All the way to Crook Haven

Thursday June 30/16. 0800.

It’s getting better and extra 2 ½ hours! Tea and underway at 0930  with the new crew for the awfully long sail to Sherkin Island. It took us all of  ½ hour to arrive and pick up a mooring. Moorings seem to range from free to 6 or 10 Euro. We prefer the free!. Anyhow we got moored jumped into the dink(short form for dinghy) made it to shore damp day walked up to the hotel had a pint and coffee payed the 10Euro fee went for a walk. Castle all boarded up so off to the advertised Friary(place for Friars not chipper) It was all barred and closed. Bummer. Walked the other way saw some cows! Walked back went to the advertised Jolly Rodger. Had lunch expensive and not good! New owners will not survive. Back to boat. Outboard and dinghy stored on deck.

Fri. July 1 2016 HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANADA OUR HOME AND NATIVE LAND!

0700 I’m up doing the usual. Wake the crew with some difficulty! And we get underway at 0900 for Schull. I know what it looks to sound like but it’s not school it’s Skull as pointed out to me as Bob from Tara sailed by tapping his head and shouting Skull! So after a short 10 mile run under power we arrived and took a mooring between Tara and Walix. We went walk about and then had Birthday party on Kalinka1 with Crown Royal. It went well and I still have some left!

Sat. July 2/2016 00900 Tara away we had Tea. An easy morning as Sally not well. Then underway at 1315 for Crookhaven. Motorboat trip and we arrived at 1515 took a mooring and made ourselves comfortable watching lazer races and boats going upsidedown a fun day. We then went ashore in the evening for a walk and a pint after Jeanmark and Beatrix arrived. A Good day. 

Glandore, Castletownsend and finally Baltimore the original not the copy!

Sunday June 26/16. Glandore.

0530! Up sort of awake? Kettle and tea. Foggy, Drizzly Cool morning or night depending on ones view. Aroused the crew and managed to get slip the mooring and get underway for parts further West.

A Cold mizzerable motor beat against the tide. We get a phone call? Sally’s cousin Caroline. Go figure the middle of the sea and a phone rings supposedly on a phone free vessel! Kept going and at 1230 thanks to my wonderful and expert navigation we arrived safely in Glandore. Picked up a mooring and once we were settled we sat back and spent the rest of the day watching a rowing regatta. Have never done that before but found it quite entertaining. The day turned out to be sunny and warm enough to put shorts on! Early night.

Monday June 27/16. 0730.

Up! A Beautiful morning, warm and sunny had tea in the cockpit and got underway at 1000 and had a grand sail (Main and Jib) around the corner and down the coast to the village and harbour name after that famous person CastleTownsend. We picked up a mooring and wiled away the day on board as it was too windy to launch the dink. Actually we were too lazy. I messed around with the ground for the link 1,000 battery monitor and managed to kill the vhf and the engine shut off! Have no idea why disconnecting a ground wire would kill those two pieces of electronics and leave everything else alone but it did $%$#@&^*. And the link still tells me I only have 10.5 Volts in my house bank of 3x 115AH 12V Brand New Batteries. Oh well on to the rest of the day. Consoled myself with a weee dram and we had Lamb Burgers and mush for dinner and whilst I was doing the dishes Yup you read right I was doing the dishes the sailing vessel “Tara” with Bob an Herve sailed into the harbour. We met them last year in Stornaway Scotland. A quick Gam as the current was quite strong we exchanged destinations and they anchored further up stream.

Tuesday June 28/16. 0530!

Another one of those early morning departures that I promised myself not to be doing  this year! How ever the tides do dictate when one should or should not leave. Just ask Cnute. I did my usual morning routine and we got underway at 0630 for Baltimore on a cold heavy rain morning. The rain was so heavy it pushed us down into the sea by a good foot and my foulies couldn’t stand up to it! So as a result we had a wet boat and a wetter me. You can all guess which got the sympathy. I was told to look in the dictionary! Good thing it wasn’t a long trip and we were moored in 8 ft of water off the town.  A short time later ”Tara” A 50ish Alden sailed in and asked us the depth I mentioned 8 they went oops we need 9 and away they went for a deeper spot. I sweated a little bit as we were on the edge of 4 but it turned out ok and we stayed afloat for the duration.

We launched the dinghy installed the 1973 Johnson fisherman outboard two stroke engine. Engine because engines use fuel to run on either externally or internally while a motor runs on electricity. But you all knew that right? Anyway we sort of zoometted into the pontoon . Zoomett being a new word invented by me to describe a ride in a dinghy against the wind and waves with a passenger on board sitting in front of the driver in such a position so as to stop and prevent any of the spray kicked up from striking said driver.

