2025 June 15th, Days 78 - 79 Knockinelder Bay south.

Facebook posts:

06:40: The forecast this morning is not good, light to moderate winds on the nose but there may be westerly or even NW this afternoon or evening that would help. The next few days are worse from here with possible F6 later tomorrow, so I’m going for as far S as I can manage, hopefully The Skerries, once there there will be more options.

Currently (06:43) bashing through the over falls off Strangford under engine with the SSW wind, that has just increased from F2 to F4, and the tide right on the nose, making them worse, when the tide turns in an hour or so things should be more comfortable. Hoping it doesn’t rain to much.

07:10? Through the worst of the over-falls but now F5 on the nose. this water was dead flat as I approached in light winds, a few minutes after the wind increased it was like this. At no time was I within the charted area (just) as soon as I saw it I headed further out helped by the tide from Strangford - if the tide had been going in I would have been further out to start with although the over-falls are worse on the ebb. It got worse after this but I had to stop filming.

08:45: Alongside at Ardglass. With revs for 5.5 knots I was struggling to make three against a short steep sea and that was before the tide turned into the wind. 3 hours to cover 9 miles and the first 3 were at speed in calm water.

The wind is unlikely to turn even to the W let alone NW before 14:00 and it could be light so it would be a VERY long day motoring and I’m not in that much of a hurry.

There was very heavy rain as I approached the harbour but mercifully brief and it had gone before I entered. The entry was rather intimidating as it was low water and the front pontoon was full so I had to go round to the back through a narrow gap with about a foot of water under the keel but I made it without incident.

I made a quick trip to the shop for bread and lunch before the rain started again, light but I am parked with the stern to the wind so have to have the hatch shut which is not helping my gear dry, the boots especially are still soaking inside, fortunately the alternate jacket that I know leaks but was dry when I left and not heavy with water was good enough to withstand the brief shower and the French spare boots that are rather tight definitely do not leak.

There is a chandlery here mainly catering for the commercial fisherman so I will visit tomorrow to see if they have a Guy Cotten jacket for when it's really wet and which does not get very heavy with absorbed water.

I'm not making any firm plans for a day or two until I see how the forecasts are trending but I am checking out the direct route to Anglesey which although a long leg with a TSS in the way should be doable in a SW wind without tacking.

10 miles over the ground in over 3 hours 😒

Monday a.m.

The tentative plan is to head south tomorrow leaving on the tide about 09:00 if the forecast is to be believed, earlier if it is calm, later if the wind has not dropped. Dundalk Bay about 30 miles away is the most likely destination but 45 miles to The Skerries is not ruled out. It Dundalk then it will likely be 20 miles to The Skerries on Wednesday, leaving early for the tide (the ebb runs south south of Dundalk) and hopefully to get most of the way there before the wind backs to the S or SE but I don’t put a lot of credence on that this far out.

Dundalk or even Ardglass direct to Anglesey can’t be ruled out but is probably unlikely, the forecasts are dependent on the position of shallow “waves” in the isobars that can’t be acutely predicted so who knows?

What happens for the rest of the week is anyone’s guess although easterlies might come along as a slack area of high pressure drifts northeast wards across UK but it probably means heading to Anglesey will not happen for a while, if at all.

At long last I might get a few warm or hot days.

Monday p.m.

Facebook Post:

I have been to the local chandlery and hopefully I'll not get soaked by rain again. French Guy Cotten top, very basic but quite long and waterproof to the highest PPE standard, ditto new boots made in Italy, they are particularly impressive, ISO standard with crush proof toe caps, non slip on steel, penetration resistant etc..

The top would not be as comfortable dry as a yachty design but it will only be used, probably on top of the Henry Lloyd (it is large enough), when its raining.

The price? Together £140, about half the price of the cheapest Musto offshore jacket and 10% the price of a premium Musto suit. If its good enough for trawlermen.....

Also, laundry done, water replenished, refuelled, a bit of shopping and ready for the off. 

The 12:00 inshore forecast looks reasonable for tomorrow, if it is W 3 - 4 after midnight and before c 06:00, The Skerries (see above) are a good possibility :

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 to 6, veering west 3 or 4 later. Slight, becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain or drizzle later. Good, occasionally moderate or poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest, becoming variable later, 3 or 4. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight except in far north. Mainly fair. Good.

But the Met Eireann 12:00 forecast for the next 24 hours does not agree:

Irish coastal waters from Malin Head to Carnsore Point to Valentia and for the Irish Sea 

Wind: Increasing south to southwest force 4 or 5 imminent, occasionally force 6 in the east and on the Irish Sea. Later increasing force 6 at times in the north. Decreasing south-westerly force 4 or 5 by the end of the period.

Click here for the next leg south.

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 and 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 F6.

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.

Knockinelder Castle.

