The yacht was at a practical standstill apart from turning with the wind We got about 1 and a half hours fishing in but again no luck (Not that I mind as I still smell mackerel, despite best efforts to keep everything tidy dealing with them, I can't wait to get Wave dancer really well scrubbed down). Engine back on 3.50pm brought her over closer to the safe watermark before bringing down the sail. Wow never realised just what a God send lazyjacks and the stackpack really are. The sail went everywhere despite best attempts of John and William I even had to leave the helm and help. I'm back on helm again whilst the guys set up fenders and lines ready for use. I bring her in just past the dredger before giving John the helm as I go forward to my position with William. We are having William hop off with the stern line whilst I have the bow line to get him used to another job of boat handeling. Fenders overboard just as we round the breakwater and we're ready to go only somebody is in the space we had left John has to pull in across the way, William and I tie off as John Rings the marina office. The outcome is we now have a new pontoon place closer to Cruzzos restaurant but we had to transfer the fenders and lines to the starbord side. Not my favourite side for stepping off either as I'm lefthanded I find it a bit different comming in on my weak side. John had to go out to the end of the pontoon and turn around as there was still a bit of current which didn't allow him come in properly. We stepped off tied up, set up our springs and got ready to go to Gibneys to celebrate being home and let our parents know we were back safe and sound. John met Paul a friend from work when we were comming back. It is so lovely to be home again We have loved all our adventures this summer but you can't beat the feeling you get comming into home waters and getting to chat over those fun times with friends and family. Thank you for sharing in our adventures. Safe sailing and God bless.

Woke to a beautiful sunny morning, breakfast on deck as we debated about staying put and prolonging our holiday but decided get some more fishing in and that would do whilst we waited for the tide to change in our favour as HW was 4.30pm and Malahide was only 16 miles across Dublin bay. No luck on the fishing front this morning but still a nice way to pass the time. We tidied away the tackle and at 12.10pm brought the anchor up and we're away through Dalkey sound past Colliemore harbour. The last time we'd been in these waters I was heavily expecting William in a dinghy called Aishling we had hired from Colliemore harbour for our 1st wedding anniversary. Great memories. Then we brought up the main at 12.40 but there was a problem our reefing lines had snagged somewhere inside the boom so John had to remove them from the sail before we could bring the sail up fully. Engine off 12.45 and a moment of silence as we enjoy our final sail home SOG 5.5 knots Wind speed 10.5 knots ok not exactly the fastest we could go as Wavedancer is so heavy she really needs a minimum force 5 wind to get her moving well. Engine back on 1.03pm as wind had moved around to the south and slackened and our goosewing had not given us any speed. Add to that equation a ferry was comming out of Dun Laoirghe so we had to be well out of the way. Passed Rossbeg south cardinal mark 1.15pm John out getting more photos of the Bailey light house. We took the inshore passage between Howth head and Ireland' Eye for a change as tide would allow safe passage through. Instead of heading for Lambay to "Look" around and kill time until the tidal window to access Malahide (tidal estuary) weturned off the engine and brought out the fishing tackle.

We cast off from the river pontoon in Arklow at 6.30am. 7.o5am sails up and we're on our way to Dublin bay. 8.35am abeam Wicklow head lighthouse making an average SOG of 5-7 knots. Bray head abeam 10.50am We are going to anchor in Killiney bay instead of going into Dun Laoghaire marina as the weather forcast is perfect for anchorage there. When we were dating and used to walk around Dalkey and Killiney we would see a yacht at anchor in the bay and dream of once being that yacht now we get to fulfill this little dream of ours. Sail down perfectly at 11.35am unfortunately the lazy jack on the port side snapped free from the spreader so that sent our sailtrailing down in a clump. William and John gather up the sail and tie it down to the boom. We are going to use a trip line as the anchorage is in sand and stone. Anchor is set 12.15pm in 8 meters of water. I have been on the helm for the entire trip. I cook lunch then John sets up fishing lines and on Jonathan' first cast he caught a large mackerel. William caught two mackerel in one go. Then we spot 3 pilot whales enter the bay. Some people in motor boats start to harrass the whales chasing and circling them. the whales come over right beside our boat trying to use us as refuge. We were so lucky to get such a brilliant views of these beautiful creatures. They stayed near for about 2 hours eating kelp and playing around. BEST ANCHORAGE EVER!!!!

Moved Wavedancer back a space after the German boat left this morning so we could reach the electric meter. Niall O'Toole the harbour master came around to collect the 30 euro fee this morning and to have a quick chat. He remembered us from 2 years ago. Asked about where to find gas tanks and he took one off me to bring it up to the shop himself 22 euro much cheaper than the ones we got at the start of the summer in Dublin. He also brought diesel tanks off for us to be refilled as the petrol station was a good distance away. John refuelled and fixed the water pipes so they didn't rub off the aqualine anymore. Niall recommended us to go to "Christies" for lunch which we did only to meet him there too with his parents. The food was delicious. We went to the cinema to watch "diary of a wimpy kid 2 Rodrick rules" which was very funny (the joy of having 3 kids on board too)
Heading to Dublin tomorrow have to leave 7am to make the most of the tide.

We had planned on resting up here today but our gas ran out so no choice but to head on up to Arklow marina. We had missed the window of 1 hour before tide turn to get the maximum push up the coast so we knew we'd be against the tide for a while, HW arklow would be 11am. Anchor up 8.35am by 9am we were making an average of 7 knots I was on the helm for most of the trip. 9.35 John refuelled and we took the inshore passage of Lucifer bank. 12.30 Arklow bank sighted. 2.08pm Arklow (cement factories) visable. I brought wavedancer in as far as the breakwater, John and William having set up the fenders and lines on both sides incase we had to go inside to the marina. Our plan was to stay on the river pontoon which was thankfully available so we tied up 4.10pm and went to "Asian harvest" just over the bridge to celebrate being back on Irish soil again. I cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough the food was fabulous and the service outstanding also. Met a lovely couple from Dublin celebrating their 14th wedding anniversary.

Christian got seasick below deck, (oh joy) thankfully the yacht tender had been put in plastic covers before we left. As a result of having to clean up I missed the 1st of many dolphin visits during our trip. A hot snack of sausage sandwiches and cups of tea went down very well before I went off watch at 7pm. William went off watch at 8pm as John had decided that he and I could do watch without a buddy, only waking William if we felt really tired as backup. Back on watch 10pm visability 4-5 miles. 10.45pm we are 21.7 NM to Irish waters visability 10NM according to trawler lights and radar.
Monday August 1st: 4.45am a file of aprox 10 young porpoises joined us. 5am John refuelled so he could relax and sleep well. He was due to go off watch at 5am. We are joined by Risso dolphins 5.15am who stayed aprox 10 minutes John finally went to bed 5.30am wrecked tired as he hadn't slept properly the last time he was off watch. Sea state is mirror calm. Later in the morning we decide to anchor in St.Margarets bay instead of going into Kilmore quay as the weather forecast is for calm conditions. 10.30am more Risso dolphins join us. 11am Land ho!! the Saltee islands aprox 12.30 I spot a water plume from 3 pilot whales. 3.10pm abeam Carnsore point the tide is against us as HW Dublin was at 1.30pm Anchored in St. Margarets Bay Co. Wexford 4.30pm beautiful warm and sunny weather. John reset the anchor to allow for better clearance as the tide changed.