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  • TravelerWest Cork here I come
    Day 20

    Back in the ferry

    August 5, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Sun greeted me when I slid back the hatch and seemed every boat was having a late start this morning.
    It was already 09.00 and I had hardly started getting ready to depart.
    The first boat to move began raising its anchor and suddenly I realised I had a long day ahead and better get going.
    I raised my anchor at 09.50 and once I had room I raised the mainsail and headed for the open sea.
    Winds were light as I goose winged towards the Galley followed shortly after by another few yachts but only one going in my direction.
    Once past the headland the wind died and eventually I dropped the main and began to motor.
    As usual after dropping the sails, the wind suddenly arrived and I had some more exercise hoisting the main up again.
    I had taken a course almost due east trying to keep wind in the genny as the forecasted NW wind stubbornly stayed instead WNW.
    Eventually after the Old Head I was able to change to a northerly course on a reach as the speed increased.
    After Robert’s Cove I had a beat towards Roches Point in a gusty northerly wind and was unable to get into the harbour unless I tacked.
    It was too late and I was tired. I was hoping to tie up before it was dark so I furled the genny and motorsailed into the harbour and got Eureka ready for berthing once the wind eased north of Whitegate.
    I finally tied up at East Ferry in the dark at 21.40 and was met by my lift home.
    A heatwave next week? I might have to head back west 😎    Read more

  • TravelerWest Cork here I come
    Day 19

    A perfect day

    August 4, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Had to set the clock to make sure I’d be up in time to tidy Eureka before the visitor arrived.
    The sun was shining, the wind was blowing from the right direction and I was going to have crew.
    A perfect day ?
    Norma my SIL after a small detour arrived on the button and we headed out to Eureka.
    We lifted the anchor at 11.00, having first to take the boat hook to a shrimp 🦐 pot wrapped around the chain.
    Who the feck lays pots in an anchorage, someone in Baltimore does!!
    We only had a gentle breeze until we got to the Kedges and I was wondering where the wind had gone.
    I felt a draught on my face and seconds afterwards, we heeled over and took off.
    We had a lovely reach to the Stags when the wind picked up even more and we changed to a more northerly course towards Glandore.
    Norma was getting a taste every type of sailing in the four hours it took to get to Glandore.
    For probably the first time ever when sailing I was on time.
    It’s hard to get good crew especially ones who feed you and leave the galley better than they found it so I had to hold up my end of the bargain and had to have Norma ashore at the time stated.
    We had a drink ashore while we waited for Anthony to arrive and collect Norma.
    I wandered over to Glandore Church where the entrance is a hole carved in a rock. For the first time in over 30 yrs of visiting Glandore, it was open and I went in to the lovely simple interior and had a look at the wall hangings that gave the history of the locality.
    Later lAs I sat in the cockpit eating the dinner Norma left for me a yacht flying the Breton flag sailed in and showed how to dig in an anchor without needing an engine.
    Had to make another trip ashore to meet another relative. A great chat over two pints and then back to Eureka on a flat calm night.
    The icing on the cake to a perfect day 😎    Read more

  • TravelerWest Cork here I come
    Day 18

    A mistake!

    August 3, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Tuesday:
    Having anchored yesterday under the shelter of Sherkin, I woke up in the early morning to find Eureka had wandered from where I left her.
    The bold girl had dragged her anchor in the strong winds.
    It was too dark to lift and reset the anchor so I spent the rest of the night sitting in the cockpit with everything ready if she continued to drag.
    Her stern was close to a shallow patch which included rocks but luckily she stayed put until dawn when I went back near to where we had originally anchored and left out most of my chain.
    Satisfied that the anchor was dug in well, I went off to bed for a second time.
    The moral of the story is, if you have chain, use it.
    It was too windy to go ashore so I read until it was time to make the dinner and luckily had a decent signal on the tv.
    I set the alarm so that I could check the anchor but woke up before it went off and found Eureka was behaving herself and the winds had eased.
    Wednesday:
    A lovely sunny warm day greeted me when I stuck my head out of the hatch.
    The winds had died down and only for the forecast I’d have set off for home.
    I decided I’d go across to Baltimore, anchor and go ashore.
    Another mistake!
    When I got over, there was still a stiff breeze, still about a F5. I hadn’t realised how much shelter Sherkin was giving.
    The forecast was for the wind to drop from 17.00 on so I decided rather than go back, to anchor and wait for a bit before going ashore.
    ‘Explorer’ the Garda SC yacht was moored close by. I remember as treasurer writing the cheque for it.
    Went exploring and then met a friend for a sandwich and a pint 🍺 Yes! just the one ☝️
    Later another walk was followed by dinner ashore and I got a bit wet returning to Eureka.
    I’m now sitting in the cockpit having a cuppa, listening to Johnny Creedon on the radio and looking forward to a nice sail to Glandore tomorrow. Last stop before home.
    The sun is going down and all is mellow yellow 😎    Read more

