We liked Arklow.
We walked around the town.
Pleasant and friendly but perhaps a little run-down.
19 June 2012
Up at 0600 (felt quite late really), left at 0630.
Motored all the way to Howth.
Jean
Howth is the posh marina near Dublin.
It is therefore where posh Dubliners keep their boats, but
being in Ireland (as it is), it is friendly and generally very nice.
The main thing is to remember the correct pronunciation
“Howth” as in “Hotel” and not as in “House”.
Howth Marina is nice.
Yotties mainly keep their boats ashore and polish their
bottoms (the boats’ bottoms that is) before and after every race.
Howth (probably)
We filled up with very nice green diesel (entirely legal in
Ireland) and went out for a very nice meal
(chicken liver pate or mushroom soup, pan-fried salmon, and a nice
bottle of Sauv Blanc … what more could we ask for?)
20 June 2012
Up at 0900, departed 1200
(this is more like it!)
After many hours deliberation we decided (definitely) to go
to Carlingford Lough.
However, within an hour of setting off we changed this for
Ardglass (on account of the weather).
The weather, in essence, was forecast to come from all
directions, mixed with rain and stuff.
One of the forecasts (and you can get Brittany, Dublin, Liverpool, Isle
of Man, Belfast and the Beeb forecasts from here) mentioned “NW F8 later” and one of our books said that Carlingford
Lough could be “rougher than the open sea in a north-westerly”. Ergo
Ardglass.
We sailed (using the sails, only) for the first 6 hours … until the batteries all went flat
(again) .. then motored the last bit.
We saw the Isle of Man and the Mountains of Mourne.
Mountains of Mourne in the mist (etc.)
Arrived Ardglass 2100.
Lovely easy to get into berth, with nice (strong) lady to
catch our bows.
All very wonderful.
On the pontoon were one Irish boat (“Glance”), an American
single-hander (from America), a Swede, a German and a French Boat … and us (English from Britain).
Ardglass was acquired by our Norman rulers in the 12th
or 13th Century and suitably covered in Castles and Churches. During the 18th Century up to 500
fishing boats at a time would berth there (during the Herring extermination
season). During the later 20th Century, the EU (a transient
Franco-German collaborative venture) helped fund a marina. Now in the 21st Century, the
marina is pretty empty apart from international yotties (like us) sheltering
from the weather.
21st June
A day off.
Battery day. Spent
all morning trying to work out why 5 big batteries aren’t enough for one medium
sized boat.
Eventually established that:
- Jeanneau had installed our battery charger with its dip switches set wrong, and
- the batteries are all, essentially, b*ggered.
dip switches (why?)
Had a nice walk in the afternoon, past a couple of ruined
castles and a few even more ruined churches.
22nd June
England and Wales were flooded again today.
Ireland is always flooded, so we didn’t notice, but it did
rain all day.
Ardglass Marina seems to be run by a very nice dog (is this an oxymoron?).
23rd June
Up at 0800.
Off to Strangford Lough.
F6 on the tail.
Genoa only.
Arrived at “the narrows”
at HW Belfast – 0330 so the tide was only 2.5 knots (apparently it can
be 7 knots, if you get it wrong).
Arrived at Quoile Yacht Club at the height of Quoile Yacht
Club Regatta Day.
Went for a walk to the bird hide.
Lots of swallows, some sand martens.
A monument near Quoile Yacht Club (Strangford Lough)
Dinner aboard.
Strangford Lough Yacht Club tomorrow.
Strangford Lough Yacht Club tomorrow.
