Windy Little Solo Sail

After the Christmas lull, I needed to hit the water. Last Sunday, 27th Dcember, was forecast good until late afternoon, so I arrived at Poolbeg Marina after 9 a.m.

It was a beautiful, crisp, frosty morning. I nearly slipped on the foredeck frost but nobody was there to see. There's always a tingle of apprehension going out by myself, just knowing that any silly little problem can magnify when you've just one pair of hands. When backing out of the pontoon berth, I felt the Honda outboard was running badly. Sure enough, just after straightening up and rounding the first corner out of the marina, it died. So I moved under inertia onto the last pontoon and tied off again. The petrol line connection was loose, if I had been 30 metres further on when it died, I would be in the Liffey Channel, drifting !

Nothing was moving, no commercial shipping, no small boats, just crisp, clear morning.

Motoring down, I hadn't expected such a good day but wind was forecast. Approaching the lights at the entrance to Dublin Bay, I raised full sail and breezed along out towards Howth. Little by little, the wind rose and little waves grew. In the space of 15 minutes, I decided to reef and again 10 minutes later, I reefed again and was rolling along towards The Bailey at a good clip.

The forecast was for F 7 or F 8 later. I could see a long bank of cloud to the South East and wind and sea kept building. It was decision time, so since I always like rounding something when I'm out, the light off the Bailey, Rosbeg East, looked just far enough away to justify coming out. It's a little over 3 nautical miles from Dublin Port. By now the wind was about 20 knots, with a dirty sea but since I was well reefed on a starboard tack, all was well.

I came up to Rosbeg on my port and thought I would have a go at gybing. I needed the practice of gybing on my own, so slowly bringing in the main, I swung her around and she took off again reaching back home on the swell.

Sunshine makes such a difference to how the sea looks.

Flying along in a lumpy sea, glorious. I love this reefing arrangement at the gooseneck, it came with the boat and I thank whoever fitted it, every time I use it.

Still well reefed, we flew back to Poolbeg.

It was a good call to go out that morning but not push things too far. A tingle of nerves now and again is what I love about single-handing.

KIsh Lighthouse

It's a simple thing, but I have longed to circumnavigate The Kish Lighthouse for a long time. Plainly visible form Dublin Bay, it shines in the sunlight by day and lit at night.

September 26th was bright and breezy, with F3 to 4 from the South. Perfect for reaching out and back.

This is looking back at Poolbeg, with familiar landmarks.

Martin, Thomas and I sailed out, passing the usual ferries and marvelling at the beautiful day.

The Lighthouse marks The Kish Bank, a shallow sandbank about 7 miles out from Dublin.

When you're sailing towards a clearly visible object like this, it seems to take longer than it should, but at 3 to 4 knots, we made steady progress.

It was constructed in Dun Laoghaire and towed out in 1965. The whole edifice is telescopic, with each cylindrical section nested inside the other.

On top of it's 30m, there is a helicopter landing platform. The son of a friend of mine, who is a helicopter pilot in the Irish Air Corps, has landed on top in training exercises. I'm not even a little bit jealous !

There is plenty depth all around but we had to watch out for pot markers.

We zipped around within touching distance and headed for Poolbeg. The wind was on the beam, so we reached along and topped out at 6 knots, ZigZags fastest under sail so far. Later, the wind shifted to more over the stern, so we changed to wing on wing and flew home.

It was perfect sailing, memorable because it's so seldom.

What a picture of easy sailing !

We couldn't have hoped for a better day. Six hours on the water and smiles all round.

Kish Lighthouse is located at 53°18.65′N 5°55.542′W and the light sequence is  Fl (2) 20s.

Howth

After our forays over and back the Irish Sea, we were greedy for longer trips, but they will have to wait. So on July 24th, we sailed over to Howth. We had come around The Bailey several times before, usually a bumpy ride with tide and wind against each other, but this day, it was beautiful.

We decided to go around Ireland's Eye, the island off Howth. I had never been around the back of it and what a delight. There are so many places not far from home we have never seen properly.

