2025 June 14th, Day 77. To Knockinelder Bay.

 As per the previous post I left early and was at Donaghadee Sound at what passes for slack water. The rain had started exactly on time, 15 minutes before I weighed anchor and, more conveniently 15 minutes before I arrived. The wind turned on schedule but was late in increasing to 8 knots when I turned off the engine, sailing on a dead run with the cruising chute and headsail.

Naturally as soon as I had them up the wind dropped to 5 knots but I persisted an 40 minutes or so later it picked up and I was making a good 5 knots through the water until I was off Skullmartin by which time the wind had reached 15 knots and I took the chute down, just in time as not long after I was making 6 knots under the double reefed headsail in a strong F5 gusting 6.

Not long after there was a lot of loud thunder, fortunately from the squall that had just passed, I get rather nervous when lightning is about, it doesn't often hit boats but sometimes it does with fairly disastrous results.

I had forgotten how heavy a wet spinnaker can get, bagged it must have been double the dry weight. Another good reason to have a snuffer, dropping that sail into the cabin would have swamped everything.

Having looked at the forecasts I decided not to push south, it's likely to take me two more days to get to The Skerries so there seemed no advantage in going on in the rain, so I went into  Knockinelder Bay.

Rant mode on/ DOES ANYONE APART FROM GUY COTTEN (Fisherman's gear), MAKE GEAR THAT WILL KEEP YOU DRY FOR A SEASON OR MORE! I have wet wet feet because my leather boots are leaking from the bottom up and my jacket is leaking on one arm. /Rant mode off.

26.6 in just under 5 wet hours.

Pics and video may follow if the rain, which had stopped for a while stops again,

2025 June 12th Days 75 - 76 To Ballyholme Bay.

Thursday

A quick shopping trip, only slightly delayed by ASDA not opening till 08:00, shower, paid the Bill and I was away at 09:15 to be ahead of the forecast rain and thunder. I am now back at anchor in Ballyholme Bay where it is quite busy for mid week with 5 6 yachts at anchor, more than I have seen overnight and there are lots of spare berths in the marina; perhaps rising marina charges are pushing more people to spend time at anchor?

I needn't have been in quite so much of a hurry as the 12:00 inshore and domestic forecasts  dropped the Thunder storms, put back the rain although there is still poor weather on the way.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Rain then showers, fog patches developing in east. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in west and very poor in east.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Showers, fog patches at first in east. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in east.

The plan remains to head south on Saturday and if the sea is calm there anchoring in Knockinelder Bay just N of Strangford Lough on Saturday night. There is rain forecast for Saturday, if the forecast gets worse I might wait till Sunday, after that the models are showing generally light but favourable winds till Friday. 

If the sea and / or  wind are not amenable to anchoring I will go into Ardglass but otherwise I don't really need to, although a shower and a chineese from the take-away is always welcome, as I managed to get a lot of long dated supplies for main meals and I have diesel to motor all the way to Milford with a 150 mile reserve if I really had to.

Friday a.m..

Unless it happened whilst I slept, which I doubt, F6 winds have not appeared but since mid afternoon yesterday the weather has been really mucky with continuous rain and fog / heavy mist and F4-5 winds veering from the E to SSW, but it was warmer overnight than at any time on this cruise, but I was still using the warmer of my sleeping bags, rather than both. 

There were an awful lot of very wet sailors out racing yachts last night, and one yacht left the anchorage at about 05:30 this morning probably to get the first of the favourable southerly tide through Donaghadee Sound; rather them than me in this weather.

The automated domestic forecast shows this weather, apart from the wind direction, continuing through tomorrow (2 "rain drops" 80-90% probability for much of the day) but the inshore forecast at 07:00 is just a little more optimistic:

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly, veering southwesterly for a time, 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Fog patches at first in east, otherwise showers. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in east and poor elsewhere.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest 3 to 5 for a time, then west later. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers, becoming mainly fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.

The ECMWF and ECMWF models show, the heavy rain along
 or just off the coast.

The models show the northerly setting in early to mid morning 
but we can see why there is some uncertainty about timing and
rain, it all depends on how quickly the small area of low pressure 
moves east. 

In the few minutes that it took me to write the above the domestic forecast changed to show slightly less rain tomorrow with 70-80% probability of "2 rain drops" over a shorter period.

