Well here we are all alone with nothing to do but start episode 2018.

This season started on Mar., 29 when I flew into Dublin. Well actually I didn’t fly my magic carpet is in the shop so I had to use Air Canada. I landed cleared customs with the only comment ,You again! Get on with ya have a nice summer. I like Irish immigration! Walked out to the Bus Park asked a nice man where I catch the bus. I received a strange look,” Where to?” “Oh ya. Wexford says I” “Right there, pointing->” 10 minutes later I was on my way on the Express Bus! Which wasn’t because it broke down. Hope this isn’t an omen?

I arrive safely in Wexford where I was met by John who happened to be asleep in the car so I had to phone to wake him up! Off we went to Longrauige  House where I was shown my new home for the next month while I got the boat ready for the season. Dinner was prepared by Carol and we had a right old visit then I collapsed.

Next Morning. I awoke bounded downstairs for breakfast then was given a ride to the boatyard. Arriving at the boat yard I found the boat in good shape and a couple of new girls working in the Office! Denise 1, Denise 2 and Mikaila. All who are expecting. Must have been something in the water. Both Michael and Stephen were in good form.

The rest of April I spend doing boat jobs. You know those 1 hour jobs! The 1^st. was the new throttle cable. I threaded it down through the pedestal got every thing connected only to find it was in backwards! Then it started,,,,, remove the cable end for end it, reinstall, only I can’t get the cable clamp anywhere near the bolt hole in the Pedestal! A few bad words I won’t repeat here. Finally after 3 days I get it connected. Except it’s too short!!! Some more bad words take it all apart again lengthen the cable, still not right. Repeat, repeat repeat.drop some bits into the pedestal. Have to remove it. 2bolts undo two have to be cut off! Sean does it with a grinder sparks all over good thing it’s a diesel!! 3 weeks later it’s working. I take the boat off the for sale site.

Sally arrives the end of May. We launch on the 2^nd of June at 1030 in the morning let the engine run for a bit in the slings as I had to drain the fuel filter and wasn’t sure if I would have to bleed the system. Everything OK so off we went. Motor boat trip down the river. John came with us to Waterford. Where we met up with Dave and Dawn from Chrystalyn. Carol came to get John we had lunch and a walk about and shopping then passed out.

Monday June 4. 0900 we’re underway for the Scilly Islands. (No moss on us) An easy Motor sail all the way 136 miles arrived at Hugh Town St. Mary’s Island at 1100 where we took a mooring.  Stayed on board then went to Chrystalyn for drinks the early night.

Wed. June 6/18. Went ashore for walk about and then had a beer and quiz night at the Atlantic Pub. We didn’t win.

The Scilly’s are part of the Dutchy of Wales and owned by Prince Charles. Very clear water and Sandy beaches. A lot like the Caribbean except for the people and climate. One of the nicest places we have visited.

Thurs. June 7. 0930 Raining but we get underway anyway for St. Helen’s Pool. We make our way out of the Harbour tricky because the boats are all moored with only about 15 feet between them. We head North up along the coast of Bryre and then into St. Helens Pool where drop the anchor. Hope the new windlass works? I didn’t mention earlier but I got a Lofrans electric windlass off the donor boat at the yard. Installed it ran all the cables reinforced the chain locker lid scrounged 150 ft of chain hooked it all up aaand. It will only go one way! I have a choice up or down. I choose up. Smart I am.

Anyway we’re anchored and I have to change out the gps as it won’t lock onto any satellites. Do that. Build the dinghy and head over to St. Helens where there is an intriguing ruin. Turns out it’s the remains of a quarantine building from the 1700’s If you were you got dropped off here. If you survived another ship would pick you up and take you to the UK or where ever. There were also the ruins of an very early Christian holy site where a saint lived in a round stone hut and did his preaching. Don’t know who he preached to as there were no other homes on the Island. Returned to the yacht and   Dave and Dawn came over for visit and drinks. They leave and we have a game of cribbage. Noel wins by 1 point!.