After said zoomett we safely arrived at the pontoon scrambled onto same undressed and walked casually up the main street. Now at this point I have to refresh your memories, Memories because there is probably one or two people reading this. You remember the mid sea telephone call from Sally’s cousin Caroline? Well it was an invitation to meet in Baltimore on the day of our arrival as She, Uncle Mike and a couple of ladies whose names escape me at the moment were in the area on holiday.

OK back to our arrival on shore. We did and then another phone call and alakazam (that’s Arabic for holy cow) there they were. Hugs and hand shakes all around and we went for a restaurant bought lunch of Seafood chowder and coffee and a very nice quick visit. They left as they were off to a posh party and we wandered out onto the street and who did we spy sitting outside the pub but the crew of Tara and some other people.  Jean Mark and Beatrix from Walenbix  a small 22 footer from France we all had a pint and then Sally and I went back out to the boat to a wait our arriving crew.

At 2000 I zoomed into shore with Sally’s foulies and waited for Dianne to arrive. She didn’t! I waited, She didn’t! I waited some more,,,,,,,,,,,,,,the phone rang! Where are you? In Baltimore! What are you doing there? Waiting for you, Where are you? Castletownsend! Why are you there? Because you told me you would be here! No, I sent an email saying we would be here. I didn’t get it! I’ll come there. I waited some more and around 2200 a taxi pulled up Dianne got out. The gate wouldn’t work! Sent her over to the next pontoon. She got into the foulies we zoometted out to the boat. All on board finally.

The next morning Wed June 29 I sent the crew ashore and into Skibberene. I spent a nice day doing boat chores . The crew re arrived with a new pair of foulie pants for Dianne.

Thursday June 30/16 0800 up usual routine then at 0930 we dropped the mooring and off we went for Sherkin Island.

Oyster Haven, Kinsale or how to wile a way a week!

Wednesday June 22/16.

So it’s 0730 everything is quiet, the crew is asleep. Got up made tea, contemplated my navel and decided to leave. I awakened the crew without too much difficulty fed and watered her and we got underway at 1100. It was a long arduous passage but we finally arrived in Kinsale at 1130.

We caught a mooring ball on the ebb tide made ourselves secure, installed the outboard put the foulies on and zoom zoom we’re on the dinghy dock in the YC marina. Walked up to the club house had a pint met the harbour master and arranged a club mooring which was guarantied to have been serviced this century. Bonus.  Back into the dinghy and out to the yachet dropped the mooring and motored over to the new one made ourselves secure to it and then back into the dink and returned to the shore.Did a short reconnoiter of the town downloaded a couple of geo caches and made arrangements for the next day to get a ride to the battery store to get a new starting battery! Walked about some more went to the recommended pantry for a coffee and sticky bun. Both were very good and then we strolled along window shopping in some of the back lanes. Finally returned to the marina and out to the good ship Kalinka1.

We stayed in Kinsale for 6 days for one reason and another doing land touristy stuff. We walked 4 km out to Charles Fort. The high road because we missed the sign for the low scenic road! Wandered around ooying and aweing had a cuppa and sticky did a couple of easy caches and then walked back into town. This time on the scenic route along the water. Got back into town did a bit of grocery shopping visited the club for a pint and ended the day back on board with a nice dinner of Lamb burgers and Salad.

Next day.

Don’t remember what day but it was the next day into the club for a shower and more walky this time up hill to get a cache near the town offices. We got it so had three for five. Then down hill to the medieval church for a look see and the graves of three of the victims of the Lusitania. Two identified men and one unidentified woman. However the story doesn’t end there o no! The woman was identified in 2010. I didn’t think of it at the time so didn’t take a picture or her name.  We were returning to the boat and were getting ready to get in the dinghy when Sally struck up a conversation with Jerald who is a lovely soul in a special way. This led to an invitation to go racing that night. I chickened out and stayed home cooking a nice dinner of roast pork and veg. Sally went racing! They won.

It was good and windy with lots of gusts yet where the race course was the seas were flat. One start with two courses. Big boats had the longer course. Skipper Alan and mate Mary were great and chatted away the evening and fed me red jellies.  These were a godsend as the bowl of cereal was ages ago as we were planning big roast park feast. Well it was like racing with John and Carol the winning record was such that the rating was massively adjusted. Even with a 5 minute lead on the 28’ boat that crossed astern of the  26’ boat corrected to second but what fun we had! Got delivered to Kalinka1 just as Noel was serving. It could have been chicken and I would have enjoyed it. But then fell fast asleep missing getting up to the club house. Almost too much walking and sailing in one day.  

