Sailing Log.
With H.W. at 08.30 we left the pontoons on Thursday morning at 07.30 with a 12 to 15 knot NE and decided to go through the gap by which time we had both sails up and heading for the Mumbles coast. As we passed north of the Goar boy it started gusting 26 knots so we rolled the sails away and motored for a bit. Yes engine on already. This isn’t my intention on this holiday so we decided to put ½ the genoa out and sail with it to Illfracombe. As we passed Minehead things calmed down to a more manageable 17 knots, so we deployed the genoa fully. This changed to an ENE coming off the land at Porlock Weir and that’s how it stayed. We arrived in Illracombe at 14.30 picking up an inner mooring at 17.30.
Illfracombe HW @ 08.30. We left at 07.30 and motored all the way on a bearing of approximately 312 degrees to the South Haven on Skomer Island. There was very little or no wind and nothing to report. We dropped anchor at 18.15 having covered 57.5 Nm.
Monday 19 April
Milford Haven HW @ 10 am LW Kilmore Quay @ 15.40
We ventured out on the Sunday at 7 am but with absolutely no wind and visibility at about 6 miles I wasn’t going to motor to Ireland so we ventured back to the North Haven for the day and we’ll try again tomorrow (Monday). We listened to the shipping forecast given by Milford Haven & Swansea Coastguard at 19.50 on Sunday evening. The forecast was a north, north westerly force 3 to 4 occasionally 5. A northerly would be O.K. but a north westerly would be on the nose so I was optimistic.
We awoke at 5.30 am on the Monday and the wind in the haven was a 13 knot northerly. We left at 6 am and by the time we had cleared the island it was blowing 20 knots. Visibility was excellent having been misty the evening before, and the sea state was moderate with small white horses. We flew along on a starboard tack. Our course of 300 degrees mag meant that we would pass north of the Off Smalls TSS and south of the Tuskar TSS and not have to actually cross either. We passed by the northern end of the Off Small TSS with out a ship in sight. Halfway across the Irish Sea we encountered a RORO ferry. I calculated that we would pass ahead of her, and I thing it altered course slightly too safely pass astern of us. Passing the southern end of the Tuskar TSS was also uneventful with no vessels in sight and not one trawler. During the whole crossing we only saw about 6 boats and with the exception of the RORO the others were 15 to 20 miles away.
By midday the wind had dropped to 15 to 17 knots and veered slightly to a NNE and by 3 in the afternoon it had all but dropped to nothing. We tried flying the cruising schute but after 20 minutes that started flapping around so we motored for the last hour or so to Kilmore Quay arriving at 5 pm. Time taken 11 hours. LOG 60 Nm.
Wednesday 21 April.
We planned to leave Kilmore Quay and go to New Ross. The harbour master suggested that we should leave about 15.00, what times LW, about 17.40. He said that should see us round Hook Head at LW and we can then head up the river Barrow towards Waterford. We should be at the rail bridge about 18.00 and arrive at the marina at about 20.00. He phoned his mate John Diamond at the New Ross marina to inform him of our intentions. John in turn informed the rail bridge to pre-warn them that we would be coming. I had to phone John before we left Kilmore Quay to confirm our departure and then call the bridge when we passed the Passage East to Ballyhack ferry. We were looking forward to going with the tide to Hook Head and then meandering up the river with the flood.
Well we set of from Kilmore Quay at 14.30 with a 10-12 knot following easterly wind. Sea state and visibility was good. We were only doing 3 to 4 knots SOG and with 14nm to Hook Head it was immediately obvious we weren’t going to round the head until well after LW. I thought that as we were heading west on an ebbing tide we would benefit from a lift. Wrong, we were losing about a half to one knot until we actually rounded the head. There appears to be some kind of back eddy in the bay so on went the engine to motor sail. We rounded Hook Head as planned at 17.30 and entered the river only to find that the tide hadn’t turned and we were losing a about a knot against the river. An hour after entering the river we had only reached Duncannon which is about 6 miles up river. With another 4nm to the rail bridge it became obvious we weren’t going to make it to the bridge by 18.30. The Kilmore Quay harbour master thought that we would be there by 18.00. The river from the bridge to the marina is not charted, but apparently well lit by bouys, and it would be dark for the last part of the journey. Quick! Think of a plan “B”. A quick check of the chart and the Irish Cruising Club book and we decided to drop anchor on the east side of the river just north of Ballyhack. We dropped anchor at 19.00 in 4.5m of water and the tide just turning and flowing at 0.6kn. Looks like mud. We’re on the bottom of neaps and the flow didn’t exceed 2 knots. LOG 24nm.