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 feet because my supposedly watertight  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.

Click here for the move south.

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 previously 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 or an anchorage south of there might become favourite so that 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 suspect 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 extra months "free" berthing vs arriving before the 30th June.

The old fisherman's harbour at Bangor.

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 [off Bangor] 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 than

tourism, 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.

The view south is not unpleasant but the less said about the

north the better.

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) 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 Strangford 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.

Click here for Ballyholm Bay and Bangor.

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

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 at 18 knots and gusting into the not forecast 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.

By 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 improved 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.

2025 6th April, Day 8 to Bangor.

Saturday night's fortifying curry, no cooking on 
Sunday due to the high seas and later tiredness.

I woke before the alarm so was away 30 minutes early at 03:30. In the shelter of the marina the wind was about 12 knots and fortunately just off the bow on the pontoon side, this allowed me to take off and stow the two bow lines (two because of the strong wind and awkwardly positioned cleats on the pontoon), the breast line was holding the boat with the wind blowing the bow off. I was also able to stow the 3 forward fenders, and move the fourth a few inches aft to the other side of a stanchion so I could slide it back as I shoved off.

This was good news as the water immediately outside the harbour was likely to be, and was, rough and I would have little time inside whilst leaving as the channel is very narrow and I would have to steer. Everything except the midships line was now in reach from the cockpit, the midships dock line stayed where it was until late afternoon when the seas calmed down.

The wind also helped me turn round in the channel that is little over a boat length wide, after casting off and hoping aboard the boat move back and the bow blew off so I was able to quickly get to the outside of the channel and then turn hard right into the first avenue between two unoccupied hammerheads with the wind helping the turn as it did when I went hard astern to generate a lot of "prop walk" pushing the bow to starboard, a few seconds of that and I was off.

The seas were very unpleasant in the shallow water so I headed directly out to sea for deeper water and to make an offing round Ireland's Eye. When I bore off it was evident that with the wind well north of east I would not be able weather Lamby Island so I had to keep the engine on for another hour and a half until I was about a mile to windward of the Island and the wind veered. With a strong F5 I set just a reefed jib and then had to further reef it further to slow the boat down to give the autopilot a chance to cope with a very steep cross sea without also having to handle weather helm, before doing so I was making better than 7 knots with one reef in the headsail. At one time a wave broke on the boat and I ended up with about 4 inches of water in the cockpit, I can't remember the last time that happened.

Once things had calmed down somewhat I was able to take a video which, as always makes the sea look less rough than it was.

Reaching in a F5.

Later, at 13:30 the Irish Coastguard broadcast the weather forecast from 12:00 withdrawing the small craft warning of F6 winds, clearly no one was looking out the window at the met office because I was sailing in F6 briefly at about 11:30 then from 12:00 to 13:15, fortunately the sea was much calmer than earlier and calmer than in the video.

The wind started to drop from F5 at around 14:30 and I started the engine half an hour later as the wind had gone. Fortunately the sea around here often dies almost as quickly as the wind, I now had the tide behind me for the first time on this leg (North of approximately Dundalk the tides reverses with the flood running to the south).

2 miles from Donaghadee Sound (directly behind the main
shroud), passed through at the end of twilight.

Slide show of this leg with more videos and pictures on the next post.

The passage through Donaghadee Sound on the neap tide was as benign as it gets with barely 1.5 knots (vs 7 or 8 at springs) and I was at anchor in Ballyholme Bay just east of Bangor at 22:15.

89 miles in just under 19 hours, and I was very tired and feeling very old after the hard work of the morning - mainly just holding on to the boat.

Click here for the leg to Scotland.

2024 June 24th Days 88 - 90 Ballyhome Bay to Ardglass

An 05:20 start to reach Donaghadee Sound as the tide turned south, I was sailing as soon as I was out of the sound until approaching Ardglass.  The timing was good as I carried a little tide the short distance down Belfast Lough and entered the sound at slack water, or as slack as it gets, at the southern end it just switches almost instantaneously.

Donaghadee Sound at "slack" water.

Exiting Donaghadee Sound. 

The route from Bangor through the sound.

With the northerly wind is was a dead run for much of the way and a little too strong for the cruising chute as a "storm" spinnaker although towards the end I could have carried it but decided not to as the wind was quite variable.

Facebook post: I really, really dislike this mode, more specifically the agro setting it up with a 150% headsail, but the wind is gusting above what, these days, I consider a safe max for the cruising chute from the pole. But here I am on a dead run in F4-5 having just gone through Donaghadee Sound, but it is better than beating against a F5. Hopefully I’ll be at Ardglass fairly early this afternoon.

Note: for a downhaul I am using the spinnaker guy, this keeps the pole aft,
using the normal down haul it would be pulled forward, the sail would not set
properly and it would induce more roll. 

