summer cruise update
summer cruise update
A quick summer cruise progress report. Rice Pudding, Esmerelda, Curlew, sea otter and Florenceare all at Quoile Yacht club in Strangford Lough, as is Lopud but she is on the hard awaiting a new prop shaft after catching a big hessian sack in Strangford narrows, drifting powerless, running aground, being towed etc. Freelancer is on her way back to IOM, Zoom returned to Wales last Wednesday, Orla headed down to South Wales on Friday. Other than probs with Lopud everything going fine and the people here in Strangford couldn't b e more helpful and kind. Setting off to Belfast Lough tomorrow and leaving Lopud here on hard til new Propshaft is made next friday.
Just heard from Kerry Girl, they have had a couple of very close encounters dragging anchor at 3AM feet from rocks managed to sail out into very bad wind over tide conditions and then a trawler with no-one on the bridge missed their stern by 1foot. Now tucked up safely in Campbeltown awaiting some decent weather. F7 forecast from saturday to Wednesday now for the Isle of Man so not sure if I am ever going to get out of Strangford even when the new shaft arrives.
hello from Clonakilty
Hi John,
I hope you manage to get Lopud going again before winter, you seem to be having a lot of bad luck this time, but you have chosen a good place to get stuck!.
After we left you at the Balydorn lightship, we headed straight down to Kerry, our favourite county. We are very glad to have the campervan, the tent we had planned would have not been much use in the weather we have had and the other alternative, B & Bs and hostels, would have cost a fortune .
This has turned into a very expensive country now, and with hindsight, we would have brought most of our provisions in with us.
Yesterday we were at Crookhaven after Castletown Bere – It would be a reasonable place to come to and explore with a small boat, and Bantry bay, also has some sheltered water and beautiful scenery, you would not believe that there is a major oil terminal there, have not seen any tankers there yet, though.
We shoud be at Mizzen Head lighthouse this afternoon, and are booked on the Holyhead ferry for late Sunday night.
There are lots of good sailing grounds in West Cork as well
I wonder where Arnold & Phil got to in Columbus after Portpartick?. We saw a newly built marina in Stranraer on our way out, might be a good place to leave the boats in preparation for a future summer cruise?
All the best, David and Chris
I hope you manage to get Lopud going again before winter, you seem to be having a lot of bad luck this time, but you have chosen a good place to get stuck!.
After we left you at the Balydorn lightship, we headed straight down to Kerry, our favourite county. We are very glad to have the campervan, the tent we had planned would have not been much use in the weather we have had and the other alternative, B & Bs and hostels, would have cost a fortune .
This has turned into a very expensive country now, and with hindsight, we would have brought most of our provisions in with us.
Yesterday we were at Crookhaven after Castletown Bere – It would be a reasonable place to come to and explore with a small boat, and Bantry bay, also has some sheltered water and beautiful scenery, you would not believe that there is a major oil terminal there, have not seen any tankers there yet, though.
We shoud be at Mizzen Head lighthouse this afternoon, and are booked on the Holyhead ferry for late Sunday night.
There are lots of good sailing grounds in West Cork as well
I wonder where Arnold & Phil got to in Columbus after Portpartick?. We saw a newly built marina in Stranraer on our way out, might be a good place to leave the boats in preparation for a future summer cruise?
All the best, David and Chris
Hi David, got back in the water last night, few small teething problems with the fresh water cooling, it really is a horrific design, just wish it was a cheap job to revert it to raw water cooling only. The people here at Quoile have been fantastic, though I feel I have been shafted (pun) over my prop shaft by the marine engineer, cost me just under £600 supply only (plus he wanted an extra £30 to deliver it so I went up the lough in my dinghy and collected it myself), Glasson marina when I rang them yesterday said about £250. Forecasts for IOM showing 6's and 7's every day up til wednesday now, so not sure what to do at mo. It is very isolated here nearest pub/shop is 6miles by road 2 1/2 by dinghy.
Curlew, esmerelda and sea otter, now in Kirkudbright, John on Curlew had to go swimming as he picked up a hessian sack on his prop. Jetwind left Kirkudbright yesterday morning (friday) so should be back in Glasson soon.
John....Lopud
Curlew, esmerelda and sea otter, now in Kirkudbright, John on Curlew had to go swimming as he picked up a hessian sack on his prop. Jetwind left Kirkudbright yesterday morning (friday) so should be back in Glasson soon.
John....Lopud
Photos
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Chris and I are home again after 1700 miles and about 1700 mm of rain through Ireland. last Saturday they had 75 mm at Dublin Airport!
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I have put a few pictures from Down Cruising Club on the website:
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http://www.swinranger.co.uk/NOF/index.html
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Chris and I are home again after 1700 miles and about 1700 mm of rain through Ireland. last Saturday they had 75 mm at Dublin Airport!
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I have put a few pictures from Down Cruising Club on the website:
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http://www.swinranger.co.uk/NOF/index.html
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board
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It says on the board in the foyer:
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Sea Otter and Esmeralda in Kirkudbright,
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Lopud in Peel IOM
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Strider is still out somewhere?
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I think the rest are back. Humbug is going to make a dash for Gigha tomorrow, perhaps.
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Norman, Pete and Adrian are going to sort out that deep water mooring at Piel on Sat ( Grey Goose ) and it looks like the other two with two wheels each are in place . all in a line.
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Well done Norman, it has been a real struggle this time, I dont know where he finds the energy!
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D
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It says on the board in the foyer:
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Sea Otter and Esmeralda in Kirkudbright,
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Lopud in Peel IOM
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Strider is still out somewhere?
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I think the rest are back. Humbug is going to make a dash for Gigha tomorrow, perhaps.
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Norman, Pete and Adrian are going to sort out that deep water mooring at Piel on Sat ( Grey Goose ) and it looks like the other two with two wheels each are in place . all in a line.
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Well done Norman, it has been a real struggle this time, I dont know where he finds the energy!
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D
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More Pictures
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I have just uploaded a few of Alan's pictures from the cruise, I think he has downloaded some more on to the computer in the snug.
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http://picasaweb.google.com/d.vidbooth/GSCSummer2008
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I have just uploaded a few of Alan's pictures from the cruise, I think he has downloaded some more on to the computer in the snug.
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http://picasaweb.google.com/d.vidbooth/GSCSummer2008
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Where are we now!
Columbus is in Troon, having been as far west as Inishtrahull off Malin. Hoping to get back Monday 25th to give it another go.
Probably look in at Stranraer on the way home and suss it out.
Fair winds.
Some sunshine please.
Probably look in at Stranraer on the way home and suss it out.
Fair winds.
Some sunshine please.