Kalinka1's Adventure: Episode 21 South bound down the Irish Sea.

Episode 21 South bound down the Irish Sea.

After a short turn of the tide visit in Bangor where we were lucky to have met up with our pals Sean and Alice and been able to share a meal.

These two photos are the same view just twelve hours apart.

And we were off 04:40.

Passing our Sean and Alice's boat.

Heading south to Dunlaoghrie(Too lazy to look up the correct spelling)

Copeland Island sound, yes we have the tide with us. Important thing to get right in this part of the world.

One point five knot boost.

This is supposed to be summer!

Hot oatmeal/porridge for breakfast.

We did hoist the sails and they helped a bit but it was mostly a motor boat run.

Passing The Old Baily light house on Howth head. It was a lovely clear evening and the tide was about to turn against us.

Thursday evening racing, what a beautiful evening for it.

We had just crossed the fairway into Dublin Port when the engine died. We had the sails

up and drawing so not an issue. We were going along at about two knots, two miles outside of DunLaoriagh harbour entrance. There were in and out bound container vessels passing each other and signaling their intent. The pilot was boarding the Ziderdam of the Holland America cruise line which was anchored to the south of Dun Laoriag harbour, it was a very busy place. With the cruise ship soon to be raising anchor, Noel busy switching out engine filters I thought it wise to publish a "security call" on 16 to let them know we were getting out of the way as fast as we could. Well....that produced a reaction. Coastguard needed to be assured all was good, it really was just a security call to alert the commercial traffic. They told me to hail Dublin Port Control on channel 12 and he felt the need to lambaste me for daring to cross his port with out pre approval! We were already across to the other side of the fairway before the engine died.

Fifteen minuets and Noel had us up and running again.(i'm good at filters. Not so much at minuets)

Tied up in Dun Laoriagh 20:00 after 96 NM in 15.5. hours.

We have been one week, since departing Stornoway with, 2 unplanned fuel filter changes. What we thought we had fixed regarding the fuel issue clearly is not. So glad this happened where it did and not off the coast of Iceland.

We had a far to short and rushed visit that evening with Sonya, we were all exhausted, was so great that she was able to join us for a cup of tea. We left the next day with the tide hoping to get to Arklow. Well the wind kicked up some square waves and so we cut the day short and went into

Graystones where we enjoyed a great pub lunch...we needed that pint!

Departing Graystone's with a rowing regatta happening and lots of long weekend fun.

Skipper, bit stressed with engine issues.

The Sugar loaf Mountain

We got the tide right.

Rafted up in Arklow waiting for the tide, we were on a 52 Oyster and had a 47 German on our outside. They were departing at 5 AM and we were planning on departing about 13:00 no wind and full house with the long week end.

We changed out the fuel filter hoping for no issues...we have some tidal gates that requires timing to be right.

We had a pleasant run south motor sailing with a light head wind. We just got through the "washing machine" of tide at Carnsore Point when the engine shut down. Thankfully we were in flat water and I could sail towards the harbour at about 2 knots. Noel switched out the filter and got us running again. This diesel issue that we thought we had fixed just used up the last of our spare filters from Stornoway.

Fishing fleet sorting their gear in Kilmore Quay

We ordered more filters and waited out some windy weather in Kilmore Quay. Great place to be stuck with friends and family close by. We were greeted on the pontoon when we arrived by John and Carol then celebrated Fish and Chips.

We were on the hammer head and the fishing fleet was in.

Water safety lessons all week.

Changed the engine oil

Windmill was producing like mad.

Clevis pins got rattled loose, that was a quick fix. Luck it was there and not when we were under way.

Fishing fleet kept moving about but not going out, too windy.

Sunny and great for some to play.

John and Carols boat

Two Canadian built boats rafted. The red boat out side we last saw in Stornoway. He was single handing heading back to Holland.

The "Nonsuch" heading back to England while we waited the arrival of filters.

Vintage life boat that was in port to support the fundraising life boat day that was on the day we arrived.

The filters arrived about 14:00 and we were under way by 16:00 to round the Hook light and anchor in Dunmore East. It was a no wind day and the tide was perfect with a large high pressure that would be fair weather for a few days. The distance as 18 NM. We had not gone five and the engine died...No wind so could only drift with the tide. While Noel did a filter change. This new filter lasted 1.5 hrs before the engine died again....we had yet to clear the Hook light and we were rapidly loosing the tide Noel did another filter change in record time and this kept going and got us to the anchorage at Dunmore East. This is not fun. We are stressed. We had 18 NMs to get up to New Ross to haul out. We figured we needed help if the engine stopped in the river we would anchor...before we got flushed back out to sea.

So we telephoned our buddies in New Ross for help. Not sure what if any could be done... The tide would start rising about 07:00, weather was to be good for the next two days.

We rigged the dingy rafted with the outboard topped up with fuel and ready to run hoping that the 6.6HP would be sufficient to maintain steerage.

Michael of the boat yard had worked the phones and was able to get a boat to come down river and meet us at the bridge to accompany us up river and take us under tow if needed. We had all the phone numbers and our time booked for the opening of the bridge....

Getting under way from Dunmore East.

Passed the Oyster that we had rafted to in when we were in Arklow.

We waited for the bridge to open and got to see lots of shipping from the commercial dock of Waterford City.

We were through the bridge, engine still running and our plan "B" was up ahead keeping us company.

Passed the Barrow Princess that is doing day trips between Waterford City and New Ross. Good to see as its a very beautiful part of the world.

Arrived to the freshly painted pontoon.

Happy Noel with our plan "B" buddies in the back ground.

We slept like logs...

Decommissioning the wind mill with the awning up, last time we had this up we were north of the artic circle.

The cleaning of the tank starts.

Hauled out and clothes washed.

We got the VIP stairs! So happy to be back in the boat yard of New Ross.

Carol booked us for a fun evening sail. What a delightful evening we had after having pressure washed old bottom paint from the hull.

Last section of the tarp repaired with tape as the sewing machine had given up.

Tarp on jobs done for this season.

We got to visit with my family and friends and then we were driven to Dublin to stay at the airport before flying the next day. Wonder visit....so happy we did not get stuck in Iceland..