Belfast to Dublin and ?

Tuesday August 09 2016.

0630ish Up and away. A very quick trip across and out of Belfast Lough. A Broad reach all the way! Then we had a broad reach all the way down the coast to St. Johns Bay. We reached there early so then had to suffer wind against tide conditions Reefs in and out but we still maintained better than 6 k nots through the very lumpy seas that did Sally in. We eventually got out of that and were arriving at Howth when the racing fleets were returning to the harbour. Blowing about 20 knots. We decided to reduce sail as we were in the roadstead Got the 130 furled, tried to start the engine! It started then quit, Started ran and quit! Shore getting closer!!! Started ran and quit!!!!!! Now We’re getting a little concerned, Opened the throttle turned the key and instant 2100 RPM and,,,,,,,,,yup still running, Phew!!!!! Slowed it down a bit put it in gear CLUNK! And motored into the club saw an opening on the hammerhead and grabbed it. Arrival was about 2130.Celebratory libation!!! Days run for 94 miles = 13 hours 30 minute. You can do the math to figure out our average speed!

Wed Aug 10 to Fri. Aug. 12/16.

We spent in Howth as the weather was just miserable outside. So we made new friends of another Canadian boat that was there and reacquainted with old friends. Did some Geo Caches and generally took life easy. Changed the fuel filter. Had a tough time as my fancy dandy rubber filter wrench didn’t! It kept slipping!!! Baahhh tried a bigger one it did the same thing double baaaahhh! I finally got it to turn and removed it. Spilled a little diesel into the bilge triple baaaghhhh! Then I couldn’t get the new one to spin on. This is supposed to be simple right? Called to Sally and asked for assistance Sally trried and muttered a couple of expletives and then viola it started and I finished tightening it up. Then I bled the system and got the engine running so far so good. Shut it down, waited a minute or day or so. Turned the key and vroooom, moooorv! !@#$#@^&*(%$#^&%$#@!@#$% Baaaaagggghhhhh Humbug!!!!! Started it again and,,,,,,,,,, Vrrrrroooooommm, Vrrroooomm and so far crossed fingers toes eyes arms and legs and it’s still running.

 Had a 10 euro Curry dinner including a pint with about 20 people Great fun!

Friday Aug 12/16 0700.

Up. Wide eyed and Bushy tailed! You all believe that right? Well we were really. Helen came over as Sally in a drunken stupor the night before had promised to cut her hair! Maybe it wasn’t Sally in the stupor just my wonky hearing you choose. Anyhow back at the ranch Helen did show up so Sally borrowed my scissors and clip clip Helen looked like me! Well not quite. But her hair was cut and she seemed happy. We got away at 1015 and motored over to Dun Laogharie.

Dun Laogharie is the premier Marina in Dublin and is presently half empty or half full depending on one’s point of view. No problem parking anywhere you want. We decided we would go to the National Yacht Club. Got in the way of the Optimist fleet and watched as a couple of them went upside down. Great fun! Went on to the pontoon and Sally went off to ask permission. We were not granted it so then had to leave and go to the above mentioned Marina.

Sally called Karen her cousin in law(if there is such a thing). Agreed to meet us that night for a pint. We went for a short walk about and captured an elusive cache. Had dinner on board and then up to 40 foot!(Witherspoons). Too many pints later we returned to the boat.

Sat. Aug. 13/16. Up not bushy tailed! Made arrangements to meet and have a coffee with Adrian and Sandra. They showed up around 1230 so went for a walk to the end of the East Pier and back then had lunch on the boat and returned to 40 foot to meet nephew Ben and his pals for a pint. One later everyone dispersed and we went home to kalinka1.

Sun. Aug 14/16. 0700.

Had to leave. So we did. Had a good motor sail down to Arklow with no problems and nothing special to report. We arrived at 1130 motored in checked out the new pontoon in the fishing Harbour. Didn’t like that so went to the long pontoon. Lots of room so we took some. Got secured, Harbour master Assistant and daughter arrived. After a long conversation we wandered up to the Mall! Free internet don’t you know! Went walk about then back to the boat and an early dinner and night.

Monday August 15/16 0600 Up, weather, tea. Weather good to go today. NOT good tomorrow! So off we went against the tide. Still made 6 knots! Tide turned and we flew down the East coast of Ireland to Rosslaire where we bumped into Wind against Tide! Oh boy just what we needed! Bumpy rooly bangy and not nicy! But it only lasted about ½ hour we rounded Consore point (named after Conor the sore sport). Sped along with the rising tide and slipped into Kilmore Quay with 6 inches under the keel at about 1430. Found an empty finger and bobs your uncle we’re here.! John and Carol showed up and we had tea and ate dinner on their boat. We wee to tired to go sailing with them.

Tuesday Aug. 16/16 0650.

Rolled out of the bunk. Tricky to do because no sides to the bunk to roll off. One has to kind crunchie sideways into a ball kind of shape then turn about 180*then back out on your stomach legs first and when they touch the ground/sole you can stand up and your out. Sometimes your partner gets rude bits too near their face.

So after all that tea is made, the phone rings, Heather and Allen are at the gates! Sally lepped out (she had nothing in the way) bounded into the galley, fired it up tossed on the rashers fried up some eggs made some toast and we had breakfast on board. H&A also brought the new drive shaft for the duogen.

They had bought a new to them camper van and were on their way out to the west for a holliday. We got the tour. Neat. Will probably get one when I’m old. They left. We did boat stuff went for a walk shared an order of fish and chips. Adrian (Sally’s brother) made arrangements to pick us up and drive us into his place for dinner and then return us later. So that’s what we did.

Wed. Aug 17/16.

Checked the tide times figured 1030 was the time to leave for New Ross. Called John and Carol to see if they would like to join us. Well didn’t get a chance to hang up the phone and they were getting on board! We left at 1115 on a dull grey day. (Lots of these dull grey days this year) A little lumpy with what little wind we had was right on the nose. (Lots of this, this year also). Rounded the hook and wonders of wonders we could sail so we did for about an hour then we were in the tricky part of the river and it was raining.(Lots of this also this year). So then we motored up to the New Ross boat yard(Our winter Home) where we received a customary warm welcome. Michael lent us his jeep to drive J&C into town to meet Collin their son, who then drove them home. We returned to the yard and too many glasses of red later went back on board and slept the sleep of the innocent.

This completes the sailing bit of this years journey. But there is more to the story. You’ll just have to wait until we’ve lived it.

Stats: 1028 miles sailed. 156.4 hours on engine. 32 ports. 312.8 ltrs diesel, 70 gal of water 76 pints(between 2 of us) 3 bottles of whiskey, 2 bottles of gin and two bottles of rum. 270 pots of tea, 3 jars of coffee 25lbs spuds 20 lbs onions (red and yellow) 12 lbs carrots and other assorted veggies and stuff. 20 litres of gas for outboard motor 17kg of propane. 1 broken duogen.