Thisbe Arrives

Early this year, we sold little ZigZag, to a family of sailors based in Dungarvan and became the latest owners of a beautiful boat called Thisbe, a Nicholson 32.

We flew to Cornwall, got picked up by the fantastic couple, Sue and Manny Cockle and went straight to Mylor Marina to see our new baby.

There on the pontoon, after a shake of hands and a few tears, Thisbe changed owners.

We had a very quick motor around outside the marina, loads of instructions from Manny about the innumerable extras he had fitted aboard and an hour after first stepping aboard, we headed out into Falmouth Harbour.

Manny & Joan drove up to Pedennis Castle to see us off. We could just make out their car headlights  and by 7.30 pm on that Saturday evening, we were passing a row of anchored ships, looming out of the mist on a dirty evening. The forecast was Easterlies, which suited our planned trip home to Dublin.

But first we had to pass The Manacles, pass under The Lizard and then around Lands End. I had read about the fearsome reputation of these spots and now we were here. It was blowing about F5 so we went nearly 4 miles south of The Lizard to be well away from any confused water and passed with everything to starboard during the night.

Martin had sailed here before on the Fastnet but for Thomas and me it was a first. It was curious to pass all these famous nautical landmarks in the dark and see only flashing lights.

We were reaching due North in the early morning, sailing between the TSS and Longships at up to 7 knots, while the wind maxed out at 30 knots on the dial. She felt solid and we never had a moments concern about her sea-keeping abilities.

The next morning was beautiful but not much wind, so since this was really a delivery trip, on went the engine.

Our trusty little tiller pilot came out and the crew could relax in the sunshine !

My favourite spot was a seat Manny had fitted at the stern. Great place for a relaxing view.

Later on, the dolphins came out to play and push us on heading home.

They never fail to charm, free swimming, warm-blooded mammals who choose to swim beside us. Such a pity we can't talk with them, I'd love to know how they see their world.

Manny, Sue and Manny's brother had sailed Thisbe across the Atlantic in 2009, as part of The ARC Rally. She was fitted with lots of little extras for that trip, including a new Beta engine, fridge and hot water !

The roller boom reefing for the main was new to us but works perfectly when reefed head to wind.

Because our practice sail was so short, it was fun to check over all the details of a bigger boat and get used to how she handled. Compared to a 21 footer, every fitting is bigger, and more substantial, as befits an ocean-crossing vessel.

The workmanship of these boats is impressive and the motion in a big sea was comfortable, her sharp bow slicing through the waves with no hint of pounding.

The evening was glorious and we took shifts for the night.

The early night was good but before morning it turned lumpy again,  just like the night before.

As Sunday morning wore on, we were glad to see the East coast of Ireland. The sea was lumpy, the tide and wind had turned against us so the going was slow.  We had to decide, do we carry on for a third night as far as Dublin or make for Arklow. And work was looming on Monday morning.

Arklow won, so we motored in and tied Thisbe up for her first time in Ireland.

We had covered 250 miles in less than 48 hours, in less than favourable conditions, non-stop from Falmouth to Arklow.

Thisbe feels like a boat with a pedigree, I hope we can do her justice !

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.