Lighter winds on the last leg no longer running, much better!

A narrow entrance, be sure to stay inside the laterals and
well outside of the cardinal mark on the approach.

And keep close to the pontoon if going to the back of it, more
work to get on to but more turning space when you leave.

I was on a berth at Ardglass just short of 13:26 with plenty of time to re-store, to leave the next day (Wednesday) but it was clear that this would not be a good idea with the wind forecast to initially very light then turning to the south and fairly brisk. As I had a lot of laundry needing doing I decided to stay put and sort that as the next chance will hopefully be Newlyn. I refuelled immediately before a much needed shower - no point in getting smelly from handling diesel and getting up a sweat after the shower!

34 miles in 8 hours.

The marina at low tide. When full screen it

works better slowed down a bit.

Thursday was a non-starter with winds forecast to be up to F7 later in the day, the forecast at the time of writing (Thursday lunch time) is not that positive for Friday:

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 4 to 6 veering westerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming rough in north, and occasionally very rough in far north. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4. Mainly slight or moderate, but rough at first in far north and occasionally smooth later in south. Showers then fair. Good.

But the forecast models show that winds will probably be OK from late morning so the current plan is to leave then and sail to Dundalk Bay which should be OK for a short overnight stop as the brief northerly wind should only be a few knots, Dundalk would give a good start to get to The Skerries in the forecast light winds on Saturday. If that does not work a very late arrival at The Skerries (a 10 hour run at 4 knots) or an overnighter to the Dublin area. 

After that the wind should be generally favourable but rather brisk at times through Tuesday, the main problem might be finding somewhere to park overnight on Sunday when the forecast is for wind to briefly go the the NE at 15 knots, at this point there is no point in over thinking that as things are likely to change, but as a fall back there is always Howth or Dun Laoghaire (Dublin).

I took the enforced stop in warm weather (what a relief from the cold, thankfully it was warm and not very hot) to do some cleaning and do a couple of jobs.

Scrubbing the hull.

Despite some work in Stromness my best speed was still low and getting worse and, as well as I could calculate with infrequent engine use until Tobermory, the fuel consumption has steadily increased. The port side was regressing quickly and I spent over an hour on it before warping the boat to the finger on the other side of the bay. With easier access to the starboard to the skeg and rudder than at Stromness, this is what I found:

Facebook post: 3 coats of Seajet top of the range “Emperor “ in July 2023 “good for “up to” two years”, power wash in March and another coat, part scrubbed in the water in Stromness and this is what it looks like now. No wonder speed is down [and fuel consumption up] 🤬🤬🤬. Not impressed.

I spent a couple of hours cleaning the starboard side but still could not get all of it off, the problem being weed etc. was strongly attached and the "Scubis" cleaner is intended to remove slime and dead stuff. It was hard work.

I managed to achieve this on the skeg, the keel is untouched, the
rest I did what I reasonably could.

Hopefully it was worth the effort.

Fore hatch leak

I have been chasing minor leaks for a long time, the only remaining one was very minor from rain - just a drip now and then, and not much worse when taking waves over the bow but it seemed worth the effort and turned out to be about 7 hours work that helped pass the time.

The wood frame removed and a seemingly minor
issue bottom left.

But on closer inspection the section over one of
the hinges was loose, I suspect not properly secured
when the hatch was modified and new hinges fitted.

I carry an epoxy / fibreglass repair kit, epoxy glue, etc., so securing this was straightforward. It took longer to reprofile this and the frame to be a snug fit. 

It was also clear that there was quite a lot of "give" between the fibreglass hatch and the wood frame it only being secured in the 4 corners and with a pair of machine screws a third of the way along the sides. A couple of the blind holes for nuts used to secure the plastic "window" to hide in were not deep enough forcing a gap between the frame and hatch, those I deepened and I added a second pair of machine screws right through on the side, plus one in the centre of the front and a couple of screws on the back.

One problem is that I had less wide rubber strip than I thought so there is only a narrow strip along the back so its not fully sealed at the aft corners, hopefully any rain will drain forward through the drainage gutters and tubes. A wave over the front is likely to let some water in until I can get hold of more, the small chandlery here does not stock it. 

As an aside, the double sided tape used to attach this type of strip is normally a waste of time, silicone sealant (not glue) does a better job. 

The frame varnished and refitted to the hatch and the hatch to the boat.

Click for the Skerries.

2024 June 22nd Days 85 - 87 Bagh na Doirline to Druimyeon Bay then Bangor

Saturday morning:

The wind went round to the NW overnight making the anchorage a little uncomfortable, I was anchored well out as there were four other boats in the anchorage, I could have gone further in but single handed I prefer not to have boats behind me, it can be difficult to then get out as I have to be at the bow to raise the anchor and the boat will drift down wind (and / or tide) potentially into another boat. So as the wind was light and the tide good I made a quick hop around the north of the Island to a better protected anchorage in Druimyeon Bay.

