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A shorter journey was planned today to reach Howth
Marina just north of Dublin - so the luxury of a 7am start -
instead of the 4am ones we've got used to. We left Wicklow in a
very light North-Westerly - which soon picked up fresh-to-strong
giving some brisk sailing, until we were sheltered by Howth Head
- marked by Bailey Lighthouse seen in the background on this
picture.
A radio call to Howth Marina, requesting a berth, turned us down as the club were hosting a regatta (Howth is the only marina we've ever come across which turns folks away- they did the same last summer to others whilst we were in Howth).
Ah,
well, plan B had to be developed quickly - and we decided to try
Malahide marina. Sailing directions and almanac entries for
Malahide fill one with foreboding of a badly marked channel,
shifting sandbanks etc, etc - but the Southerly is a shallow
draft boat drawing only 2 feet with the keel up, so even though
the tide was now falling, we felt confident enough to give it a
go. In the event we could have kept the keel all the way down (8
feet) as we never had less than 3 meters of water all the way in.
Still once the tide was fully out, the place is very shallow -
the derelict tug in the background of the picture is sitting
right on top of one.
Malahide turns out to be a better shopping centre than Howth - so it's an ill wind - as they say! Booked a table in an Indian/Italian/Irish restaurant tonight - so that should be interesting curry.
Strong winds forecast for tomorrow, so the crew get another day off - we'll do some maintenance, sleep, and get caught up with shopping.
We did it by the book - honest - up at 6:30am in
time to listen to both Dublin Radio's forecast at 7:03 - and
Belfast Coastguard's at 7:05. Both promised ideal crossing winds
- S/SW 3-4 so off we went. By the time we were a mile of
Malahide, we had 32-38 knots - gusting up to 41 - why do we
bother?
They then had the cheek to give a Gale Warning - issued at 07:18 - 'Imminent' - so imminent we were in the middle of it!
A quick change of course to hug the Irish coast, and with a tea-towel sized bit of foresail out, we positively sped up the coast at 6.5 to 7.5 knots. There are several anchorages and harbours along this coast, so we weren't too concerned - and the boat wasn't objecting at all. As we were very near the coast, the seas were small, even though it was very blowy. Three hours later and the wind had died down to force 4/5, so we just kept going - but some threatening thunder storms and heavy rain clouds decided us on making for Ardglass instead of the Isle of Man - meaning we always had shelter nearby. Passing the entrance to Carlingford Lough - followed by the Mountains of Mourne (Sweeping Down to the Sea - that is when they weren't hidden in torrential downpours) - we arrived at Ardglass at 5pm, having covered 63NM.
Since we were last in Ardglass alongside the fish-pier some four or five years ago, they have built a lovely little Marina - Phennick Cove - with excellent toilet and shower facilities - all for £14 a night (c.w £22.50 at Brixham!). Ardglass is a major fishing port - and fish-processing plants supply Irish Sea fish and shellfish not only to UK but to European markets too. We're now just 35 miles from Port St Mary - and about 40 from Douglas!
We await the next shipping forecast with baited breath!
Well, the shipping
forecasts said SW 3-4 becoming NNW 5 to 6 - and the outlook was
worse, so, go for it we did. We left Ardglass, behind a
traditional motor boat heading for the Peel festival - but he
turned back one mile out - he was rolling all over the place.
In the event, the wind was SW 5 - so not too bad, broad on the beam - we rushed across to catch the last of the tide at Chicken Rock. Still a deep SW swell running from the last couple of days, but the boat took it no bother.
About 12:30, came into this pretty little spot, where many of the inhabitants dress up in leather and seem to zoom about on 2-wheeled vehicles - we think they call them 'T-Ts' - seriously folks, this is 'Ellan Vannin' - the Isle of Man - and we're now just a few hours south of Douglas - but we were too late to carry the tide all the way up.
We got here before the strong NNW winds too!
What a night!
For those who thought Port St Mary meant we were home, think again.
As forecast, the wind veered NNW, and rose - not just to the 5/6 forecast, but to a good F7-8. We were glad to be alongside two tough ferro-cement boats, and on the outside - but the wind was whistling through from Fleshwick By, and kicking up a nasty short chop across Port St Mary Bay. We had every fender aboard pressed in to service, but even so sleep was not sound!
Weather improved dramatically during the day - so we moved onto a buoy at 2pm - then left Port St Mary at 5:45pm for a lovely sail up to Douglas
- so this is why we bought a boat!
Arrived in Douglas Bay at 8:30pm - Cruise
Liner Bremen was anchored off and King Orry, the main island
ferry was about to leave - so we hung around till he was clear,
and, at spot-on 9pm, entered Douglas Harbour.
Tide was still
a bit low, so we pulled into the pontoon and raided Mr Cod's
before moving up the harbour to our drying berth in the Fort
William area for 11pm.
Where's all the water gone?
The Southerly's distinction is the 'Swing Keel' - eight
foot of grip when lowered, it provides good windward performance
- but lifted inside the hull, the boat floats in only 2 feet of
water. This enables the Southerly access to very shallow water -
and to drying moorings like this one. The photo was taken at
6:30am Friday 12 June - with the new Fort Anne buildings in the
background.
The original Fort Anne was once the home of
Sir William Hillary - who founded the Royal National Lifeboat
Institution.
The end of this journey
.....but only the beginning for TideWinder.........
