Day 16
Depart Derrynane 0825 arrive Dingle 1530 - 38 miles
Heavy rain overnight and a cold morning - looks like full all weather gear today.
Coffee and cereal to get us set for the day.
A stiff northeasterly breeze made lifting the anchor interesting and we had a slight touch of the sandy bottom before getting the anchor secure and motoring out of the harbour at 0830.
Wind speed was touching 20 knots so we just unfurled the jib to steady the boat and were soon motor sailing at over 6 knots.
0945 abeam Bolus Head. 1030 abeam Puffin Island - lots of young Puffins in the water who appear not to be able to fly yet.
1046 wind veered dead ahead - furled jib and now motoring. 1100 abeam Bray Head, Valentia Island
A very lumpy and confused sea as we entered Dingle Bay and with the wind on our nose we were making very little way, so mainsail up and bear off to beat up the bay.
Gavin made bacon butties for brunch as we crossed the bay.
Off the lighthouse at the entrance to Dingle bay at 1455, dropped main and motored up to the marina.
We were met by the marina manager Peter who helped us dock on the south hammerhead; still a stiff northeasterly breeze.
Day 17
Gordon’s birthday! And the sun was shining.
Depart Dingle 1115 arrive Fenit 1910 - 43 miles
A pod of dolphins joined us as we motor sailed down Dingle Bay.
1258 abeam Slea Head, Spinnaker up through Blasket Sound
And down 30 minutes later when the wind dropped and veered - kept Gavin busy on the foredeck!
1604 abeam Brandon Head
1740 in Magheree Sound - shallow down to 5 metres.
As we arrived into the harbour we were met by the local cruiser-racers heading out for their Tuesday night club race, and we were invited up to the clubhouse to meet them when they got back ashore.
The Fenit harbourmaster Christy put us on a T-head berth and we quickly tidied up before heading out for dinner; unfortunately the local pub/restaurant wasn’t serving food, so we ended up having Gordon’s birthday supper in the Mike’s cafe - good scampi & chips.
The sailing club members made us very welcome for a few drinks before heading back to the boat to prepare for an early morning start.
Day 18
Depart Fenit 0610 arrive Kilronan, Inishmore, Aran Islands 1500 - 59 miles
The wind is behind us today and forecast to increase to over 20 knots - should be a good sail.
Mainsail hoisted and jib unfurled as same sailed out of Tralee bay.
0750 abeam Kerry Head. The local sailors advised us to keep well offshore between Kerry Head and Loop Head as the flood tide would take us into the Shannon.
Once we made some distance offshore Davy called a gybe and we had a direct layline to Inismore - good call Davy!
0935 abeam Loop Head
Tried to unfurl the code 0 but furling drum was jammed - spent a few hours fixing it and eventually set it at 1100.
A great downwind sail with each of heheh crew trying to set the fastest speed - Davy claimed 10.5 knots which was the highest.
Over 55 miles in 8 hours, an average of over 7 knots.
The big following sea kept the helmsman busy and we were all tired when we reached the Aran Islands.
1415 enter Gregory Sound, 1430 enter Killeany Bay.
Tied up alongside a smaller yacht in the pontoon; will need to check with harbourmaster if we are ok here.
Couldn’t contact the harbourmaster but a local fisherman said we would be ok for the night.
Visited the local pub imaginatively called The Bar!
We were recommended Madigan’s seafood restaurant and booked it for 2000.
Back to the boat to freshen up and the rain arrived. The restaurant obligingly sent a car to pick us up and we had a great meal - celebrating Gordon’s birthday a day late.
Capped a long but great day off with some wine & cheese back in the boat.
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