We now realise that we should have left at around 13.00 and headed out of the bay to get a lift on the tide going west instead of going straight across, and planned to stop like we have at Ballyhack or even lower down at Dunmore east on the west bank at the entrance to the river. We informed the marina that we wouldn’t be arriving that evening and arranged for the rail bridge to open at 09.00 am tomorrow, so we’ll up anchor about 07.30 and continue the journey up river to New Ross. Everyone must have thought we have a speed boat.
The tide in the river didn't turn until about 2.5 to 3 hours after LW at Cork (neaps).
Thursday 22 April.
Awoke early and lifted the anchor at 07.30 and slowly ventured up stream to the rail bridge arriving at 08.10. We were early and drifted about until 08.45 when I rang the bridge to announce our presence and the operator opened the bridge for us to pass. The journey up stream, by now with a little help of the flood of a about a knot, was picturesque. The depth kept varying between 4m and 15m and it was well buoyed each being numbered and easy to follow. We arrived at the Three Sisters marina at New Ross at 10.30. LOG 9nm.
Monday 29 April.
LW Cork 11.00
We left the pontoon at the Three Sisters marina in New Ross at 08.00. We were getting a 2 knot lift of the ebb giving us 5 knots plus SOG down river. It over cast but a nice morning with no wind. We reached the rail bridge which opened for us to pass through at 09.45. By 10.15 we were crossing the Ballyhack to East Passage ferry and heading for Duncannon. A 15 knot westerly wind picked up and we set the genoa. As we passed Duncannon a mist rolled in and the vis dropped to 6 – 800m seaward and the wind dropped to 10 knots and changed to a SSW. The wind and tide were taking us on to the east shore but we wanted to go west, so we put the engine on and headed west for Creadan Bay just south of Creadan Head. The mist rolled away east, the sun came out, and it became a beautiful day. The mist came in and disappeared in about half an hour. We turned the engine off and set sail on a starboard tack for the Waterford buoy. We rounded the buoy and tacked back heading for Dunmore East picking up a club mooring at 12.25. LOG 15.8 nm.
We were soon approached by a gent in a dory who informed us that they had just laid the mooring we had picked up and rather than use the eye on the top we may like to take a turn around the shackle below the buoy. What agood choice skipper, I said that one looks a good one and it was. We went ashore after and spoke to the 2 men who were maintaining the moorings. The club employ them to maintain the moorings for them, one of them being doned in diving gear and they were checking and replacing the gear ready for the season.
I introduced myself to the harbour master only to be told it was nothing to do with him, the moorings weren't insured and shouldn't be there. He's bringing it up at the next meeting at the end of this month and is suggesting charging them 300 euros per mooring for a lease. Wow! I'm only a visitor not on the committee.
Thursday 29 April.
HW Cobh 06.40 Vis good Sea moderate swells
LW Cobh 13.11
We left Dunmore East at 09.00 and motored out around the head land with very little wind. Having cleared the headland we headed west and gradually the wind picked up so we motor sailed for a bit and by 10.30 we had 8 to 12 knots SW and we had a nice sail across the bay off of Tramore. The overcast skies cleared up and the sun came out but it was still a bit chilly on the wheel. We sailed the rest of the journey, having to tack south away from the coast twice as we just couldn't pinch the port tack enough to sail a straight line all the way, and by the time we had reached the entrance to the river which leads up in to Dungarvan the wind had increased to 20 knots plus. The sun disappeared, it started to rain, and it was suddenly like the middle of winter. We entered the river at 3 o'clock and dropped the sails. the river is bouyed well but with long stretches between some of them and even 2 hours after LW it required all of my concentration to guess where the channel was. Luckily there was a boat half a mile in front of me and I was watching where he was going. At times I had 5m and others it was only 2m, grounding only once thankfully on sand. We eventually reached the pool outside the harbour and picked up a buoy at 3.30 pm to wait for the tide. Maximum depth in the pool at this time was 15m. The flood at half tide was somewhere around 5 knots. At 16.30 we proceeded in to the harbour and alongside the club pontton, by now it had stopped rain, blowing, and the sun came out again and it was like the middle of summer.