  • TravelerWest Cork here I come
    Day 14

    Summer for one day

    July 30, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ 🌧 17 °C

    Better go back a bit to bring you up to date.
    Saturday started off damp and foggy.
    Donal took me on a long walk and acted as a tourist guide as we went along.
    We passed the house Margaret and himself lived it until 1975. I had visited it in 1977 when I visited the present owner.
    It’s a small world!
    I also saw his grandmother’s house and dropped in next door to his brother in law John, a lovely friendly and entertaining man.
    Had a quick look at the church (No, no bolt of lightening from on high) before going from the north road to the south road and back towards South Harbour.
    Later after Donal and Margaret went to join the family, I washed the decks and filled the water tanks.
    That night I joined the O’Driscoll’s for a pint or two in Cotter’s.

    Sunday was a very different day.
    The sun was out and the harbour began to fill with visitors and boats from the mainland.
    Donal reckoned I needed more exercise so off we went, first to the lake and then as that hadn’t defeated me, he took me across fields and off up a hill.
    There were great views from the top and the light breeze kept us cool as we climbed.
    Later that afternoon we all headed to Cotter’s and when I finally got back to Eureka, I was ordered aboard Ri Ogra for dinner as there was three helpings in the pot.
    Mention was made of a cat of nine tails should I consider otherwise.
    So I didn’t put up much of a fight and made a donation of Margaret’s favourite tibble 🍷
    . . . . . .it was a long night dissecting all the problems of the world with much laughter.
    Donal was finally defeated and called a halt to things at midnight.

    Today one sensible woman and two salty dogs left Cape before the wind got up.
    It was raining and Margaret is no fool, she got the ferry, while Donal and I sailed to Baltimore.
    Donal was leaving Ri Ogra on a mooring and heading home, I was heading for the shelter of Sherkin Island to ride out the winds until Wednesday when I’m heading for home but taking Eureka with me.    Read more

  • TravelerWest Cork here I come
    Day 13

    The place where Elvis died

    July 29, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Well, someone was wondering what happened yesterday.
    Very little! 🙂
    I decided to stay put and do a little laundry 🧺
    Have to keep up standards when you’re yachting. It a small world and you’re bound to meet someone you know from home.
    After the boat work I went ashore and paid a visit to the memorial garden for the Air India disaster. It’s only a five minute walk from Ahakista.
    There are now photographs and brief details of many of the victims which wasn’t there the last time I visited.
    I retraced my steps and headed in the opposite direction and visited a stone circle and continued along the road until I got a view of the bay.
    Enough of that I thought, the further you walk the further you have to walk back!!
    The ‘Tin Pub’ was open so I had to pay a visit.
    I think it was about 16 years since I was last there and I couldn’t remember the interior.
    It gets its name from it construction. Both the walls and roof are corrugated iron.
    The inside is lovely and the landlady is a gas woman. I just had to have a second pint 🍻
    I wandered back to the Eureka and made the dinner and settled in for the night.
    There you are, you now know about yesterday.
    Now back to today.
    I had planned on making an early start but when I woke up at 07.30, it was too early.
    The next wakening at 08.30 was almost too late!
    The anchor was coming up by 09.00 with lots of lovely sticky mud. No wonder the holding is good 🤪
    Had a nice beat down the bay with the odd bit of soft Irish weather.
    By the time I got to Mizen Head the sun was out and the wet gear put away.
    Much better than having the sun first and rain later 😎
    Decision time.
    Crookhaven, Schull or Cape Clear??
    A small craft warning ⚠️ was announced over the VHF.
    If wasn’t for my area but I knew it was heading south tomorrow afternoon so I decided I had enough grub aboard so I headed for Cape and rang Donal to check out North Harbour.
    Good to have friends in the right places 🙂
    Tied up next to Ri Orga at 16.00 and luckily Donal was on hand to take the lines as I was set up to come alongside port side to and Donal wanted me starboard side to.
    Luckily I had a few fenders out on that side as well.
    It was flat calm in the harbour so we had plenty of time to rearrange everything.
    I’m sitting in more soft Irish weather with the Bimini keeping the weather away.
    Going nowhere for the next few days so don’t expect to hear more until I have more 🤪