Tomorrow the tide through Donaghadee Sound sets south at 06:15, normally I would set the alarm for 04:40 and leave at 05:15 for 7 - 8 hours of south going tide, with a decent wind or under engine all of the way to Ardglass (the tide sets south earlier in The Sound than offshore and earlier north than south) but this time I think I'll leave it a while and just look out of the window and check the met office radar to decide if and what time to head south, giving up some favourable tide to stay dry and hopefully get an hour or twos extra sleep. 

Friday p.m..

The wind has gone round to the SW or WSW F3-4 but the tide is foul in Donaghadee Sound and I suspect the wind chan will not last. The good news is the sun is starting to break through and it could turn into a pleasant evening.

Friday evening.

F6 is now in the forecast for tomorrow and early Sunday:

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly backing northwesterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers, becoming mainly fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

However it is blowing offshore, will be behind me and looking at the models most of it is further north, it will certainly be one for a late decision, essentially as a lot of rain is back in the domestic forecast. However if I don’t move south I’ll probably have to go back into the marina as this anchorage is wide open to the N & NW.

Change of plan: Subject to seeing the midnight forecast in the morning I'll leave early tomorrow, under engine, which I would in any case use to and through the sound, then sail as the wind sets in, I can reach the anchorage or Ardglass before stronger winds are likely to arrive, if they do - according to the models, Met Eireann and the domestic forecasts the coast south of here should not be too windy except perhaps for gusts or in squalls. I'll probably get wet for longer than going into the marina but I think this is the preferable option as headwinds are now being forecast for Monday. 

Ardglass might or an anchorage south of there might become favourite so I would have an easier leg to The Skerries on Sunday. 

Click here for Knockinelder Bay.

2025 June 10th Days 73 - 74. At Bangor.

Wednesday 11th, a.m..

Detailed planning is a waste of time at the moment as the forecasts are all over the place and don't agree in the medium term. What appears to be certain is a brisk wind tonight into tomorrow but not as bad as the models were showing yesterday morning, the met office this morning think otherwise but I think they are concerned with gusting winds further north.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in north. Rain or thundery showers later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain and thundery showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Also fairly certain is that the winds are likely to be southerly and occasionally easterly for the next few days and I am reminded of the old saying that gentlemen [especially this elderly one] do not sail to windward, also anchorages outside of Strangford Lough are all exposed to easterly winds.

The short term plan, such as it is, is to move back to Ballyholme Bay tomorrow afternoon or Friday if it is blowing a hooley, that is well sheltered from the south and east so I should be comfortable enough for a couple of nights and save fees in the moderately expensive marina. Then I will head south on Saturday with a moderately civilised start time to get through Donaghadee Sound at the start of the south going tide. Some motoring may be required if the forecast is right (unlikely that far out), if the sea has calmed down I might find an anchorage but I suspect I'll end up in Ardglass which will not be a disaster as that could be the last place for resupply for a long time and I might well go in anyway on Sunday for stores.

After that I will meander south. One of the longer term options I see at the moment is to go across to Anglesey to tick another thing off my bucket list - The Menai Straights. Providing the weather is kind (no northerly component and not too strong from the SW for when I get to the southern end) the tides look at first glance to be OK from about the 23rd June which would let me cruise down to Fishguard and Milford for my optimum arrival there on the 1st July to secure a months "free" berthing vs arriving before the 30th June.

Wednesday p.m..

It maybe a Friday to move to the anchorage, the inshore and domestic forecasts are now predicting thunderstorms and heavy rain tomorrow afternoon to go along with some wind but an early move after shopping my be the answer, the sea at the anchorage is calm at the moment and likely to remain so.

Click here for Thursday back to Ballyholme Bay.

2025 June 10th, Day 73 to Ballyholme Bay, then Bangor.

A somewhat frustrating day reflected in my Facebook posts:

06:59: A south going tide, NW wind and sunshine is too good to miss. And I need a shower so I am heading to Bangor. Ideally I will anchor for tonight and go into the marina tomorrow morning to avoid the F6 forecast for tomorrow night but if the anchorage looks uncomfortable I’ll go straight to the marina.

11:00: At anchor but I suspect I’ll be moving to the marina as it is quite lumpy, no problem with the wind holding the boat head to the waves but if the sea does not calm quickly when the wind dies I will be rolling all over the place.

14:45: Feeling annoyed: At 9:00 making good speed I considered going straight to Arglass as I had time to get past Copeland Island on the tide, but every source said the wind would be gone or SE by lunchtime so I anchored hoping that the wind would die and the sea calm quickly. then at 12:00 the same sources were saying the wind wouldn’t drop till 19:00 or later, rather too late to make a decision so I moved to the marina.

