Visitors and then there’s visitors

Woke up to a lovely warm calm morning.
I decided to have breakfast on the go and set off with the main already hoisted.
On the way out of the haven I saw Fanahan cleaning his waterline.
First Shadoo, then Eureka and now Phoenix. This is catching, a bit like yachting covid.
I passed a British boat heading in. He had made an early start from somewhere as it wasn’t even 10.00 yet.
I had a nice sail west through Stag Sound and past the entrance to Baltimore but then the wind went from light to almost nonexistent.
On came the engine and we motorsailed past Cape before heading north around the most southern point of Ireland.
‘Shadoo’ my near neighbour on the marina was anchored in the south harbour in Cape but I continue on and tried to sail but what little wind there was kept coming and going.
The engine stayed on for the last five miles into Crookhaven.
As I entered, a friend Marcus was coming out in his boat ‘Kudos’ so I did a handbrake turn and snuck up beside him.
Sneaky bastards these ex-guards.
We had a brief conversation before parting company and I went looking for the visitor mooring he had just left.
Bastards!
A rib beat me to it!
Yes I know a rib doesn’t need deep water and there was another smaller rib waiting to take him off.
I reckon it was a holidaymaker down from Dublin (they all drive ribs, you’d spot them a mile away) using it as their own private mooring.
Yes, I know he’s a visitor but not the type of visitor the moorings are meant for.
Anyway I had to anchor.
Some French yachts came in shortly afterwards and I was wondering where they anchored.
They didn’t!!
They just picked up some vacant private moorings. You couldn’t be up to them.
The owners might come back, they might be only for small boats etc etc!!
Anyway we have a lot of French boats in Crook tonight. I wonder do they plan on smuggling Ian Bailey back to France??
I ate ashore as I’m down to packets and tins and anyway I hadn’t had to pay for moorings or food yet and only the odd pint had passed my lips so I felt entitled to splash out!
Had the obligatory pint in ‘O’Sullivan’s’ and I was back onboard by 20.00.
Nearly time for the leaba. (Irish =bed) and it’s not even 22.00.Read more