The tides are funny around here. Despite going west with an ebbing tide we still lost a half to one knot. We experienced the same on our trip from Kilmore to the river Suir.
LOG 29.6nm.
Sunday 02 May
HW Cobh 21.00 Vis good Sea moderate
Lw Cobh 15.15
We left Dungarvan at 09.00 luckily at the same time as a local boat named Orca so were able to follow her out of the difficult channel. We rounded Helvic Head at 10.00 with a NNE 14 knot wind and goose winged. Once around helvic head we altered course to about 210 degrees doing about 4 knots plus and heading for Mine Head. We passed Mine Head lighthouse at 11.00 on a starboard reach. The wind was dropping and gusting all the time and we passed Knochadoon Head at 13.45 with the wind at 6 knots and doing 2.6 SOG. We were 5 miles off Ballycotton when the wind increased to 20 knots, and in the distance we could see it tipping down in Ballycotton. Twenty minutes or so later it was our turn. We picked up a visitors mooring outside of the harbour at about 15.30. I went ashore in the inflatable to see if we could go in and that is what we did rafting alongside the fishing boats for the night. LOG 26 nm.
Monday 03 May
Vis good Sea state good
Wind - cold
We left Ballycotton at 08.30 am and passed Power Head at 10.10 (distance 9.9 nm). Another good sail with a N offshore wind varying between 12 and 20 knots we sailed all the way to the entrance on the genoa. We rounded Roaches Point which is at the entrance to Cork harbour at 11.05 (distance 13.3 nm), rolled the genoa away and motored against the tide up to the Royal Cork yacht Club at Crosshaven arriving at 11.55 am. We were losing around a knot against the tide and at sometimes nearlty 2 but its not far from the entrance to the club. LOG 17.5 nm.
Thursday 06 May.
Vis good Sea state good HW Cobh 11.40
Left the river Owenboy at 11.30 past the RCYC and around the point. Headed south out of Cork entrance passing Weavers point at 12.25 LOG 3.2 nm. Wind northerly 16 knots. Roberts Head at 13.00 LOG 6.75nm. Gaining 05. knots from the tide. Headed for Old Kinsle Head to stay off the headlands. The wind turned easterly 12-16 knots when we rounded Roberts Head and we passed the Little Soveriegn at the entrance to Oyster Bay at 14.25 LOG 11.56nm wind easterly 16 knots. Dropped anchor in Oyster Bay at 14.55 LOG 13.26 nm in 3.6 m. 51.41.80N 08.27.30W. The anchor dragged in mud so we picked up someones mooring for the night.
The next day we sailed from Oyster haven around to Kinsale Yatch Club Marina LOG 7.62nm.
We've been lucky so far with north or easterly winds for the last 3 weeks and sea states and visibility have all been excellent.
Kinsale to Glandore on Sunday 09 May
HW at Cohb 15.10. Vis good sea state slight. Wind E 15 knots.
Bought 60 litres of diesel from the Castlepark marina @ 70 cents/ltr.
We left Kinsale at midday doing 5 knots SOG. We rounded Old Kinsale head at 13.40 distance 8.17 nm and our SOG has dropped to 4 knots. pased Seven Heads at 15.25 distance 15.6nm SOG 4 knots. At 17.00 our distnce was 21.6nm wind 6-10 knots and our speed has dropped so we put the engine on SE of Ringlee point. pased galley Head at 17.45 distance 25.2nm and arrived at Glandore at 19.25 distance 3.37nm depth 2.7m on a public mooring.
Glandore to Barloge Creek on Tuesday 11 May
Left Glandore around midday and with 5 knots SOG most of the way and we passed Toe Head at 14.05 distance 9.38nm. Arriving at Barloge Creek at 15.10 distance 12.62 nm.