It was full of life, seals, gannets & kayakers. All marine life was here.

It could have been the Atlantic coast but it's only a few miles from Dublin city centre. The gannets put on a great show as we glided by.

We crept in as close as we thought prudent, not having a depth sounder.

Sailing close to rocks on a clear, blue day is a wonderful pleasure with geological folding clear to see. Imagine the pressure needed to fold layers of rock.

Coming around the bend, we could see a cool little beach near the old Martello Tower. Another spot to land on a future sail.

Then we ran straight into a race coming out of Howth. Not what we wanted, but with nowhere to go, we went straight on and waved a lot !

Safely through and looking back.

Coming towards Howth Harbour, we spotted a classic vessel. A Howth 17.

This is Isobel, built in 1988 and going strong.

After smashing soup and sambos in Howth Yacht Club, we headed home.

Every time we go out, we try to do something or go somewhere we haven't done before, no matter how simple it might be. Our learning curve continues.

Voyage Home

The weekend after coming into Kilmore Quay, it was time to take ZigZag home. We took the train to Wexford and stayed the night on board, after a few pints in a great pub up the village. The Harbour Master told us that heading East to Dublin, the best time to leave was 3 hours before high water, to take advantage of a local Easterly current, staying close to shore.

With a F 2/3 wind and a nice sea, we left the harbour at 6.15 a.m. and after clearing the safe water mark straight South from Kilmore, we headed East for Carnsore.

Thomas made a great breakfast of eggs and beans and by 9.15A.M. we were passing Black Rock.

 Passing Carnsore through a tidal, confused sea, I saw two large fins breaking the water. They were mottled grey, not black but did not get a photograph. So I've no proof !

At 9.30 we passed Fundale Bouy, doing 7.7 knots ! We had got the tide just right.

We passed Rosslare Harbour at 10.00 a.m. doing 4.5 knots and after 6 hours of great sailing later, we approached Cahore Point. Sunny, blue green sea and getting too close, we touched bottom on a sand bar just off the point. That's the beauty of bilge keelers, touch and go. Great for those without a depth-sounder !

  Windmills were everywhere, on land and at sea.

By 19.00 we were closing on Arklow. We didn't have a set goal for our destination that night, so to have reached Arklow was a good days sailing in a 21 footer.

This was the catamaran servicing the offshore windfarm, clearly visible from Arklow. Once they cleared us, they really opened up.

The harbour wall was visible from a long way off and finally the entrance. It was our first time here, so going up the river, we motored slowly upstream to check out the place and found a spot on the pontoon.

Arklow has great services, plenty of room and walking distance from the town.

Some beautiful  French boats were staying over, having come a long way to see Ireland.

We woke to Westerly gusts and left at 07.30 a.m. With 1 reef in the main, we were soon doing 5.5 knots with a North going tide. Two large French boats had sailed out ahead of us and I was glad to keep them in sight as far as Bray Head. From here, the wind gradually picked up and the sea got very lumpy from Bray onwards.

By 09.00 a.m. we were doing 6 knots towards Wicklow Head. 

We gradually closed on Muglins and Dalkey Island, which was beautifully lit as we passed through.

 Sunshine is incredible, even though it was lumpy, it looked lovely.

Crossing Dublin Bay, it was blowing 25 knots on the nose, so we motor-sailed with the Honda 5 hp and finally got to the mouth of the Liffey. We had to tack over and back across the river to make progress upstream and finally tied up at 3.30 p.m.

Little ZigZag was home. This was only our fourth sail on her but she's really proved herself.

My Jester

It's not often you get the opportunity to have a pint with sailors you have read about for years.

There I was, in Pwllheli Sailing Club, swapping stories and asking questions of veteran Jesters. I have read about Blondie Hasler for years, the OSTAR, Jester Trans-Atlantics,  Azores, junk sails and all the associated names and tales.

Sunday morning, 14th June arrived and Roger Fitzgerald  assembled us on the pontoon for a briefing and a picture. The Jester Baltimore Challenge was a go.

This series of pictures are courtesy of Gareth Roberts of Plasheli, many thanks Gareth.

