Kinsale to Crookhaven

After a second day in Kinsale and a walk to the Other Fort (James Fort), not to mention a quick trip up the mast to lubricate the furler, we set sail at dawn (0800) for Castletownsend (Castle Haven).

We arrived at Castle Haven no obvious signs of scurvy amongst the crew.

The weather, indeed the very forecast, is a challenge.

To summarise, today was WNW by W veering to NNW by W, F 4-5, occasionally 6.  squally showers. Total absence of giraffes.  (The latter was a blessing, we think.)

We like Castletownsend, its Pub sells Murphys, and its Irish Protestant Church has very nice stained glass windows. We had a nice walk in the sunshine and met a very pleasant English octogenarian who lives in the converted village hall, complete with a sundial that runs 14 minutes slow. (Oil on canvass below by Dr Edwards).

Next stop Schull.

We had a good sail in good weather and saw what I think was a Minke Whale or what Al and Jean think was a Bottlenose dolphin.  Now whether you to choose to believe me (a doctor)  or my wife (a lady .. with a degree in Natural Sciences) or Al (a mere Emeritus Professor of Marine Biology) is entirely up to you; however, IT WAS A WHALE  (so there).  Anyway it was too big to a bottlenose (max size 3.5 metres) and too dark in colour, even if the dorsal fin was about right.

Schull was nice.  We went for a walk.  We had two nights on the mooring.  Al cooked beef in Guinness.

Today.

Today it has rained.

We motored over to Crookhaven.

(F2-3, rain)

We all agree that it was a small porpoise that we saw en route.

Al had Clonakilty sausages (made out of blood and stuff) followed by two cold special, lard enriched, economy sausages for lunch.

I had a bacon butty.

It is still raining, but we are moored only 100 metres from O’Sullivans (the pub).

May be Murphys’ time soon.

Castletownsend tomorrow ..maybe

We like Kinsale.
Had a couple of nice walks to the forts

Here's a picture of a Wheatear we spotted.

Time to sail on tomorrow, weather permitting.

Kinsale

We like Waterford.

Johnny the Marina Manager is welcoming, friendly and wonderfully helpful.

We had supper at “Doolans”. A Pub ... well, to quote their leaflet “Waterford’s most unique pub”.   

This begs the question: How many unique pubs are there in Waterford?

In celebration of our visit, we bought an Irish courtesy flag, a piece of hosepipe and a dongle.   

(Irish dongles are much better than English dongles.)

We met an Australian.

I said: “what are you doing in Ireland?”

He said: “getting a sun tan and improving my English.”

Next stop Youghal.

We sailed there … well, motored.  It was windy, rainy, foggy, wavy, rough, cold and it took about eight hours and it was beating all the way.  Jean wanted to go home (so did I).  But Youghal was nice.

We picked up a mooring.  Had supper. Slept.

Next day was sunny and the wind was from behind us and we decided not to go home.

We sailed to Cork.  

(Crosshaven Actually)..  Salve Marine.  

Very friendly, sheltered.

Al arrived from Newcastle.

We went out to supper at The Anchor.  The fish was wonderful.

We were going to have three days off (at least) in Crosshaven, but we didn’t.

From Crosshaven we set off for Kinsale.

Beating.

We made it to Oyster Haven.

“Quintessential Anchoring” the book said. 

Lovely anyway.  

Very peaceful.

This brings me to Sunday … today.

First off, a message from Linda.

Apparently Bonzo has had a go at the RSPCA Inspector, but he’s pretty much OK (Bonzo anyway).

Bloody animal  (can you have dogs re-castrated ?)

Anyway, Oyster Haven to Kinsale was only about a mile and we arrived at Kinsale Yacht Club in sunshine in time to witness the holy blessing of a ship. (My own view was that it should have been the crew and passengers who were blessed given the rust on the blessed boat). 

Anyway, bagpipes, speeches, processions etc.  All very nice.

Still sunny!

Lunch, in the sun, on the boat.

Nice (sunny) walk to Charles Fort.  Very impressive.  Built in 16’ something to keep the Catholics out.  Full of Spanish tourists.  Obviously failed in its primary aim.

Dropped in at the pub on our way home.

I like Murphys.

Safely in Waterford

Bonzo may have been sad to see us leave … but who cares ?

We had hired a “Corsa or equivalent” and got a “Polo” almost a Skoda.

Very nice to see Helen and family in Bristol, the Lizzy et Johannes in Barnstaple, then Angela and Martin en Sancreed  then back to el boato in Newlyn.

We met Dave on the pontoon.  The boat was well and happy. We slept anxiously.

Saturday: winds NE 4-5 maybe 6 going SE. We decided to go for it.

The very nice guy next to us said NE going NNE.

He was right.

0830.We set off from Newlyn.  Target Dunmore East.  Wind F 5 NE  (NNE F6) … got headed steadily to NNE. 

Quite cold during the night .

Dark from about 2100.

Bright full moon and Venus.

Lots of  porpoises. 

Bloody cold. 