Barloge Creek to Clear Island via Fastnet Thursday 13 May
HW Baltimore 17.30 Sea state good vis good
Left Barloge Creek at 08.45 and with a 10 knot wind on the nose from the west we motor sailed and tacked back and fore towards to fastnet. Cleared Cape Clear which is at the western most point of Clear Island at 11.10 SOG 5.2 knots. 11.23 nm. We rounded the Fastnet around LW at 11.55 SOG 5.2 LOG 15.00 nm. Our position at midday was 51 23 406N 009 36 725W. We then headed for the north side of Clear island and the wind changed from a W to SW 16kn SOG 4.7kn LOG 4.8kn. We arrived in Clear Island north harbour at 13.20 21.59nm 51 26 43N 009 30 27W.
Some people have said that they are reading my sailing log even though they don’t understand what it all means. It was intended as an aide memoir for us and for my sailing friends to see what we are doing. So for those of you who are not sailors here’s a quick explanation.
HW is high water and LW is low water. HW is based on what’s known as a standard port and using tables you work out the tide for the port where you are, and where you are going based on the time of high water at the nearest standard port. You may have read me referring to HW at Cobh (Pronounced Cove a bit like Siobhan). This is the standard port on the south coast of Ireland and is where the big cruise ships dock. It’s near to Cork.
Viz is short for visibility and so far we have been lucky being able to see as far as the eye can see on every day that we have sailed. We have had no fog or misty days yet.
The LOG is the speed of the boat in knots through the water and is measured by a little paddle wheel mounted under the hull. The SOG is the “speed over the ground” in knots and is obtained from the GPS. So for instance if your LOG was 4 knots and your SOG was 6 knots this would indicate that you were going with the tide and geting a 2 knot lift, which is what we want. If your LOG was 4 knots and SOG 2 knots this would indicate that you were going against the tide. Using the above examples a 12 nautical mile (nm) journey going with the tide would take 2 hours where as going against the tide it would take 6 hours. If it’s rough which do you want?
NESW. Never eat shredded wheat. North, East, South and West indicating where the wind is coming from, ie, wind N 8 knots means it is coming from the north at a wind speed of 8 knots.
Hope this makes it more interesting.
Saturday 15 May Clear Island to Skull (Schull).
With very little wind and coming from the north any way we motored from Clear Island to Skull in the morning taking just over and hour and the distance was 6nm.
Sunday 16 May Skull to Bear Island - Lawrence Cove Marina.
HW Cobh 07.38 Top of springs LW @ Skull (Schull) 13.00
Wind N 8 knots. Viz good Sea state slight
A bit of an unpredictable day as Mount Gabriel was shrouded in cloud having rained in the night. We left Skull at 10.30 and headed south out of the harbour before tuning to starboard to sail between Long Island and the main land. Cleared Goat Island at 11.25 distance 3.95nm wind N 6 – 15 knots and our average SOG was 3.4 knots. We turn SW after Goat Island to get out into clear water and avoid a challenging negotiation of the alternative rock strewn inshore passage.
We passed south west of Mizzen Head on a bearing of something like 265 degrees and our position was 51 25 54N 009 47 13W at a distance 11.6nm LOG 4.5 SOG 5.2. Wind NW 18 knots gusting 22 knots, sea state moderate with 2m waves just breaking.
At 13.30 we were at 51 4 82N 009 51 72W LOG 5.1 SOG 5.3 and altered course to 350 degrees for Bear Island.
At 14.30 we were at 51 30 00N 009 52 91W west of Dunmanus Bay LOG 5.6 SOG 5.7 bearing north. Passed Sheep’s Head at 14.55 distance 22.11nm wind NW 20 Knots LOG 6.4 SOG 6.0. At 16.25 we were east of Bear Island distance 30.25nm wind NW 18 knots and arrive at Lawrence Cove Marina on the north side of the island at 17.10 distance 33.21nm.
Wednesday 19 May Bear island to Castletown Bearhaven.
A horrible rainy and windswept day yesterday so we stayed at Bear Island. There's very little wind today with fog/mist lifting and descending so we have motored cautiously to Castletown Bearhaven and are hoping that things get better tomorrow. As we left the marina the visibility was down to 100m but as we cleared the land it got better. Distance 3.57nm
Thursday 20 May Castletown bearhaven to Portmagee via Dursey Sound.