    Oh yes nearly forgot!
    Bet you’re scratching your head about Elvis??
    He hee.
    I was in Irish College in C. Clear in 1977 when the Bean an ti (woman in charge of house) came in shortly after we had gone to bed and told up Ta Elvis marbh 😢 (Elvis is dead)
    We spent the rest of the night listening to Tony Prince in Radio Luxembourg play wall to wall Elvis, an Ri (the king)    Read more

  • TravelerWest Cork here I come
    Day 11

    Beautiful anchorage

    July 27, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ 🌧 14 °C

    I left Trafrask in full wet gear, boots and all.
    There had been rain earlier but later it was only a light shower every now and then.
    Winds were light but engine was off to spare the pocket.
    I had a nice sail goose-winged down Bantry Bay doing about 2.5-3.0 knots.
    This was relaxed sailing ⛵️
    Unfortunately it didn’t last and I had to run the engine for about half an hour.
    The wet gear had been put back in the locker by this stage.
    As I approached Sheeps Head someone paid the bill and the wind was turned on and I had a nice reach for the last few miles to Sheeps Head.
    A small French yacht passed me heading in the opposite direction, so close that that I could have shouted at him but I wouldn’t have understood the reply as I have no French.
    Just before I rounded the head I spotted ‘Holy Grounder’ heading towards me. Too far to shout but I’m sure at that distance I’d have heard Eddie reply anyway.
    I rounding the head at 13.43 and entered Dunmanus Bay for the first time and I had a nice beat up to Kitchen Cove, dropping the sails off the harbour.
    I dropped the hook and it dug in well so I can sleep 💤 tonight.
    It look like a lovely spot. Might stay a second night and explore ashore.
    There’s even a pub overlooking the anchorage and it’s very tempting 😎
    To be continued. . .

    Well it didn’t take long!
    To get ashore I mean, and found a nice small landing pontoon inside the pier which of course led to the pub.
    The attached photo tells the rest 😂

    I had only the one, I swear!!
    It got a bit chilly so I didn’t bother with a second and instead went back to Eureka and had the dinner.
    Found a wine bottle with two glasses left in it and you know what happens when air gets in ?
    Glug glug.
    Right do I stay put tomorrow or keep going?? Decisions, decisions 😳    Read more

  • TravelerWest Cork here I come
    Day 10

    Peace & Quiet

    July 26, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    What was the plan today?
    I can’t remember 😂
    Needed the alarm to wake me up. Had a great sleep and I was ready to go at 08.50. It wasn’t very sunny but it was warm.
    I decided to turn left which brought me to Castletownbere where I tied to a visitor mooring and went ashore in the dinghy.
    On the spur of the moment I decided to have breakfast served up to me rather than waiting till I got back onboard.
    After licking my lips I headed to the supermarket to stock up for another few day and then headed back.
    I slipped away from the mooring under sail and back up Berehaven,the way I had come. This time I kept going with the gentle wind pushing me along at about 3 knots.
    I wasn’t going far and was enjoying the voyage.
    I picked up a visitor mooring in Trafrask, a small picturesque inlet surrounded on one side by a few holiday homes and a small slip just east of Agrigole.
    Dinner was accompanied by another glass of wine. Somehow it always tastes nicer at sea.
    So I don’t think I’ll bother going ashore, instead I’ll sit here, rocking gentle and read my book.
    I might just have another glass . . . .🤪    Read more

  • TravelerWest Cork here I come
    Day 9

    I found the wind!