Fri.June 8. We build the dinghy and go ashore to Old Grimsby for a walk about and to see the ruined Old block house which was the site of the last battle between Cromwell and King Charles. We the walked across the Island to have a look at New Grimsby and have an Ice cream. Both were worth it.

1300 Up Anchor. The windlass worked no more back pain Sally gave me a big kiss. We motored in fog down the East coast of St. Martin to Porth Cressa on the back side of Hugh Town where we anchored. Went ashore and walked 77 miles to a pub for dinner and a movie. (When the whales came) I fell asleep still don’t really know what the movie was about. Got a ride back to Porth Cressa with a van full of women. Thought Sally and Dawn were in the back! They weren’t They had to walk 144 miles back. Carried the dinghy and motor out to the waters edge launched and back on board for a miserable night. Rolly Polly leaps and bounds. 

Sat. June 9/18 0815 up anchor and away around the corner into Hugh town where we again grab a mooring ball. Weather due to change to not nice. Walk about Hugh Town and sore knees! Go aboard Chrystalyn for dinner and Canasta. A Good night.

Sun. June 10. 0845 up! Slugabed’s we are! Go ashore Sally goes off to Church. 1240 we get underway for New Grimsby. Motoring in thick haze and bright sun.  1400 stop to fish. Heavy rollers no luck enter harbour only to find it was full! Leave and return to Old Grimsby where we pick up a mooring.  Went ashore and had a Beach BBQ. Great fun. Then back to Chrystalyn for Canasta. Noel won! Yippee, hooray!

Mon. June 11. 0730 I get up to find Chrystalyn underway! They have a window to get across to Falmouth so are taking it. Bummer, we feel bad. 0930 we drop the mooring and motor around to New Grimsby as the weather is changing and will blow hard from the North. We get a mooring and settle in.  It’s much much quieter here.  We don’t go ashore but laze about recouping.

Tues, Wed., Thurs. We can’t leave for Ireland as Gales are blowing! We can look out of the Harbour and see Mountains rolling by! Tues., it was bumpy enough we didn’t go ashore but did boat jobs and played crib Noel skunked Sally! Wed. we’re getting boat wacky so we do go ashore to pay for the mooring and do some shopping and walk about. We wander along the path and find a geo cache and then passed the Abbey and gardens. Now owned by a Smith family. Tesco is a private Island and pretty much geared to high end hollidayers  #6,000 per week. Ouch! It only cost us 20 per day. The entrance fee for the gardens was 17.50 pounds! Needless to say we didn’t go in. We could walk around and see flowers ,trees and plants for free.

I keep checking the weather. It just keeps getting worse and we’re running out of time for Sally to get back to Canada. I check 4 weather sites and it looks like if we leave around 0600 on Fri. morning the wind will be down and also the seas will keep diminishing as we cross. So that’s what we do. Two reefs in the main and we’re off. Leave the harbour and immediately climb Everest! Good thing this is supposed to get better. So for the first 8 hours we’re motor sailing into N/Westerly’s We climbed the Himalayas, the rockies, the Andies and blue mountain before things leveled out. Then the wind shifted more West and we had a grand sail to Ireland. Or at least I did. Sally not so much.

Sat. morning 0230 approaching the hook we see a cruise ship heading our way. I check the AIs and it is the Celebrity Eclipse. I remember that Ian and Terry Douglas are on board I call the ship and ask if they would relay a message for us. The 3^rd officer was happy to and did the next day.

We approached the Hook of Ireland at 0300 Pitch black heading towards Dunmore East. The wind shifted as forcast and build to about 30 knots right up the posterior! Tried to furl the genoa. The drum jammed with an override! Holy expletive I cried. Sally let it run free and prayers were answered  it cleared itself meanwhile the main had backed. Oh what fun we’re having! Decide to skip Dunmore and head up the river to Waterford as it would be day light when we arrived. Rather than inky dark in a small harbour that was probably full anyway. So that’s what we did. We got the main under control and furled and had a quiet M/B ride the rest of the way arriving at 0600. So all in all 24 hours of uuuupps and dooowwwns The middle half a very nice sail at 7 plus knots. Spent ½ the day sleeping and the other half walk about and having a pint.

So ends the first chapter.