HW Cobh 11.00am HW Castletown Bearhaven 10.50am HW Valentia 22.00
LW Black Ball harbour 15.00
We left Castletown Bearhaven at 12.15. It's not looking good, we were going to leave at 10 but when the entrance disappeared in the mist we decided to stay for another day, but we had a look outside the headland and decided to go with the engine on. Passed Black Ball Head at 13.30 6.97nm wind S 8 knots. LOG 6.5 SOG 6.5. Having gone past Black Ball Head we set a course for Calf Rock which is SW of Dursey Head and would take us S of Cat Rock which breaks off Crow Head. Half way there the fog rolled in and vsibility was down to about 3 cables. With the help of the radar, cahart and eye balls we passed Cat Rock at 14.20 11.93nm LOG 4.5 SOG 5.1 wind S 12 knots and turned north in to Dursey Sound. At 15.00 we were north of the sound 15.24nm wind S 14 knots LOg 5.4 SOG 6.0
Fortunately as we approached the sound the fog lifted and we could see the cable car passing overhead. At 17.00 were were west of Scariff Island 51 44 26N 10 18 37W 25.38nm wind S 12 knots LOG 5.2 SOG 4.9. The fog rolled in again until we were jus pat Long island in the entrance to portmagee. We passed Puffin Island at 18.20 51 50 00N 10 25 40W 32.46nm wind S 12knots LOG 5.8 SOG 6. We picked up a mooring at 19.20 distance 37.06nm depth 7.5m
Sunday 23 May Portmagee to Dingle.
HW Dingle 13.00 No wind but a beautiful sunny day.
We left portmagee at 10.05 am and cleared the west tip of valentia island at 10.35 2.56nm and still no wind. We altered course to NNW for Dingle and put the auto pilot on. Averaging 4 knots or so we arrived at Dingle marina at 15.00 LOG 21.39nm.
Wednesday 26 may Dingle to Venrty Bay.
Distance 7km 3m at LW
Thursday 27 May Fenit Marina.
HW Fenit 17.17
Left Ventry Harbour at 09.40 wind 10 kn NW as we cleared the head land of Ventry harbour. We rounded Slea Head and the Blasket Sound at 11.22 7.4nm SOG 5.9 LOG 4.9 wind NW 10kn. 52 06 65 N 10 30 15W. North of Sybil point at 12.25 11.77nm. At 15.05 distance 25.2 Deelick Point wind W 18kn SOG 5.1 LOG 5.0. Passing the Magharees at 16.00 29.45nm SOG 4.5 LOG 4.0 w 15 kn. We arived at Fenit Marina at 17.45 distance 38.30nm.
Sunday 30 May Inishmore - Aran Ilsands
HW Fenit 07.0 HW Aran 19.41 Top of springs
We left Fenit at 08.00 COG 350 for Kerry Head motor sailing SOG 5.4 LOG 5.1 rain 1022. Rounded Kerry Head at 10.00 SOG 5.1 LOG 6.2 wind E 8kn 10.34nm and altered course to 001 for Loop Head. Passed Loop Head at 11.35 SOG 4.7 LOG 5.6 19.85nm 1027 still raining clearing wind SE 6kn sea slight viz good. At 15.00 our position was 52 49 80N 09 48 57W and no wind SOG and LOG 5.8 38.83nm. Arrived at Inishmore at 19.10 58.94nm no wind and 5.6m on the mooring.
Tuesday 31 May
HW @ Galway 21.00 Gates open 2 hours before and close on HW.
We left Inishmore at 10.15 the wind was west 8knots sea slight viz good 1026 steady. As the wind was directly behind us we put the cruising schute up. At 13.00 COG 070 SOG 5.3 LOG 5.3 wind W 12 to 15 knots sea slight 53 11 93N 09 23 08W 11.94nm. At 15.00 COG 090 SOG 4.3 LOG 4.2 wind 20knots W so we took the cruising schute down and deployed the genoa. 53 13 89N 09 08 04W 21.26nm West of Black Rock port hand bouy. Picked up a mooring outside at 16.00 distance 25.25nm
Sunday 06 June
HW Galway 13.00.
Bought 60 litres of diesel @ 74.5 cents/ltr from the Texaco garage.
