Howth and beyond

Left Arklow around 06.30 on Sunday with little wind and , thank goodness, a flat sea.

Hoisted the sails but after twenty minutes decided there was not enough wind so motored to Howth, arriving at Houth Yacht Club marina around noon.

After lunch in the Y.C. we did a really good 8km walk around Howth Head. Very busy with an international mixture. We reckon we heard at least seven different languages.

Monday dawned a glorious day, and for the first time since Scilly we saw the sun. Slipped around 10am and hoisted sail outside the marina entrance. A lovely gentle sail past Ireland's Eye, and I decided it was time for the cruising chute. We genly sailed in only 5 or six knots of wind for a couple of hours doing around 3 knots. Passing Rockabilly lighthouse, I was just thinking we might have to start the engine, when the wind picked up to around 10 knots and we were cracking along at 5 to 6.3 knots with the boat balanced and the autohelm gently keeping us on course.Not a cloud in the sky.

After four hours of sailing, and unsuccessful fishing, the wind dropped again and I decided to fire up the iron jib so we arrived at the entrance to Carlingford Lough at the bottom of the tide. Enjoyed a glass of wine and a snack on the way.

Motoring up Carlingford Lough was interesting. Very beautiful, but had to keep to the channel. The tide stayed slack.

Getting into the marina was very interesting. You have to turn round number 18 port hand buoy, and keep in transit with number 23 starbourd buoy, with the, by then, flooding tide pushing you up the lough. The entrance is narrow between concrete caisons. After entering, visitors are told to turn right. We did and hit the putty before we could get to ant pontoon. Very little room to manouvre, but eventuallt we managed to scrape the bottom onto the end of a tee pontoon. We were near the bottom of springs, and despite the sailing instructions saying there was 2m, there was only about 1.7. We draw 1.8

The marina is interesting, with a great black hulk over which you wlk to get to shore. See pictures.

We shall leave just after high tide, around 13.00 and head towards Ardglass. Carlingford Lough forms the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, so we shall be back to pounds and U.K. phone charges.