Now at 14:45 there is no wind although the domestic forecast is still saying 7-14 knots c NE till gone 19:00.

Still, it is nice and warm here which makes a pleasant change.

An interesting coastal path via multiple bridges IIRC

they are early 20th century with no other purpose, full

screen is probably needed to see them.

A total of 18 miles in five and a half hours.

Click here for next steps and my time in Bangor.

2025 June 9th, Day 72. To Larne (Yellow Stone)

 A Long trip today 😀

Less than a mile to the "Yellow Stone" anchorage in Larne Lough
in three-quarters of an hour.

The anchorage at Brown's Bay was a bit uncomfortable as, several hours after my arrival, a swell came in from the north that with a westerly wind had the boat rolling, not enough to disturb my sleep but annoying during the day. With rain coming shortly followed by a North or North-west wind overnight tonight that could make Brown's Bay seriously uncomfortable I moved into the lough straight after my morning coffee.

I am still working out what to do next, the northerly wind would certainly help going south but anchorages with shelter from the north are someway off (there is an interesting one off Copeland Island but it’s open to the S, see below) and the rain today put me off leaving on todays tide. The forecast is now predicting little or no rain on Tuesday and Wednesday which is a big improvement.

Tomorrow may be OK to move to Bangor /  but the northerly may still make Ballyholm Bay uncomfortable depending on when the promised veer happens.

This mornings inshore forecast, Larne is on the N Channel so both areas need to be considered:

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly, backing southerly for a time, then veering northwesterly later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in north and later in south. Rain or drizzle, then showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

---

Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly, backing southerly, veering northwesterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 for a time in North Channel. Smooth or slight. Rain and drizzle, the showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in North Channel, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate for a time in North Channel. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

I am thinking of Ardglass later in the week or perhaps going into Strangford Lough before the weekend in case the UKMO model is correct.

UKMO & ECMWF model runs from this morning for Saturday. 

It is also over 50 years since I have been round the Lough so that has it's attractions, but although the tides are good for Donaghadee Sound this week, making the tide through the narrows into the Lough could be a stretch so an intermediate stop if the conditions are right or to Ardglass for stores then back to Strangford before or after any bad weather might be best. I'm not going to worry about that until Tuesday or Wednesday.

The view south is not unpleasant but the less said

about the north the better.

Click here for Ballyholm Bay and Bangor.

2025 June 8th, Day 71. Kilnaughton Bay to Brown's Bay, Larne.

 Draft WIP

I was awake early and unlikely to get back to sleep so I left an hour and a half earlier than planned. The wind was lighter than forecast at about 10 knots from the NW but I stuck with the headsail only as I suspected it would get stronger as I got away from land. 

Eventually having been through some moderately turbulent sea caused by the wind against the last of the tide flowing NE past Islay I was proved right, but it was a couple of hours during which time I was finding excuse after excuse for not putting up the cruising chute each time rejecting the idea that it was pure procrastination or laziness preventing me. The wind then suddenly came in as the forecast 18 knots and gusting into the not forecast the mid twenties. I was bowling along at 5.5 - 6+ knots under the double reefed genoa - less than the original #1 jib and making excellent time.

About 06:00 the tide had turned, the sea quietened down and I was under full sail making good speed, that dropped off an hour north of The Mull of Kintyre but initially improved again once I was past the TSS and came to the wind.

07:45, 2.5 - 3 knots of tide but not taking me in quite the
right direction (blue line = track, black = heading). A few
degrees off close hauled for speed in 7-8 knots of wind.

The wind lasted till 09:00 when it dropped to about 5 knots and backed to the SW so on went the engine and I headed more directly to Brown's Bay. Apart from an hour or so the engine stayed on until I anchored at 1 o'clock, although I could have sailed the last couple of miles in a renewed stiff westerly there was not a lot of point. I could have carried on to Bangor but there is more protection here from a veering wind and I did not expect the brisk westerly to last, and it didn't.

The anchorage.

Looking at the weather forecasts I doubt I will be going much further than Belfast Lough for several days. I may have to move into Larne Lough as the wind may briefly go round to the N or NW at some point, but the models do not agree on when and how strong it would be. 

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough (@12:00 Sunday)

24 hour forecast: Variable becoming south or southwest later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later. Slight or moderate in far north, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Showers, perhaps thundery at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest veering northwest later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight at first except in far north, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain, drizzle or showers. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

The UKMO domestic forecast has changed the strength and timing of a northerly wind 3 times already today. The Irish MO doesn't mention it at all.

51 miles in ten and a half hours.

Click here for Mondays adventure.