Left at 13.00. Viz good sea state moderate. Wind west 15 knots so we tacked over to Ballyvaghan Bay and back again to Spiddle. Arrived a Spiddle at 16.00 and the wind had dropped to 10 knots. Motored west to Rossaveal. Arrived at Rossaveal at 19.50 distance 30.34nm. Picked up a public visitor buoy.
Monday 07 June.
HW at Inishbofin Island 14.25
Left Rossaveal at 09.00. It was raining and the viz was about a mile, sea state moderate. Wind east 20 knots. At 10.40 we were at 53 12 38N 09 45 47W south of Lettermullan tower. Distance 9.15nm. By 12.25 we were 53 14 71N 10 00 00W of Skerdmore island. Wind E 17knots LOG 5.3 SOG 5.3 distance 19.9nm and the rain had eased. We passed Slyne Head 53 23 38N 10 15 01W at 14.35, wind E 20 knots (Max 29 ) LOG 4.8 SOG 5.8 distance 29.82nm. At 16.00 our position was 52 31 59N 10 14 63W LOG 3.8 SOG 4.6 distance 37.2nm wind E 16 knots. We arrived at Inishbofin island and dropped our anchor at 17.20. Distance 42.78nm.
Thursday 10 June.
The tides are so insignificant. Left Inishbofin at 07.40 wind E 12 knots sea state slight. Tacked towards the mainland - Rynvyle Point and then starboard tack to Inishturk arriving at 10.50. Depth 7m distance 12.71nm wind nil.
Friday 11 June.
HW 17.00.
Left Inishturk at 10.50 wind N 15 to 20 knots and gusting. Arrived at Clare island 12.25 distance 7.56nm depth 3.4m at LW.
Saturday 12 June.
HW Broad Haven Bay 18.40
Left Clare Island at 07.20 and headed for Keem bay where we stopped for breakfast. Arrived at 10.20 distance 13nm wind N 3 to 10 knots and oscillating. Sea moderate swell. Motor sailed. 53 58 01N 10 11 48W. Left keem at 11.30 wind NW 7 knots and rounded Achill Head at 12.30 distance 4.28 nm and changed course to 010 for Inishkea. Passed Inishkea at 14.15 istance 12.9nm altered cousre to 025 for Eagle Island. Wind dying/motoring. SOG 5.8 LOG 5.4. Rounded Eagle Island at 16.25 distance 23.29nm and Erris Head at 17.00 distance 26.23nm. Picked up someones mooring at Ballyglass at 18.30 distance 32.58nm.
Sunday 13 June.
HW Sligo 19.30.
Departed Ballyglass at 07.40. Wind W 20 knots and gusting (Max 32) sea moderate to rough. Goose winged once we passed the Stags. Passed Portalin at 09.30 distance 9.4nm SOG 4.6 LOG 5.4. Passed Downpatrick Head at 12.25 distance 24.09nm and a 2m to 3m swell. SOG 5.5 LOG 5.1 wind 22 W and gusty. Carrickadda Point at 15.30 distance 38.73nm sailing with the genoa only SOG 5.7 LOG 5.1. We rounded the south cardinal at the antrance to Sligo bay at 17.30 distance 47.23nm and the north cardinal at 17.40 SOG 5.2 LOG 4.1 distance 48.41nm wind still 20knots Westerly. Arrived at the town pontoon in SLigo at 19.00 distance 53.20nm.
Tuesday 15 June - Sligo to Teelin Bay
HW Sligo 08.30. No wind
Left Sligo 09.00 and passed the south cardinal at the entrance to Sligo bay at 10.45distance5.4nm SOG 4.5 LOG 3.6 wind 6 knots westerly. Position at 12.30 54 26 00N 08 42 15W west of Inishmurry island distance 13.12nm. SOG 4.2 LOG 4.2 wind w 4 knots and motoring, sail in sails out. Sea slight vis good. Course 000. Stayed west of 08 42 00 W until 54 28 00N and alteredd course to 020. for Teelin. Wind eventually increased to 10 knots and we sailed the last couple of hours to Teelin arriving at 16.00 distance 25.96nm.
Wednesday 16 June - Teelin to Aranmore
HW Teelin 10.30.
