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.

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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.