Trip to Carlingford Lough

Have new boat, will travel.

For our first weekend away on Thisbe, the destination was Carlingford Lough. About 40 miles up the coast, we had heard good things but everyone said, watch the tides !

As we left, it was almost a flat calm, so we motored-sailed out of Dublin Bay, around the Bailey and headed North.

Mary got her first taste of the helm, before the tiller pilot took over.

As we progressed, the heat and good food overwhelmed the crew !

The wind picked up a little, but we motor-sailed on, as our sailing speed was under 3 knots.

Carlingford gradually appeared and we turned to enter the Lough, facing the evening Sun.

We arrived about two hours after low water, perfect for a fast flowing entry.  Since the tides flow so strong, some of the markers are shaped like boats and swing into the oncoming water.

At our fastest, we hit 10.8 knots with combined motor and tide. at least half of that was tide. Through the tiller,  I could feel Thisbe being pulled from side to side by the surging water, a curious sensation.

Once through the entrance, it calmed and then we had a hard time picking out some of the marks against the low Sun.

Thomas was on point duty but a bit more interested in surfacing seals than marks !

After a twist and turn, the channel opened up to us and we motored up to the marina.

Without too much shouting, we found a spot and tied up. Then a quick change and headed down the road to town for food and drink.

Coming back to the boat in the summer night was beautiful. Definitely worth a return visit.

Next morning, a track beside the marina led us along the shore until it was time to turn back for breakfast.

Why does food taste so good outdoors on a sunny morning ?

During the night, a spider had built a web on our pontoon line, I hated breaking it !

Making our way back, the channel looked so different on full tide, with the Haulbowline lighthouse being a beautiful landmark. ( 3 white flashes every 10 seconds, range 10 nautical miles, 54"1.196' N 6"4.737' W ) I hadn't heard of this lighthouse before and then confused it with Haulbowline Island in Cork Harbour.

Again it was a smashing morning but not much wind, so we sailed gently Southwards. After a few hours, it died away, so on went the motor again.

This was our first time passing close to Rockabill, ( Flashing W R 12 Sec 17 Miles, 53"35.811'N, 6"0.268' W ) Some time we have to get closer.

After passing inside of Lambay Island, we headed to round The Bailey and then the fun began.

We ran out of diesel !

The most basic rookie mistake. I had looked into the tank but it's shiny stainless steel and I had convinced myself we had plenty. I should have dipped it. The engine spluttered to a halt and then I dipped it.

On deck, we saw a motor boat within hailing distance and waved them over. Our shining knights offered to bring diesel back and off they went.

The tide was setting us back towards Lambay, there was no wind, so the seagulls decided to wait with us.

As the light faded, a thunderstorm rolled in from the east. It was like a bad movie script. I had just raised some sail when our saviours returned, we poured in 10 litres of diesel and headed for Howth as lightning flashed around us. Drenched wet, we tied up in the dark.

And I have absolutely no pictures to prove it !

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.