5nm South of Portland Bill

So far so good and standing by for that top of springs (well nearly) tide to kick in any minute!

Dartmouth falls astern...

Heading out into a rather dark & dingy Lyme Bay on our way to Lymington. Bit of a family gathering by all accounts with half my sisters attending supper tomorrow night. Forecast is for S4/5 occ 6. Shame about the dz, rain and fog patches! Eta 5nm south of Portland Bill 0400 to catch the tide from there into the Solent.

Newton Ferris

River Yealm

Well we had a good run ashore in Fowey. A great sail to Plymouth, to view a couple of boats and some pub grub. We managed to avoid (most) the Navy on our way out and we are now enjoying a lovely evening in Newton Ferris. Dartmouth tomorrow and a(nother) night passage across Lyme Bay to the Solent. Then sadly that will nearly be that....

Rolling downhill to Fowey

Sorry its been quiet, a combination of shocking weather and dreadful phone coverage!

Fastnet astern

On our way to Scilly

We had a good run ashore in Crookhaven, even if it was a bit damp! Lunch & supper ashore don't you know and very nice too.
On our way across to Scillly via an obligatory look at The Fastnet!

First Mate's Birthday

A day in Crookhaven as a result!

Crosshaven

We had a 'spirited' rounding of Mizen head. Having averaged 7 knots, rather than the 5 I had calculated, we arrived an hour before the tide turned in our favour and hence at wind against tide. Soggy!
Safely moored in Crookhaven at 1545 but it was too rough to go to the pub!

Dunboy Bay

Well we had a great lunch, the sun even appeared briefly. We then sailed through Dursey Sound which, having timed it to arrive at the beginning of the Southbound tide, was a bit of an anticlimax. It was however quite fun to have the cable car (think French alps circa 1920!) go directly overhead with about 8m between it and the top of our mast.
Since we have proceeded to Dunboy Bay where we are overlooked by the Castle hotel that never opened....Spooky

Fungi makes sure we leave!

Where have we been?

Since my last we've had a couple of days of upwind sailing in strong breezes. The first saw us arriving in Portmagee where the visiors moorings have disappeared so we anchored next to another British yacht, a Starlight 35. The next mooring a small amount of sail repairing put pay to our catching the morning southbound tide. We left as soon as we could with a double reef in both main and jib. The Starlight left just ahead, motoring, and we assumed they must be catching the tide North. However they then motored south crashing into quite a sea, we aren't sure why as it looked jolly uncomfortable. Our tack took us straight across to the Skelligs which we tacked in between, an amazing place.
We were intending to overnight in Garnish Bay but progress being slow we changed our minds and set course for Derrynane Harbour. It's a very intricate entrance but we felt our way through despite the swell. We were then kindly guided to a mooring by a fisherman, who told us it was his brother's who was away. We offered him some money which he declined so we spent it supporting the local economy in Keatings Bar...
We are shorty to arrive in Garnish Bay for lynch whilst we await the tide though Dursey Sound.

Portmagee

Sadly we are starting to think about our leaving the Emerald Isle. We have to be in Chichester for 4th July otherwise life becomes complicated!
Thinking we should probably set off from Ireland enroute to Scilly on the morning of the 24th, the slight snag being that it's Mrs B's birthday on the 23rd! It should hopefully mean we can arrive in Scilly before the evening of the 25th and spend the night of the 26th there too, it's one of our favourite places.
So where to tomorrow?....

Dingle and Fungi ignored us!

Had a fantastic sail through Blanket Sound and arrived at midday in Dingle Marina.
It's a bit trippy by day but this pm they've all dispersed and its just all eyes on Ireland vs Italy on he telly.
More Guinness? Don't mind if I do...

Dolphins

It's been a long day....

Well we've hardly used the engine this trip but we've certainly made up for it today! We've being going since 0520 and we've a couple of hours to go, luckily sunset is about 2215 tonight.
We will have put in about 90nm due south though and as its due to blow F6 from S/SW tomorrow we thought it worthwhile.
Loads of dolphins today which has kept Barti amused (see facebook as I'm still having issues uploading to this blog).
Heading from tonight's destination of Smerwick around to Dingle tomorrow morning first thing, I've been in Ireland a week and still not made it to a pub!

Prospects for our trip from Ireland to Scilly

Safely anchored in Bofin Harbour

Well it was slightly foreboding as we stuck our noses out of our safe anchorage of nearly 60 hours this morning, particularly as the only other boat there was considerably bigger and showing no intention of going anywhere soon! We need not have worried though as we quickly settled down to not a bad sail at all with a double reefer main, a scrap of jib and Mrs B at the helm.
Being quite gloomy weather we weren't to witness the tallest cliffs in Ireland on Achill and various islands appeared and then disappeared again into the mist. Curiously the only one consistently bathed in sunshine was Black Rock!
An early night is called for as having lost a couple of days we ought to push on south and the next suitable stopping place is probably Killrush on the River Shannon.

Breaking for the border!

And still it blows....