    July 25, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Yesterday the rain was mainly in the morning so I was able to get off the boat and get a walk in during the afternoon.
    There was a good few in the pub watching the All Ireland final but I continued on to Fort Berehaven where I ignored the ‘No Trespassing’ signs and went exploring places we had wandered when we were kids.
    The flagpole where the Union Jack 🇬🇧 came down on the 26th of September 1938 and the tricolour 🇮🇪 went up was photographed just in case it wouldn’t be there the next time I visit.
    Unfortunately this part of the fort is in decay unless someone does something about it shortly.
    Anyway I wandered back to Eureka and settled in for the night.

    Today I spent the morning chilling out on Eureka and planning where I was going next.
    I decided to go up to Bantry, do some shopping and then head the short distance to Whiddy island for the night but now having talked to another couple on another yacht I am wondering should I go to Castletownbere to provision and then head south to Kitchen Cove in Dunmanus Bay.
    Or will I go across to Trafrask for the night and call in to CTB on the way to Kitchen Cove?
    Or will I just forget provisioning till Schull.
    I have enough food for a few days so I won’t starve, just have a lack of choice.
    Answers on a text please 😉
    I’ll decide in the morning 😎
    Anyway I fixed up with the marina so I can leave before opening time.
    I went for another walk, this one meaning a bit of a climb to a Martello Tower on top of a hill.
    I had just got to the top when I saw I was being followed by a woman.
    It turned out she was a Californian but knew the island better than I did.
    Her grandfather was from the island and she spent most summers here so not your typically American and her maiden name was O’Sullivan!
    Her brother had got married on the island on Saturday so their roots run deep.
    We parted company in the village and I wandered back to Eureka for dinner.

    Two yachts left about midday and as I was walking up the hill I had a view of the bay and it seemed calm and I was kicking myself for not going but by the time I reached the top I could hardly stand with the strength of the wind.
    It’s nice when you’re decisions are proved right 😂

    It’s a lovely evening here and I opened a bottle of wine 🍷 and have started a good book while Johnny Creedon is warbling along on the radio.
    Almost perfect.

    Left or right for Gibraltar, eh Tony 😎    Read more

  • TravelerWest Cork here I come
    Day 6

    Wet, wet, wet!

    July 22, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    A lazy start this morning listening to the French boats departing as I lay in bed.
    When I got up I was looking east which was bright and even a bit sunny but west was dark and ominous.
    I got the anchor up at 10.20, hoisted the main and headed out.
    Once past the. Alderman Rocks I headed west into the gloom for the Mizen on a beat.
    I rounded it at 13.00 and then headed north for Bantry Bay with the wind behind me.
    Slowly the visibility decreased till I could no longer see a yacht that had being following me about two miles behind.
    The mist had arrived and it was of the very wet variety.
    By the time I reach Lawrence Cove on Bere Ireland I was soaked.
    As instructed I came in alongside John McAleer’s Hallberg 36 and Rachel the marina manager helped me tie up.
    John bought my first boat from me way back in 1997/8.
    I only found out last year on a visit to the island that it was his boat.
    It’s a small world!
    The marina is full with refugees of the wind and there is only a few spaces left to raft up before we go three deep.
    Off came the wet gear and on went the dinner. I’ve finished the bread so there was no sandwiches for lunch and I was hungry.
    I couldn’t get a signal on the tv so watched a dvd as I ate.
    I’m stuck here till at least Monday as this weather front moves in .
    I have the bimini up to do it’s usual Irish job, keeping the rain off. Luckily it has stopped for a while but there is very heavy rain due overnight but at least I’ll be sleeping and it’ll be gone by tomorrow when it be falling down on my friends and relations in Cobh.    Read more

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