 Nothing much else happened and then the weather  changed for the better.

After Youghal and before Kinsale

Fri. June 17/16. 0400.

Behind Ferry Point Youghal Harbour.

After a Very good nights sleep without a worry in the world (Ya right saeth Sally) I arose, put the kettle on made the tea kissed my honey awake and gently said the tide is right it’s time to leave.

I didn’t get hit or sworn at! Had tea dressed in our dirigour sea going duds started the engine dropped the mooring and gently slid off put the engine in gear and got underway for points West. Otherwise known as Cork 36 miles away.

We cleared the harbour and shallows and at 0700 on a Gray morning turned the engine off and unfurled the Genoa and made our way west at 6.8 to 7.2 knots with an off shore wind and flat seas.

We arrived at Cork harbour at 0900 as the wind was picking up and gusting to F7 (about 30 knots) Furled the Genoa started the engine and began motoring into the 2^nd largest harbour in the world!

We decided we would go right up to Cork city as Sally remembered there being a pontoon there. Had a nice uneventful ride past Cobh and 7 miles up to the centre of the city Lapps Quay. Got a nice spot on the pontoon.  Got squared away and then went for a walk.

We returned to the boat in the afternoon and two Customs officers came for a visit. Nice friendly visit no hassles.  Stayed on board as tired and had an early night.

Sat. June 18/16.

0730 Up. No rest for the just and pure. I’m going back to being Grummpy and mean! Anyway made tea and off we went to the English market and downtown and some serious geo caching.  Lots of people around . got hungry so bought a couple of breakfast sandwiches at Centra and went to a Park to eat them. Had to beat the pigeons and crows off with rather large sticks (Big Birds here I guess from all the food thrown away by terrified tourists.  We Found 2 ½ caches and missed 1 so not bad for us and it brought us up to the 250 mark.

We returned to the boat in the afternoon and Ross from Valhalla ( boat not the place)came for a visit. He out talked Sally! She is now feeling insecure.

Sun. June 19/16.

0730 Up Cold Rainy day (what else is new?) Tea and Cereal for breakfast  then we got underway for Cross haven. As we left the pontoon a BIG Seal began splashing about and catching it’s breakfast. Wasn’t worried about us. There was another very fat one laying up on one of the cross beams of the pier. It didn’t care either. We had an uneventful motor boat ride down to Cross haven and took a finger on a pontoon. We arrived just before noon and went up to the RCYC Club House and had breakfast. I had Eggs Benedict and a pint of Murphy’s Sally had a full Irish breakfast and a glass of Murphy’s. It rained and blew for the rest of the day and the hatch over the Salon decided to leak! Left to head up to Drakes Pool to the Anchorage but it was too miserable and the rain hurt when it hit my sensitive face so we turned around and went back to the finger and spent the rest of the day.

Monday June 20/16.

Up early sun out did some odd jobs sterilized Port water tank then drained and refilled both Port and Starboard tanks. We got under way at 1430 for the long 10 mile journey to Oyster Haven.  The Around Ireland Race had started on Sat? The weather was so bad outside that 2 or 3 boats quit and came into the club. We have reciprocity at the Royal Cork Yacht Club. But what that means over here is that you can come and stay but it costs you. In our case 34 Euro which is about $45.00 Cdn per night.

We decided to leave in the afternoon as the weather was good for the afternoon with wind out of the NW but was going to change at night to be on the nose F6. We motor sailed all the way and entered Oyster Haven  at 1700. Lots of moorings and the wind as on a schedule started to blow. So we entered the West arm and took a good mooring and this time had no issues what so ever. (Ha we’re good!!).

Quiet enough that we decided to change down the big Genoa for the smaller 130% A much nicer sail for the heavier winds we’re probably going to get as we get further west.

Another early night but beginning to finally feel rested again.

Tues. June 21/16 Happy Summer Solstice!