Missing from the picture is Andy Bedwell, probably polishing his fast craft, Outlaw !

During my 3 day stay in Pwllheli, the facilities were excellent and delivered with style. Top of my list for a return trip.

Most of these guys behind me have sailed more miles than I've had hot dinners, but I'm here to give it a shot.

Little ZigZag was in good company.

After a walk around, shaking hands and wishing well to the other challengers, I walked back to my little boat, butterflies in my stomach. I had crossed the Irish Sea three days ago, for the first time under sail and now I was heading off to cross back to Ireland, solo and overnight, for the first time.

What could possibly go wrong ?

I was late out and everyone got away before me. I didn't care, I was on my way. Dolphins arrived in the sunshine and I was delighted.

Here was one behind Steve Pickards boat, Springtide.  I gained on him after the start, but later, he gradually pulled away.

The first day progressed and I was busier than expected. Rolling along on a starboard tack, but a nasty chop also from starboard.

Amid the joys of juggling too many things, something gets hurt.

My first evening alone, night slowly closed in. Feeling good, I was going downwind by now, so at midnight, I actually goose-winged, in the dark. I had a preventer on the main and my jib poled out.
After an hour I got tired of rolling, so back to normal.

Beautiful Summer night and I think I saw the steady light of the International Space Station passing over. I was further from land than they were. A few big ships passed far away and some fishing vessels changed courses but on I went.

In the morning, lots of jet trails were overhead. It amused me to think they were probably using the same GPS system as I was, but they were doing 500 knots Eastwards and I doing 5 knots Westwards.

 The wind slowly died, as forecast, so I dawdled along. Sails flapped and I tried a chute but to no effect.

Are the Doldrums just a bigger version of this ?

The wind returned  and around noon, I looked up and saw Tusker. A bit of home in sight. It looked bigger and brighter than I expected.

The unsung hero of the trip was my autohelm. My inboard diesel died going into Wales and refused to start. Since I had to go back home, I had no choice, so I bought a battery charger in case I had to pull in somewhere. I checked the battery voltage every few hours.
It began at 12.8 volts and finished three days later at 12.5 volts. A 5 Watt solar panel was pumping what it could but I was pleasantly surprised at how little the steering used.

A Welsh fisherman called Chris, of Celtic Lady, saw my Irish flag and duly presented me with a combined Celtic Nations Flag. It was duly hoisted and it flew all the way home. Many thanks Chris.

 I was well clear and south of Tusker, so my next task was to pass south of Conningbeg Light. That took all evening, night and finally at 2 a.m. on Tuesday, I just squeezed past.

Now I know, I should have tacked much further south against the SW wind. I had the Saltees in sight for far too long, caught in a head-wind and east-going tidal stream.
Hook Head was on the wrong side of the boat and I was beating over and back.

Later on Tuesday morning, I radioed Rosslare for a forecast. They reported more SW winds and increasing to F6. Right on the nose. So I bit the bullet and headed back down-wind to Kilmore Quay.

Later that day, I met Steve Pickard and Springtide. Steve laid out my options very clearly. Several days of headwinds in a small boat or retire. Since I couldn't lay a course directly and a lot of sea miles ahead, I did what my mother always said to do when in a pickle. Sit down and think.

I showered, ate great fish & chips and decided my Jester was over.

I had sailed solo for 3 days and two nights, crossed the Irish Sea and I was delighted with what ZigZag and I had done.

Why do things look better in the sunshine ?

KIlmore Quay was a great spot to finish up and many thanks to Steve for his sage advice, both before the start and later in helping me determine my voyage.

Little ZigZag had behaved impeccably and I now have complete faith in her. I have read it many times, most boats have far more sailing in them than their skippers.

I went out to learn about myself as a single-hander and that I did. I now have an even greater appreciation of what it takes to be a long-distance solo sailor.
May I express my heart-felt thanks to Ewen Southby-Tailyour, Roger Fitzgerald and all the other Jester challengers it was my great pleasure to meet.

The Jester magic is only beginning.