5/8/10
Left Howth at 8am and had a wonderful sail south in the sunshine,before the VHF radio crackled into life "dublin coastguard, a small craft warning" Your heart sinks when you hear these words. It is never good news. It turns out to be a strong wind warning for later on today and tonight.
Fighting tide on these coasts is bad enough, but a strong southerly or southwesterley wind as well? So we headed in to Wicklow harbour, where we tied up inside the east breakwater to wait and see what tomorrow brings.
The next boat along belongs to a Belgian who has lived in Ireland for the past 12 years and speaks english with an irish accent. A cup of fresh coffee and a break and off to investigate Wicklow.
The town is decorated with bunting - nice of them , but how did they know we were coming? Actually, I think it is left over from the Wicklow regatta festival.
52 58.966' N 06 02.042' W
Monday, 9 August 2010
Wednesday, 4 August 2010
The Other reason for stopping at Dublin
Ok, come clean time here. The reason for bringing forward our dream trip around Britain is that I have Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and earlier this year I had a particularly bad attack, which stopped me working and restricted me greatly. So it was now or never.
Today I had an appointment for an investigation into one of the latest theories concerning MS, a poor blood flow from the brain via the venous system, called CCSVI or Chronic Cerebral Venous Insufficiency. Unfortunately, for many and various reasons, I have not been able to get the scan done in England.
The scan showed a very poor flow on the right side, despite the fact that my jugular vein is wide open, and a number of additional veins have developed to help carry the blood away. My left side is normal. When I sit up the jugular veins do not collapse as they should, so that the vertebral veins take over the flow. Perhaps a blockage further down causing a backup? Certainly worth having the next stage, a venogram, done.
Today I had an appointment for an investigation into one of the latest theories concerning MS, a poor blood flow from the brain via the venous system, called CCSVI or Chronic Cerebral Venous Insufficiency. Unfortunately, for many and various reasons, I have not been able to get the scan done in England.
The scan showed a very poor flow on the right side, despite the fact that my jugular vein is wide open, and a number of additional veins have developed to help carry the blood away. My left side is normal. When I sit up the jugular veins do not collapse as they should, so that the vertebral veins take over the flow. Perhaps a blockage further down causing a backup? Certainly worth having the next stage, a venogram, done.
Tuesday, 3 August 2010
Dublin's Fair City
Made to Howth Marina today, where after a quick wash and brush up we headed off to view Dublin. In many ways it feels like Cambridge, right down to having a Trinity College.
And it has a Starbucks with WiFi access, so coffee it is then, while I catch up on the world.
More later.
And it has a Starbucks with WiFi access, so coffee it is then, while I catch up on the world.
More later.
Welcome to the Republic of Ireland
2/8/10
We said goodbye to Northern Ireland and the UK today and headed south for the Republic. A long haul across Dundrum Bay where the tides that flodd in to the Irish Sea from North and South meet up, creating an area of slack water for most of the tide.
With careful timing we were able to enter the bay with a south flowing flood (rising)tide, and leave with a south flowing ebb (falling) tide. This helped us maintain the overall speed we needed to get to our destination before dusk.
Passing Strangford Lough we experienced the powerful effect of the mass of water flowing out of the Narrows, which can reach up to 8 knots. Although two miles off the coast, the outrush of water deflected us nearly a mile further out.
For most of the day the wind was kind and enabled us to sail rather than motor in the direction we wanted. You get atotally different view of the coast as you pass in a yacht. Things come slowly into view, then you pass and they slip slowly astern, the whole process taking several hours.
At once stage we could see Scotland, the Isle of Man, North and South Ireland. Even as we sit at anchor near Dublin, we can see the Mountains of Mourne in the distance.
Our anchorage is shared by a huge number of seabirds who colonise the cliffs of Lambay Island, a private bird sanctuary. As the sun is setting, the noise level is decreasing. Some I recognise, like the squadrons of gannets plunging into the sea with barely a splash, like an olympic synchronised diving team. Others are just a pleasure to watch.
Some get confused by the two hulls on Catabout. If sitting on the water as we approach, they swim away, but some pick the wrong direction and end up swimming in front of the other hull, then ducking below the water and coming up some way away.
Anyway, today is the halfway point in our odyssey, both in distance and time.
53 29.893' N 06 01.215' W
1/8/10
Just realised I missed out our journey from Scotland to Northern Ireland!
It was incredibly calm, the sea like glass most of the way, so we had to motor. After all the tales of crossing the North Channel, with problems of tides, winds and waves, it was almost a let down. The day was sunny and we eventually anchored in the delightfully named Knockinelder Bay, just north of Strangford Lough.
54 22.729' N 05 28.821' W
We said goodbye to Northern Ireland and the UK today and headed south for the Republic. A long haul across Dundrum Bay where the tides that flodd in to the Irish Sea from North and South meet up, creating an area of slack water for most of the tide.
With careful timing we were able to enter the bay with a south flowing flood (rising)tide, and leave with a south flowing ebb (falling) tide. This helped us maintain the overall speed we needed to get to our destination before dusk.
Passing Strangford Lough we experienced the powerful effect of the mass of water flowing out of the Narrows, which can reach up to 8 knots. Although two miles off the coast, the outrush of water deflected us nearly a mile further out.