Barometer down to 990 which means the low of 985 isn't too far away. Looking at the Irish forecast they reckon it could ease from the current gusting F8+ down to a mere F5-7 and backing to the NW from the current NE. As the wind has being blowing offshore the sea actually looks relatively flat from here.... So we might have to consider an early start, or at least look, as we've now lost two days. It has to be said that we had assumed we would lose a few days along the way, we were just not counting on doing it all in one go!
I have managed to have a look at the wind generator wiring and I've also managed to quieten down the alarm noises coming from the snubber line in the bow roller by routing it through some plastic pipe. Unfortunately it now sort of groans instead!
No sign of our pod of dolphins that visited yesterday again but occasionally the sun is out!
Can't add a photo as mobile reception is patchy at best.

And still it blows....

Barometer down to 990 which means the low of 985 isn't too far away. Looking at the Irish forecast they reckon it could ease from the current gusting F8+ down to a mere F5-7 and backing to the NW from the current NE. As the wind has being blowing offshore the sea actually looks relatively flat from here.... So we might have to consider an early start, or at least look, as we've now lost two days. It has to be said that we had assumed we would lose a few days along the way, we were just not counting on doing it all in one go!
I have managed to have a look at the wind generator wiring and I've also managed to quieten down the alarm noises coming from the snubber line in the bow roller by routing it through some plastic pipe. Unfortunately it now sort of groans instead!
No sign of our pod of dolphins that visited yesterday again but occasionally the sun is out!
Can't add a photo as mobile reception is patchy at best.

And still it blows....

Barometer down to 990 which means the low of 985 isn't too far away. Looking at the Irish forecast they reckon it could ease from the current gusting F8+ down to a mere F5-7 and backing to the NW from the current NE. As the wind has being blowing offshore the sea actually looks relatively flat from here.... So we might have to consider an early start, or at least look, as we've now lost two days. It has to be said that we had assumed we would lose a few days along the way, we were just not counting on doing it all in one go!
I have managed to have a look at the wind generator wiring and I've also managed to quieten down the alarm noises coming from the snubber line in the bow roller by routing it through some plastic pipe. Unfortunately it now sort of groans instead!
No sign of our pod of dolphins that visited yesterday again but occasionally the sun is out!
Can't add a photo as mobile reception is patchy at best.

It's a bit windy...

Very glad we stayed put and just hope we do overnight!

It's a bit windy...

Very glad we stayed put and just hope we do overnight!

Sensible heads on

Well we were up, suited & booted, raring to set off for Inishbofin. We decided to have a last-minute review of the forecast, distance & possible enroute alternates. As a result of a SE F8 that will arrive (when we would) this evening, it's somewhere over 40nm & there is nowhere readily available (without battling into wind) enroute we've decided to stay put in Portnafrankagh! We may be here for another couple of nights but whilst a tad boring it seems the sensible decision. Time will tell.....

Not making planning easy!

Having issues posting from Islay so this was the situation on Saturday pm. Not helpful!

On our way to .......

Not sure as yet. We are keeping a steady eye on the forecast. The fact these Atlantic Lows are passing further south than usual may be causing havoc in the South of England but it is also providing a northerly airflow here on the West Coast of Ireland. It's stunning here and we would like to stick around (particularly as we've yet to have a pint of the black stuff!) however the wind will go back into the SW eventually and it seems silly to make work for ourselves when we've still a long way to go.
We've set a target date of 24th June to set off for Scilly so that's only 10 days from now. Meanwhile bring on the sun.

Sunrise over Donegal

An early morning boat move!

Another lovely day

I am here: 55 9.993 N 8 21.688 W http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:55.16655,-8.36147

Safely anchored in Tory Island

Well after a great sail, 85nm in 15 hours 9 of which was under spinnaker, we are now at rest in Tory Island the most remote island community in Ireland we are told!

Safely anchored in Tory Island

Well after a great sail, 85nm in 15 hours 9 of which was under spinnaker, we are now at rest in Tory Island the most remote island community in Ireland we are told!

The kite has airing...

Passed Malin Head an hour or so ago. Glorious day with the kite up. Tory Island here we come....

Ready for the off!

Well we've had a nice relaxing day anchored in Port Ellen, Islay awaiting the much heralded veering of the wind towards the North. We made a decision to not make a night passage tonight around 1500. Cracked open a beer to accompany a late lunch and within minutes it had shifted 30 degrees!
We had a lovely afternoon taking the sea spaniel ashore and watching the swimming highland cows.
Early bed and an 0400 start!

Location location

I am here: 55 37.618 N 6 12.964 W http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:55.62697,-6.21607

Port Ellen

Arrived here at 1325 after a good sail at points. A spot of lunch and polishing in the sun but now the mist has come down....

We don't want to leave!

Hardly a breath again so an early start motoring down the east coast of Jura then Islay. Distillery not open at the weekend so no stop at Lagavulin! Shame as it was our first port of call in Scotland three years ago. Probably heading to Bowmore country unless........

Tarbert Bay, Jura

Well we've finally set off. Not the longest trip but a start none the less. Port Ellen tomorrow or maybe the Emerald Isle if the conditions are right. Who knows?!

Heading south.....