Greetings from Dun Laoghaire in Dublin Bay.
M&N had an easy journey back to Bangor (see photo of rainbow over Bangor marina) from Dartmouth by train to Exeter then a flight from Exeter to Belfast. The plane flew right over Strangford Lough and the little marina there where we stayed on the journey north.
We left Bangor and had trouble with the mainsail again which became well and truly stuck in the mast. M&N couldn’t free it so it looked like a job for a rigger in Dun Laoghaire. We arrived in Ardglass and very soon had 2 seals at the back of the boat begging for fish. My sister Malo 36, also built in 1999, called Ghillemar and based in Dun Laoghaire, arrived also heading south. We had seen her in Bangor too. They moored next to us. Barry, the skipper, showed us a contraption he has made for easy mooring on a pontoon. M&N will make one and give it a try, as it seems like a good idea. Denis from the Malo is an engineer and prepares the boats for the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club, and he said he would have a quick look at my mainsail. He had a look and thought that if we winched him a little way up the mast he could investigate further. M&N, with the help of Barry and Brendan from Ghillemar, ended up winching Denis gradually right up to the top of the mast and he was able to free the sail with us working the ropes down below. Hero points for the three of them and particularly Denis. They came on board and had drinks, and are really nice guys. It turns out that Barry is commodore and Denis vice commodore of their yacht club. Denis used to work with M’s uncle Alan at RTE television. Small world!
Next morning we left Ardglass, hoisted the Republic of Ireland courtesy flag, and headed the 70 miles south to Dun Laoighaire. It was a lovely sunny day and, much to M&N’s delight, the mainsail came out ok. However after half an hour of sailing the wind dropped right off and we motored the rest of the way. We navigated through the huge marina and found our berth, and were boarded by a friendly Irish Customs who checked M&N’s passports and my registration documents.
Next day M&N went by DART railway to Malahide, a pretty seaside town at the north of Dublin Bay. Yesterday they caught up with jobs and shopping and walked along the shore to Sandy Cove and the James Joyce tower. There were 5 seals playing in the cove. In the evening M’s uncle Alan & aunty Wendy arrived and had a drink on board. The 4 of them went to a local restaurant where M’s cousin Simon and his wife Judi had already arrived, and they had a lovely evening. Simon & Judi gave M&N and lift back to the marina and came on board for drinks.
This evening M&N are meeting their friend Scott in Dublin then, weather permitting, we hope to head south to Arklow tomorrow. From there we plan to catch the next suitable weather window for the 85 mile night crossing of the Irish Sea to Milford Haven.
If all goes to plan, the next update should be from Wales but we will see!
Meanwhile, bye for now.
Katrina
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