Looking back at the Bagh na Doirline anchorage.

An interesting place to park your RV, on a ruined jetty at
the extreme north of Gigha.

Lots of boats in Ardminish Bay, the most popular stop on Gigha,
if you don't need the facilities, Druimyeon Bay is in my opinion
to be preferred.

Druimyeon Bay anchorage.

4 miles in 1 hour

The weather forecast for the next few days is not hopeful with headwinds, mainly light or moderate except perhaps on Tuesday  / Wednesday. And more hopefully tonight; I try and avoid overnight sailing, not because of the dark - except for the avoidance of pot buoys and often the cold, that is pleasant and even easier - but because of the length of time that it takes me to recover and to recharge my sleep bank, it is definitely harder than it was a few years ago.

However the window for westerly, or even a north westerly wind, has expanded since yesterdays forecast, now it looks to be turning westerly at c20:00 and to be favourable for most if not all of trip to Browns Bay, NI although on the down side the 07:00 forecast the sea North Channel is to be "smooth or slight, occasionally moderate", but that is not a major problem although rough would be around The Mull of Kintyre.

If I leave this evening there is a reasonable chance to make Browns Bay (Larne) in 12 - 13 hours, with Red Bay (further north) as an alternate if the doing is slow, and Bangor a possibility if I feel fit enough and the forecast southerly wind is no stronger than forecast and does not arrive early. I would then have Monday to recover and perhaps re-store. Then the tide south from Bangor through Donaghadee Sound is favourable from c 08:00 on Tuesday and 50 minutes later on Wednesday, allowing a reasonable start time an hour before.

Scenarios for a night crossing, calculated by the navigation
software and tabulated for reference, one of the times at
the corner of the TSS should match the actual and gives me
the course to steer without having to start up the PC in
the middle of the night. It also shows the best times to leave.

I have diesel for well over 250 miles but prefer to sail so if the forecasts do not change it looks like an evening start.

Saturday evening.

I left at 19:00 with  a southerly wind F4-5, with the domestic forecast predicting the wind should veer to the NW by c 20:30, then when I refreshed it 30 minutes later, it said 21:30 ☹️ so I was motoring for longer than anticipated and making a lot less than the 5 knots I had planned for the trip down the east coast of Gigha due to the head wind, the choppy sea and the crud on the hull. About halfway to the Mull of Kintyre the wind backed to the SE! This actually helped as the sea got calmer due to the shelter from the Mull.

On the revised time schedule, almost to the minute, the wind quickly veered to the NW at F4, being late to get round the Mull at or before slack water I kept the engine running but motor-sailed with the main and the genoa with one reef. Shortly after I picked up the strong S going tide and was making 8 knots, the engine and sails together generating enough power to over come the drag from the weed on the hull so I could make 6 knots through the water.

With this boost I got to the end of the TSS a little ahead of schedule, switched off the engine and rounded the Mull in good order. The Chute went up for a couple of hours but had to come down as the wind dropped and the engine went on, 20 minutes later the wind was back and up when the chute, but I should have waited because the wind kept increasing and within 10 minutes I was taking in down in 18 knots, quite a bit over the limit for the sail. I continued under sail for a while but had to put the engine on again as with lack of wind I was likely to be pushed north into the TSS. Half way over I was sailing again but after the previous problems I was reluctant to put the chute up and waited for almost an hour before doing so.

Off Red Bay the tide was running north faster than I could sail and I was heading almost W when heading S, so on went the engine again. I started sailing again until past “The Maidens” (pics to follow), then the wind disappeared completely and I motored on to the anchorage off Bangor arriving at 10:00.

A large, 270m IIRC, cruise liner heading for Belfast @ 03:55.

Approaching "The Maidens".

"The Maidens" 6 miles NNE of Larne @ 07:10.

Dinner got a little complicated, I had started prep for 2 portions of Chicken curry, then found that the chicken was off, smelling really bad; it was well within the sell by date but there was a small hole in the packaging, so I ended up with spag bol.

The Ballyholme Bay anchorage is quite popular with boats on
passage who don't want to pay for the marina, and as a Sunday
lunch spot.

Monday was a rest day but I spent much of it working on the boat.

With the strong southerly wind a lot of boats came

north on Monday, most arriving late afternoon on

the last of the tide through Donaghadee Sound. 

Most went to the marina but 3 came to the

anchorage within an hour, now there are four

of us, 2 Brits, 1 Irish and 1 Norwegian.  I think

all are single handed.

Ardglass on Tuesday and I hope that, with all the boats heading north, there will be a berth available, if not it is going to be a long sail to a safe anchorage and tinned food 🙁

Click here for Ardglass.