Sailing quite fast, through the night, close hauled in F6. 

We both had brief sleeps.

The sky brightened at about 0500.

More marine mammals. 

Eventually arrived outside Waterford 0900.

Dunmore East looked lacking in shelter for the approaching SE breeze.

Opted for Duncannon anchorage.

Slept. Bliss…

Up for supper.

Slept … horrible.  Terrible exposed wobbly anchorage as wind went SW (not SE).

Up at 0800. Off at 0930. Motored to Waterford.

Moored.

I love Waterford Marina.

It's a dog's life.

Bonzo seems a lot calmer after Monday’s trouble, but unfortunately they couldn't save the poor Postman’s finger.       Why he put his hand through the letter box again after the last episode is still a mystery.

I'm surprised that we haven’t found the wedding ring in his poo yet.

Captain's blog

The plot so far.

David very kindly took us down to Itchenor.  We had a lot of "stuff".

The first night of our cruise involved staying on our mooring.  Lovely!

11 April 2012.

Up at dawn (0830)

West Pole 1000 (least depth just north of bar beacon was 0.8 M @ 0945 (HW Chi +75 min)  .. I mention this simply to show that we have been 1. passage planning 2. keeping a diligent log.

Anyway  .. despite going quite well, we weren't fast enough to get to Weymouth and had a romantic evening (night) in Studland Bay instead  (anchored in 3 metres using 40 metres of chain .. ample I thought).

Spent some time worrying about blue liquid coming out of the cooling system.

12 April 2012

up at 0530 (well Jean was).  Left at 0630  .. fair tide towards somewhat minor overfalls at Anvil Point.

Arrived Weymouth Town Quay 1010.

Tied up at Town Quay.  One other boat there Presented our compliments to the Harbour Master's staff, who made us move 20 metres up stream, reasons:

1. Lots of 20  metre yachts coming in

2. We should have called on VHF first

3. Dogs like pissing on lamp posts

4. The "Olimpics is Stressful"

5. etc

The new loos at Weymouth have a Dyson Airblade in the men’s washrooms. This would be really good if the taps ran sufficiently to get your hands wet. The computerised flushing  .. in a word ..  doesn't flush.

Serviced a winch without losing the bits over the side.

Great fish and chips.

Next morning  .. alone on pontoon.  No sign  of the fleet of 20 Metre racing  yachts.

13 April 2012  ..A FRIDAY

Up at 0530   .. Yes, really.  Really dark.

Portland Bill at 0630.  Hit 11.2 Knots (on inner passage).

Thought about Dartmouth, maybe Salcombe?  Opted for Plymouth.

Arrived Sutton Lock Marina 1830.

'nuff said.

Italian(ish) dinner.

14 April 2012.

Shower etc

Re-fuelled.

"We'll definitely (90%) go to  Fowey  rather than Falmouth (10%)".

after a brief thunderstorm, the VHF and AIS malfunctioning, and a little rain ..

arrived Falmouth Visitor's Marina at 1815.

approaching Falmouth

Salmon pasta supper ..  excellent.

15 April 2012

Day off in Falmouth.

Bought a new aerial

Had a nice walk.

Discussed tomorrow.

16 April 2012

"Gale 8 later"

Spent the morning fitting the new aerial.

Art gallery and Tesco Metro in the afternoon.

No sign of gale.

Force 9 promised for 17th.

We may be here all Summer.

Steak and potatoes followed by Tescos Chocolate Tart. Lovely.

17, 18, 19, 20  April.  Stayed in Falmouth.

Had a nice walk.

A short run.

A nice meal at the Yacht Club ("visiting yotties welcome etc.")

Many trips to Tescos.

A nice visit to the National Maritime Museum.

Interesting to see that most of the boats I have sailed through the years are now considered to be antiques and are hanging from the ceiling  (wayfarer, laser, firefly etc.).  The nice lady who sold us our tickets refused to believe that I wasn't entitled to a "concession" despite me being somewhere in my 50s.

David arrived on Friday night.

Supper aboard. Up at 0540 for the weather forecast.  "NW F5-F7".  Let's go for it.

We made it to Newlyn. A little bumpy in places, but no major problem. I didn’t vomit.

Newlyn is nice.

Newlyn welcomes yachts.

The nice men in the watch tower ( Dave and Dave .. Dave's assistant) are very helpful.
Dave doesn't answer calls on VHF from yachts as they don't have VHF in the tower. (No phone either).
Berth at one of the first 3 fingers at the SW end of the floating pontoon. (No too difficult .. we didn't hit anything)

There are 3 finger pontoons for yachts and they can take 12 visitors at a time.

£18 a night, free electricity (you need a long wire and need to get to the plug before anyone else gets it).
Eat your heart out Weymouth.

Nice walk to  Mousehole.

Windy. Windy. Windy.

Cruise News

With Bonzo back from rehab and our house-sitter discharged from hospital, we are almost ready to go.

Our "pet" guard dog "Bonzo" before his lobotomy

We hope to set sail on Wednesday and get to Milford Haven on 23rd April