Up At 0730 Tea in cockpit a nice quiet warm morning! Will be an easy day doing odd jobs reading fishing and not much. At least that was the plan. We all know what happens to  plans don’t we? I started by servicing a mast winch that hadn’t been touched since we cross 5 years ago. Pretty easy the I went and tightened up the bolts holding the hatch to the deck. One was very loose and the threads had been stripped. So gooped it and hope it works. Sally was up at this point and said she had just heard the Bilge pump cycle and come on again! I listened and watched it and sure enough it did. Hmmm it’s a new pump and shouldn’t be doing that I thought. So I emptied 3 gal of water into the bilge and it didn’t pump! Well a bilge pump that doesn’t pump isn’t much good to anyone. I tried it on manual and that didn’t work either! Phooey! Used the manual pump to remove the water and then took the electric one out and cleaned it. Put it back in opened one of the water tank drains and emptied a couple of gallons of water into the bilge. $#%$#^& Pump didn’t pump! Double phooey!! Gave it a good shake and bang and it woke up and finally did what it was supposed to and got payed for. Pump Water! Think it must have got air locked somehow. Had hotdogs and beans for lunch laid out some routes on the GPS and tablet, finished the day getting the fishing tackle ready.  Omelet and Salad for dinner.

This is a very nice spot and we might even stay here tomorrow.

Mooring Trials and Tribulatrions

Well continuing on. John Carol and Marcus didn’t actually come on Monday but Tuesday afternoon I guess I should have read the log before starting to type! Which reminds me, How many of you reading this remember or know what a typewriter is or was?

I can tell you that an underwood full size makes a grand attention getter when it is flung with great force across a room full of nerdowells and misfits because the keys stuck on line 33 of a 34 line report in quintuplet.

So back to the story After all was said and done on Tuesday. Sally and I decided to hang around on Wed. and had a very nice late lunch at Reggies roof eatery of Mussels and chips. Reggie was actually a Viking King who made Waterford his own and walled the town and his own personal tower still stands and is today the Viking museum.

We finally finally left Waterford at 0dark30 on Thurs June 16/16 made our way down the Barrow made a right turn at Dunmore East and headed West to Youghall (Yaw”l)  At 0640 we turned the engine off(hoping it starts later) Unfurled the Genoa and had a Great Sail to to Yaw’l. We arrived at approx. 1200 made our way into the harbour with a keen lookout for the two public free mooring balls. Never to be found and made our way to the anchorage behind Ferry point not to be confused with fairy point which is another place for another time and audience.

So we got there, found the perfect mooring ball, made ready. Ok we thought we made ready everything looked all right, Sally had the boat hook for the pick up. I was in total control at the wheel, we were making the perfect with the tide approach up wind. Wowzer Sally got caught up getting over the dingy which was tied on deck, The current was faster than I thought and there we were quicker than you could say Oh Salamander with the pickup float sliding down the port side of the boat and the mooring float nowhere to be seen Then quick as a wink into neutral just in case and we came to a sudden stop! Still can’t see the float but have the pendant floating pick it up and attach to cleat. Now what I asked myself and Sally too. I know put the dink in the water and see if we can see the ball. The tide now is flooding at about 6 knots. Get the dink in slide down the boat and can see something pink under the water up against the skeg. Must be the ball. Only problem the line to the weight runs under the hull. I say to myself. Self if we can push that down so it pops out the other side we’re ok. Ha! (not funny ha just ha Loki is funning with us ha. I huffed and I huffed and couldn’t push it away so quit.

Then I figured we weren’t going anywhere any way we’ll just wait for the tide to turn and then the pressure will be the opposite way and we might just might slip free. Got back on board had a cup of tea. Went to the head and then,,,,,Trumpets other assorted horns violins and other strings Pipes and an organ Sally said we’re free. And we were. So then because we were secured to a stern cleat we had to get the line up to the bow. After much discussion we got out the spare Spinnaker line ran it through the eye on the mooring made one end fast to a bow cleat popped it of the stern cleat and the bow swung around and we used a winch to pull us up to the ball and re secured our selves. Then we had a celebratory drink got squared away had dinner and went to bed!

Dead Batteries and other stuff!

So here we are laying on a mooring in Oyster Haven Ireland.  A lot has happened since we last spoke so pour a glass or cup of your favorite libation and we’ll get right to it.

We finally gently hit the water on Sat. June 11/16 after spending the night hanging in the slings on the travel lift over the launch bay! A 15 ft drop to the mud if we had slipped out! No issues and was quite comfortable once you were asleep and didn’t think about the drop. Went into the water early in the morning and!.

