - MANRY WAVES TO WIFE - CROWDS - TINKERBELL PULLS INTO QUAYSIDE - FAMILY GREETS MANRY - POLICE MAKE PATH FOR MANRY AND HIS FAMILY AS THEY WALK TO WAITING CAR.




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Background: BARNACLES FROM THE HULL OF THE 13 1/2-FOOT YACHT TINKERBELL - THE YACHT SAILED BY AMERICAN JOURNALIST ROBERT MANRY ACROSS THE ATLANTIC - WENT ON SALE IN FALMOUTH CORNWALL, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) FOR TWO-AND-SIXPENCE STERLING.THE BARNACLES WERE TAKEN FROM THE TINKERBELL AFTER SHE ARRIVED IN FALMOUTH LAST NIGHT - 78 DAYS AFTER MANRY SET SAIL FROM FALMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS, ON HIS 3,200 MILES SOLO VOYAGE TO ENGLAND.

THE CROSSING WAS BOTH AN EPIC AND A RECORD.THE TINKERBELL IS THE SMALLEST YACHT TO MAKE THE WEST-EAST CROSSING AND THE SMALLEST TO MAKE EITHER CROSSING NON-STOP.

MANRY'S VOYAGE ENDED JUST BEFORE SUNSET WHEN HE ACCEPTED A TOW FOR THE LAST MILE OR TWO INTO FALMOUTH.THERE CROWDS CHEERED, BANDS PLAYED AND SHIPS IN THE BUSY HARBOUR SOUNDED THEIR SIRENS.ON THE QUAY, HIS WIFE VIRGINIA - WHO HAD SAILED OUT ON A TRAWLER TO GREET HIM - WELCOMED HIM TO TERRA FIRMA WITH KISSES AND HUGS, AND WAS OUTDONE BY THE GREETING FROM MANRY'S TWO CHILDREN.

MAYOR SAM HOOPER, OF FALMOUTH, HEADED THE OFFICIAL WELCOMING PARTY AND BEGAN HIS ADDRESS OF WELCOME WITH THE WORDS: "NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE." MANRY REPLIED: "IT'S NICE TO HAVE SUCH A RECEPTION.THIS IS REALLY SOMETHING".

BRONZED AND FIT AND SPORTING A MOUSTACHE, MANRY SHOWED LITTLE VISIBLE EFFECT OF HIS LONG SOLO JOURNEY, AFTER THE RECEPTION HE LEFT THE PIER FOR A BATH - HIS FIRST IN 11 1/2 WEEKS - AND A LONG SLEEP.MANRY SAID HE PLANNED NO FURTHER LONG VOYAGES, JUST WEEKEND OUTINGS ON LAKE ERIE IN HIS LITTLE BOAT, TINKERBELL.