Settled weather
gave us a brilliant trip to Fleetwood.TideWinder again remained in Commission, and a frorstbite trip (we literally had to wash the frost off the decks each morning) on February 17th to Whitehaven, allowed us to meet up with Grandma & Grandad Dorricott - and an early season curry at the Akash!
Easter
Early spring then went AWOL, and it was Easter
before we really got out again - a return trip to Bangor, NI. This time we
welcomed Carol Fulton aboard for the trip. Carol was a regular crew in our
Clyde sailing days.
After a few days in the old haunts, we dropped down to Portaferry in the Strangford Narrows for a further couple of days - before heading back to the Island through Calf Sound, and an over-night in Douglas.
May Bank Holiday
Settled weather
gave us a brilliant trip to Fleetwood.
We left Ramsey around Midnight, and arrived at Fleetwood ready for the noon - high tide to lift us into the dock.
A foray by tram to nearby Blackpool
earned us a trip to the Pizza Hut, of course!
Kircudbright Marina Opening
Celebration
Although
the major extension to Kircudbright's marina had been in use for a year, our
arrival, for a May weekend visit, coincided by chance with the
"opening" celebrations - band and all.
A suitable excuse to "dress
ship" and join the fun.
TT Getaway
A week's visit to Conwy Marina and the surrounding area allowed Tidewinder's
crew to renew its links with this lovely part of wales.
No less than 3 other Southerlys were spotted in Conwy harbour or busy marina.
We had a brisk dash back across to
the Island taking opportunity of a SW windo in a week of fresh to strong North
Westerlys - not the ideal direction for the IoM!
Maryport
Stephen &
Philip attended "Firestarter", an Isle of Man Christian youth festival
so Mum & Dad decided to explore pastures new alone - and visited the trad
boat weekend at Maryport. Rumours that we spend most of the weekend eating
our way around this new discovery are mostly true - and the Tandoori restaurant
was wonderful!
August Bank Holiday
We left Ramsey on Saturday morning for Peel, where Stephen's fiancée, Susan
Millward, joined us for a trip to Ireland. Approaching Ardglass, we phoned
through our order to the Chinese Carry-Out, then arrived to find the marina and
harbour bursting at the seams with yachts - and nowhere to berth. It was
the Trad Boat weekend! We ended up outside about 7 fishing boats and a
yacht, and Ann & Philip set off bravely for the epic trip ashore to get the
grub. Fifteen minutes later they still hadn't reached the quay, so another
party was assembled instead!
An
early Sunday start to let the yacht inside of us out left little point in
re-berthing the boat, so we headed South towards Carlingford lough - and past St
John's Point towards the beautiful Mountains of Mourne.
We
arrived on the new flood at Carlingford marina - which has now more than doubled
in size.
Carlingford Town was heaving with
people enjoying the brilliant weather - and the local Bistro a new discovery of
gastronomic delight!
Monday,
back to Ardglass, now virtually emptied after the trads had gone home
- and the 
friendly
(greedy) seals which hang around in Ardglass harbour feeding on the fish scraps
from the fishing fleet.