The engine wouldn’t start! Dead batteries!! Plugged in charged a bit and started then quit bled the system, started then quit. Bled some more started then quit!!!! Thomas the Polish Mechanic came down. Bled and started ran and quit. Did this for about an hour. Same results hair pulling and ear scratching time I then suggested we put the old filter back on and viola vroooom vroooom and it’s been fine since. Fingers and toes eyes and legs crossed. Turns out the new filter they put on had a harder rubber seal than the proper one and hence an air leak.

 Sat. night was the going away BBQ with Michael, Steven, Dermot Joe, the Queen, two daughters and of course Sadie the watch mutt. Pork ribs, Chicken and Pigs head with baked spuds copious amounts of spirits good laughs and general hilarity.

Sun( June 12/16.) morning awoke early and surprise surprise wasn’t feeling any the worse for wear! Waited around for high water and left at 1100 S/B down the Barrow River to start our 2016 Summer journey to where ever it takes us.

Ooops Sally just told me Michael wasn’t at the BBQ as he and Sadie had a better offer so disregard his contribution to the above. The void was filled by Stevens pub pals that provided a great many laughs.

OK now S/B on the Barrow for real. At around 6 knots give or take passed the castle I’d buy and restore if I won two lotteries. Eventually arrived at the Barrow Bridge only to find it closed! Oh my what to do? We can’t fit under and no way around. So the crew jumped right on to the radio (well not physically as that would have busted it) but you all know what I mean called the Bridge and was promptly told two minutes as shift change. Good to their word I did a 360 and the Bridge was opening. Whoopee were through and free.

We made a right turn and headed up to Waterford just because we could. We arrived in downtown Waterford at 1330 called the Harbour master Johnny Codd got a key and we were off to the races so to speak. 

Just remembered the ½ Pigs head really didn’t go over very well with some of the celebrants at the BBQ. But the Cats and Sadie enjoyed it later.

Monday June 13/16 good thing it’s not Fri. Awoke to find a Deader than Dead non Zombie House battery bank! Not impressed %^&$#$%@! Off to the Chandlery ordered 3 new batteries will arrive tomorrow morning. So we spent the day (Rainy) wandering about. Did the Bishops house (Where Aunty Carol and Barbara went to school) and the Medieval museum  (Both free because a new computer system had been installed and it didn’t work!) Then walk about to the main square and coffee shops for internet

John ,Carol and Marcus arrived. Had lunch on board and then they dragged us off kicking and screaming for a train ride up the Suir River and the out to dinner in Dunmore East. Then home for a good nights rest.

Tues June 13/16 Up early removed the old Batteries made ready for the new. Measured the space. Oh phooey 1 ½ inches not enough. $%#$%^%&*(&^%$ Went to the shop explained the problem. No Problem says the boss I’ll bring two sizes. So we did. Re measured again if I took the sound proofing off the door and removed a stopper a way in the back of the engine I might just have enough room. So I did and low and behold(I think that’s Biblical) It all fit by the hair on a skinny chin chin(Fairy tale I think). This took ½ the day so decide to stay another night. Managed a shower and another good night.

Work work and Fun!

Sun. June 5, 2016

Here we are a week and a bit later. The boat is still up on the hard and much better for it. Sally started the mold removal process a way up in the anchor locker. It’s not really an anchor locker because there is no access from the deck but it is at the pointy end of the boat so there you go. She scrubbed and she scrubbed and made the locker clean and we refilled it with a tarp that was not so clean. She then continued to a v berth so black and when she was done it was pristine and no mold to be seen.

I in the meantime a boot I installed around a mast that was so tall from there to the bilges I did go and installed a new pump that might stall the inflo Then I descended into the pit and reinstalled the furnace of hell to make sure the weather stayed well.  (So far so good) The main salon was next and continued we did until it was renewed.  Next was the quarter berth so dark that cleaning it wasn’t a lark but persevere we did until it was so bright that glasses dark were needed. Leaving only the galley,sole and. deck to be completed. 

We worked hard for a couple of days and then took a break and went sailing out to the Saltees (not the crackers) to see the birds with Carol and John. It was a test to see if sally and I qualified to race on the coming Sunday. I guess we did as we raced yesterday and successfully defended Uncle Johns win of last year! Two in a row now.

Interesting race as everyone starts at a different time so that everyone should finish at the same time. We were the 4^th to start and by the first mark we had just about caught up to the first 4 boats and had left the rest of the fleet far behind. At this point they shortened the course as very very little wind. We rounded the mark inside 4 of the other boats and then in short order passed all them to! A great day on the water and the prize for first is a painting of Kilmore quay that the winner gets to put a brass name plate on and hang on his/her wall for the year..