Across the Irish Sea and a Viking Harbour

The first leg of our voyage has been easily and safely accomplished. We left Guernsey on 5th May and were sailing, gently at first, close hauled on Starboard. The wind picked up and we had a boisterous night down channel averaging 8 knots. Rounding Lands End shortly after dawn it calmed down and by midday the engine was running and it ran for 20 hours over a very flat sea until we arrived in Baltimore, where we were welcomed by a large shiver of basking sharks.

Mike and Maggy Stephenson also provided a welcome and a delicious sponge cake.

We motored through the intricate and spectacular inner route to Roaringwater Bay, which was flat calm and passed close to Long Island and Coney Island on our way out. We were visited by a whale and many dolphins on our way to Bantry Bay.

Last night was spent at anchor in the spectacular and splendidly sheltered Lonehort Harbour on Bear Island, where the underwater barrier you have to round on the tight, narrow entrance was created by the Vikings dropping stones.
After feasting ashore in Normandy (and a curry in St Peter Port) we have dined well aboard, mostly thanks to Mark and have started making inroads into Mr Gosselin’s Cote de Rhone.

Only two mishaps so far; moored off Baltimore, we noticed that the steel plate wrapped round our bow to biff icebergs had fallen off, leaving an ugly mess. Yesterday the burgee staff came adrift from the mast. Mark went aloft to recover it and now we cannot fly a burgee from the masthead, so the blue ensign was struck and we wear a red one. The Rural West Chiltington YC burgee flies from the crosstrees .

Tonight will be spent at anchor in Glengarrif and tomorrow sees our first crew change in Bantry. We will be sad to loose Kees and his yarns of past adventures. Happily we will see him again in The Faeroes. Tim Fooks joins us as Medical Officer and Meteorologist.

Unfortunately, as we are now heading North, the weather is promising Northerlies next week; some strong enough to keep us in port. We will try to get to Dingle before we are storm-bound. I gather there might be some pubs there!

Editor' note - apologies for the US date format in the post header. I have not yet worked how to change it!

Across the Celtic Sea

At anchor in Lonehort Harbour

Entering Baltimore Harbour

Courtesy of Mike Stephenson