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.