Left Teelin at 12.15 and headed west, sea state slight and viz good. Wind 7 knots from the west so we motored in to it. SOG 4.3 knots. Passed through Rathlin sound between Rathlin O'Birne island and Malin Beg head at 14.00 distance 7.36nm. Altered course to 350 motor sailing. Position at 17.40 54 56 00N 08 37 50W distance 24.75nm SOG 5 LOG 4.6 wind W 5 knots. Passed around the north of the island arriving at 19.46 distance 33.71nm depth 9m.
Friday 18 June - Aranmore to Sheep Haven (Downies).
HW @ Sheep haven 11.30 viz good sea modrate.
Departed at 09.00 and passed through the Owey island sound at 10.05 distance 4.3nm wind 10 knot NNW SOG 4.6 LOG 5. Tacked 070 towards Gola island SOG 4.5 LOG 4.1. South of Gola @ 10.40 dstance 6.62nm we tacked back out west on a cse of 325. At 11.30 we were 55 07 90N 08 26 30W so that we could tack back east towards Bloody Foeland and miss the drying Bullogconnell shoals. At 12.30 we were 55 09 12N 98 19 35W wind backed slightly and we put the engine on to steering a cse of 050 and stay 1nm off Bloody Foreland. SOG 3.6 LOG 3.8 motor sailing. NW of Inishbeg at 14.00 SOG 4.3 LOG 5.4 wind N 10 knots distance 21.65nm. Stopped the motor and altere cse to 080 or Horn Head. Horn Head at 15.50 distance 29.5nm wind N 10 knots swell 2m. Arrived at the Downies at 17.10 distance 35.9nm depth 3.4m.
Saturday 19 June - Downies to Lough Swilly.
HW @ Lough Swilly at 12.30
Left the Downies at 08.15 wind 15 knots NE. Motored out of the Haven in to the wind and a moderate to rough swell. Cleared the Rinnafaghla Point wind gusting 20 knots swell 4 metres motor sailing to maintain a course and speed and stay off the coast. Entered Lough Swilly 55 16 91N 07 37 72 at 11.30 distance 13.05nm SOG 5.9 LOG 4.7 wind NE 16 cut the engine and sailed down the Lough. Arrived at Lough Swilly YC marina at 13.30 Distance 25nm.
Monday 21June – Lough Swilly Marina to Portrush via Portsalon.
HW @ Lough Swilly 14.50.
We left the marina at 18.00 to pickup a mooring off Portsalon on the west coast of Lough Swilly for the night. Minimum depth out of the marina was 2.8m. Motored out to the east cardinal and then sailed for Portsalon wind 10 knots NE SOG 3.1 LOG 2.5 arrived at Portsalon at 20.20 distance 7.9nm depth 4.8m.
Tuesday 22 June HW at Belfast 21.00 HW at Lough Swilly 09.30
HW Portrush 16.30 and slack water at Malin Head around 12.30.
Left Portsalon at 09.15 heading for Dunaff Head at the east entrance to Lough Swilly. Viz good sea slight wind SSE 12 knots. Arrived Dunaff Head at 10.45 distance 5.44nm wind S 10 knots. Launched the cruising schute SOG 3.5 LOG 3.8. The wind died at 11.30 so we motored with the cruising schute SOG 4.4 LOG 4.2. Rounded Malin Head at 13.00 with no wind 55 23 11N 07 21 78W SOG 5 LOG 3.5. Headed east between Garvan Isles and the mainland on 55 22 90N minimum depth 6.5m. From here on the wind was 10 knots or less on the nose from the east. We motored the rest of the way. Forecast was a SW 2 to 4. At 17.00 we were north of Lough Foyle entrance SOG 5.6 LOG 3.7. arriving at Portrush at 18.40 distance 34.4nm.
HW Belfast midnight plus 6 hours for the tide to turn east = 06.00
HW Rathlin 09.00
Left Portrush at 07.00 and went inside the Skerries motoring into a 10 knots NE. SOG 5.6 LOG 3.6. Averagin 2 knots sometimes 3. Position at 09.00 55 16 35N 06 22 00W distance 8nm depth 147m. Arrived at Rathlin at 10.25 ditance 12.61nm.