midday
We were on our way home from Inishmore , where we had spent two days ; Peter O'Flaherty among his relatives -- for everyone on the island was kin to him -- I among friends who give me a warm welcome when I go to them . The island lies some seventeen miles from the coast . We started on our homeward sail with a fresh westerly wind . Shortly after midday it backed round to the north and grew lighter . At five o'clock we were stealing along very gently through calm water with our mainsail boom out against the shroud . The jib and foresail were drooping in limp folds . An hour later the mainsheet was hanging in the water and the boat drifted with the tide .