Arklow, Howth, Ardglass and Strangford Lough

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 12^th or 13^th Century and suitably covered in Castles and Churches.  During the 18^th Century up to 500 fishing boats at a time would berth there (during the Herring extermination season). During the later 20^th Century, the EU (a transient Franco-German collaborative venture) helped fund a marina.  Now in the 21^st Century, the marina is pretty empty apart from international yotties (like us) sheltering from the weather.

21^st 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:

1. Jeanneau had installed our battery charger with its dip switches set wrong, and
2.  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.

22^nd  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?).

23^rd 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.