Wed 29th April Dunmore East

Today was our first day to head for the Scillies, all of course contingent on settled weather for the 28 hour crossing. We leapt eagerly from our beds a to get ready while Dave went to check if the weather forecast had changed overnight. Oh well, Dunmore East is a very nice place to spend the day. The forecast was for strong winds overnight on Thursday and a walk along the cliffs and a coffee in a pretty fishing / holiday village seemed like a very attractive alternative. Tomorrow we have a forecast for 18 hours of light winds which we plan to use to go to Kinsale, a day sail along the coast, past Cork.

Cara Mara snuggled up to a fishing boat in Dunmore East harbour

We were all impressed by this very new looking trawler.

Sunday 26th April to Monday 28th, Waterford

Stuart joined us at Waterford Sunday afternoon. Waterford attracts many visitors as the home of the famous Waterford Crystal and is also another place in Ireland which is proud of its Viking history. We have been moored on the pontoons in the centre of town, very convenient for exploring. Wendy enjoyed her visit to the Waterford Crystal factory and the Medieval Museum is also worth a visit.
On Monday Wendy, Dave and Stuart took the train to Kilkenny, a really fascinating medieval town, with many historic building including its castle, Cathedral and a fully restored merchant house and garden. The cathedral has an unusual round tower, the oldest structure in the town, built in 1111, which is open to the public, so of course it had to be climbed.
The only downside of the friendly town of Waterford has been the non-functioning of their far too clever system where you use a mobile phone to open the gate onto the pontoon. Fortunately Jonny, the man in charge finally managed to come up with an old fashioned key, which solved the problem. The frustrations of modern technology seem to have followed us to Ireland, but we shall be sorry to say goodbye to the hospitality we have enjoyed here.

A trophy on display at Waterford Crystal

Sunset on the river

Kilkenny Castle

Kilkenny Cathedral and round tower. Very steep ladders to the top.

The "post medieval" shower block greatly enhances the Waterford river side. 

Sat 25th April, Kilmore Quay to Waterford

We had a really good sail from Kilmore Quay to Dunmore East at the mouth of the river Suir; sunshine and a force 4-5 SW wind. Lots of tacking but we got there before the weather changed for the worse. We picked up a mooring buoy at Dunmore East, a really pretty little fishing village, while waiting for the tide to change for the long motor up river to Waterford. It is very interesting to wind your way 15 miles up a river with lots of bends and only a very narrow deep channel, knowing it is used by quite large ships. No wonder they have a pilot on board.

Leaving Kilmore Quay, a busy little fishing harbour

Kilmore Quay Friday 24th April

We arrived in Kilmore Quay, a small fishing village on the SE of Ireland yesterday in bright sunshine, (but without any wind for days). Everyone in the village is extremely friendly and can't do enough, but sadly today we are having  our first taste of real Irish weather, SW wind, grey and wet.
Tomorrow we plan to sail to Waterford, about 17 miles along the coast then up river to the city, which we are looking forward to exploring for a couple of days.

Dublin 21st April

Wendy, Dave and Chris took the train into Dublin and said goodbye to Michael who was catching the ferry home. It was a glorious sunny day, we visited the museum and then did the Guinness tour. The museum has some amazing gold jewellery dating from 1000 to 1200 BC and is well worth a look.

Dublin's Millennium Needle 

Great view of the city from the top of the Guinness tour



River Liffey in the sunshine

Monday 20th April, Dublin

After a quick repair of the wind turbine we were off into Dublin. Chris stopped on the way for a tour of the Aviva Stadium. Michael headed for the tour of the Guinness brewery and Wendy and Dave for a walking tour of the city. The tour was excellent with both humorous and informative insights into Irelands political history.

The importance of not being Ernest

Dublin Castle, the hated seat of English rule until independence, no more popular now as the home of the Irish Revenue Service

"Trinity", home of learning in Ireland, apparently the Irish church forbade Catholics from attending for many years, as it was originally intended to educate only protestants.  

Sunday 19th, Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire

Wendy, Dave, Chris and Michael left Holyhead at 10.00 for the 53 mile crossing to Dun Laoghaire, just outside Dublin and arrived in daylight at 20.30, with the wind helping us all of the way. It was a lovely sail, sunny all morning and evening, with high cloud the north east wind making for a cold afternoon. Many layers of clothes compensated. No dolphins were sighted, much to Wendy's disappointment. The one piece of unwelcome excitement was our newly installed wind turbine working itself loose from its support mid crossing, but we were able to effect a temporary repair, so all was well. The staff at Dun Laoghaire marina gave us a typically warm Irish welcome, then we were off into town for a welcome meal.

Holyhead Sat 18th April

We woke to blue sky, a perfect day for a sail, except for the wind, yesterday too little and today rather too much. Wendy and Michael decided an 8 mile walk out to South Stacks was required. Chris and Dave took a rather more relaxed view of the day. Dinner was taken on deck, after erecting Cara Mara's new cockpit tent.

South Stacks lighthouse, worth the walk!

Holyhead harbour basking in the sunshine

Preston to Holyhead 16th April and lazy day in Holyhead 17th April

The Scerries rocks off Holyhead at sunset

Our first sail from Preston turned into a motor sail, as the promised wind failed to materialise. Eventually we decided to head into Holyhead for the night; we will continue our journey to Dublin on Friday 18th, as there was no wind on Thursday either. The sun shone so we had had a nice day anyway walking and doing jobs.

This years sailing adventures on Cara Mara are just about to start. Tomorrow Wendy, Chris and Dave travel up to Preston Marina. Early Thursday morning Michael is joining us to catch the tide down the river Ribble.