For most of the day the wind was kind and enabled us to sail rather than motor in the direction we wanted. You get atotally different view of the coast as you pass in a yacht. Things come slowly into view, then you pass and they slip slowly astern, the whole process taking several hours.
At once stage we could see Scotland, the Isle of Man, North and South Ireland. Even as we sit at anchor near Dublin, we can see the Mountains of Mourne in the distance.
Our anchorage is shared by a huge number of seabirds who colonise the cliffs of Lambay Island, a private bird sanctuary. As the sun is setting, the noise level is decreasing. Some I recognise, like the squadrons of gannets plunging into the sea with barely a splash, like an olympic synchronised diving team. Others are just a pleasure to watch.
Some get confused by the two hulls on Catabout. If sitting on the water as we approach, they swim away, but some pick the wrong direction and end up swimming in front of the other hull, then ducking below the water and coming up some way away.
Anyway, today is the halfway point in our odyssey, both in distance and time.
53 29.893' N 06 01.215' W
1/8/10
Just realised I missed out our journey from Scotland to Northern Ireland!
It was incredibly calm, the sea like glass most of the way, so we had to motor. After all the tales of crossing the North Channel, with problems of tides, winds and waves, it was almost a let down. The day was sunny and we eventually anchored in the delightfully named Knockinelder Bay, just north of Strangford Lough.
54 22.729' N 05 28.821' W
Sunday, 1 August 2010
End of our first month
Last day of July and we weighed anchor at 0720 am to get as far as we could on the way to Northern Ireland, or even as far as Bangor Marina in Belfast Lough. The waters between Ireland and Scotland, known as the North Channel, have strong tides that sweep up and down the coast, so it is important that you time your crossing correctly.
The forecast said that the wind shold move round to be ideal for us to get to Ailsa Craig in time to catch the southerly tide to aid us on our way. Sadly the wind didn't change soon enough, so we had to modify our plans and head for Loch Ryan.
After several hours viewing Ailsa Craig from all angles, it is a remarkable rock, about 340m high and 2 miles in circumference. |It is a volcanic core and is visible from many miles away across the sea - hence it's knickname of Paddy's Milestone. The granite has been used to maked the best curling stones, and the island is now home to a huge collection of seabirds.
Loch Ryan is the base for ferries across to Belfast, so we had to time our entry to the small bay where we anchored around their schedule.
55 00.104' N 05 04.895' W
The forecast said that the wind shold move round to be ideal for us to get to Ailsa Craig in time to catch the southerly tide to aid us on our way. Sadly the wind didn't change soon enough, so we had to modify our plans and head for Loch Ryan.
After several hours viewing Ailsa Craig from all angles, it is a remarkable rock, about 340m high and 2 miles in circumference. |It is a volcanic core and is visible from many miles away across the sea - hence it's knickname of Paddy's Milestone. The granite has been used to maked the best curling stones, and the island is now home to a huge collection of seabirds.
Loch Ryan is the base for ferries across to Belfast, so we had to time our entry to the small bay where we anchored around their schedule.
55 00.104' N 05 04.895' W
Sea mist and fog
Perhaps some of you remember the song Mull of Kintyre? It talks of mists rolling in from the sea.
Well that was the main feature of our day today.
We had hoped to sail to Loch Ryan, ready for the crossing to Northern Ireland, but once we left the bay at Lamlash, the visibility closed right in, and we opted to go back to Lamlash Bay and try again tomorrow. It's a lovely location, but can't get the mobile internet there!
55 32.475' N 05 06.118' W
Well that was the main feature of our day today.
We had hoped to sail to Loch Ryan, ready for the crossing to Northern Ireland, but once we left the bay at Lamlash, the visibility closed right in, and we opted to go back to Lamlash Bay and try again tomorrow. It's a lovely location, but can't get the mobile internet there!
55 32.475' N 05 06.118' W
The Isle Of Arran
The next morning we were off as soon as the sealock opened at 8am. It was a beautiful sailing day, as we went down Loch Gilp, Loch Fyne and into Inchmarnock water to the Isle of Arran in the mouth of the Firth of Clyde. The sun shone on the mountains, either side of the lochs as we headed south. The shortening of the days is noticeable now, as we get a double effect, from the passage of the days and the earlier sunset as we move south.
At the end of our sail, we anchored in Lamlash Bay, a beautiful half moon bay totally sheltered by another small island called Holy Island. Now used for retreats,it is the site of a monastery founded in the 12th century by Somerled, Lord of the Isles. There is also evidence of Viking occupation in the form of runic inscriptions in St Molaise cave.
Shortly after we anchored, we were visited by a swan and two cygnets. Robin fed the with some bread and cake, which the cygnets took, while the parent watched over them. It hisssed loudly if He got too close trying to photograph them.
55 32.475' N 05 06.118' W
At the end of our sail, we anchored in Lamlash Bay, a beautiful half moon bay totally sheltered by another small island called Holy Island. Now used for retreats,it is the site of a monastery founded in the 12th century by Somerled, Lord of the Isles. There is also evidence of Viking occupation in the form of runic inscriptions in St Molaise cave.
Shortly after we anchored, we were visited by a swan and two cygnets. Robin fed the with some bread and cake, which the cygnets took, while the parent watched over them. It hisssed loudly if He got too close trying to photograph them.
55 32.475' N 05 06.118' W
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