Day 16

 So as we are still stuck in Rossaveal, and with no obvious window to escape appearing yet, we decided to get on the local bus and visit Galway.  Quite a surprising, quaint and charming seaside town.

On the bus we passed numerous sea facing houses, very well kept and in some cases very impressive.  Nice golf course, near the beach, but doesn’t look like a links course, from a distance anyway.

The city itself has a very interesting tourist area near the town square, a riverside walk, loads of live music and plenty of nice pubs and restaurants.  Well worth the visit.  The bus service was also very impressive, not expensive and pretty much exactly on time both ways.

The city also has a central marina, we didn’t sail here as you can only enter and depart 2 hours either side of high tide due to a tidal sill guarding the entrance.  A sill is a brick wall that remains the inner harbour water height when the tide goes out.

There is also some history there with gates to the original city dating back to 1586  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Arch

Paul was surprised to see a branch of Brown Thomas, a posh Dublin store, a bit like an Irish Harrods.  We didn’t go in and lower the tone……..

We arrive in Quay St the start of the tourist area

The Spanish Arch part of the original city gates

More of the original city walls

Galway tidal sill at low tide.

Day 15

We have been stuck in Rossaveal today, recovering our energy levels and trying to plan our escape.  We thought we had found a gap in the winds to go North tomorrow.  However when we checked the sea state there is a predicted Atlantic swell of 4 to 6 meters.  No thanks.  So here we remain and instead of departing tomorrow we are looking to go and visit Galway.

I say recover our energy levels and that means that Nick and I relax, read something, listen to music etc.  For our “Iron Man” Paul, it means going for a 20 plus mile run.  Photographs below of the area around Rossaveal from Paul’s run.

Day 14

We motored through the night with a careful watch of the weather forecast, we decided to motor past the Arun Isles passing between Inishmore and Inishmaan in the dark.  

Always a concern when in these types of channels is the opportunity to snag a lobster pot marker.  It can be very dangerous and you can’t see them at night as they are not lit, very small and sometimes partially submerged.  Fortunately we didn’t come across one.  We covered the 93 miles reasonably quickly with a good sail into the approach of Rossaveal Marina arriving at 6.30 am.

After some sleep and food, Paul, on the previous evening had suggested we don’t miss out on visiting the Aran Isles and take a ferry over to see them in daylight and on foot.

So on our rest day we took a boat ride!

Having just caught up with our original schedule.  The weather is still being problematical, as we sit here this evening we could be stuck here for a number of days.  So we have everything crossed that the poor outlook will improve.  Otherwise we will have to put in another couple of big sails and miss out on some very pretty anchorages, that would be a shame.

The approach to Inishmore

The surprising beach and town centre

Whilst exploring we found a Hobbit’s house

Lunch in front of the Arun Jumper shop 370 Euros each

Light house at harbour entrance on Inschmore

Full track dotted line a proxy due to lost contact with tracker

Approaching Great Blasket

Through the Aran Isles and tacking under sail into Rossave

Day 13

We departed Dingle at 07.45am for the Aran Isles initially, but an early weather forecast made us think we may have to miss them out and continue for Rossaveal. The forecast is for a North Easterly Force 4, one of the few wind directions that leave the Aran Islands exposed.  Normally the wind is from the South West so this is unusual and typical of the unusual weather we have been dealing with so far this trip.

So we hatched a plan to continue to what was our next stopping place that is sheltered from the NE.

This means a run of 93 miles arriving on Sunday morning at first light.

On leaving Dingle we noticed a very strange rock just at the entrance, the sea erosion has carved out what looks like some sort of sea monster that wouldn’t look out of place in a Jason and the Argonauts story.

We have to navigate through some tight channels at Garraun Point and then sail up the Atlantic coast to Galway Bay, passing some outstanding scenery.  Many of the points come straight down to sea level from a tremendous height.  A spectacular rugged coast.

Surprising Sandy beaches quite far out at sea draws tourist boats tailing ribs taking people out to them.

We had a great sail being briefly joined by a Pilot Whale, too briefly to get a photograph unfortunately, but the sailing was good for most of the day we even broke out the Cruising Chute for nearly all of the afternoon.  The Cruising Chute is a very large colourful large sail that lets you sail fast down wind.  We were also treated to some very warm weather with our layers having to be peeled off, the deck temperature got near 23 degrees.

I am sure I saw that move…..

Looking for the channel at Garraun Point

Brandon Head

Blasket Islands

Day 12

We have had a busy day today, filling up the water, refuelling and shopping.  Refuelling required us to borrow a couple of Jerry Cans and walk down to the local garage and then fuel by hand.  Not to mention just exploring Dingle, that is a very friendly tourist town.  Dingle has loads of pubs, many of them with live music.  We had a great meal last night and sampled more than a few of the pubs.

It was a special night being Andy’s last night on board.  He returned to the UK today via Kerry Airport.

One disappointment is the lack of Fungie, an Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin who had become a major tourist attraction in Dingle.

https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/life-dingle-without-fungie-strange-24367396

Paul went off for his usual run today, just the X miles in Y time.  Andy and I just missed him as he left or We would have joined him……..if you believe that you’ll believe anything.

Our 2nd night out tonight will be a more sober affair as yet again the weather is giving us problems.  We have a big front due to come in on Monday and possibly stay until Wednesday or Thursday next week.  So we need to get significant miles in over Saturday and Sunday.  So we leave tomorrow at 8 am for at least a 20 hour sail North.  We have a couple of options where to hide and we will decide on Sunday morning depending on how we have progressed.

Photos from Paul’s run

Back to the boat with 40L of diesel

Very important not to get diesel on the decks

Andy enjoys a wee Guinness

Statue of Fungie

Day 11

We set off at 7.00am this morning from Knightstown Marina on Valentia Island.  The early start was down to yet another strong wind warning for the afternoon.  We arrived in Dingle Marina at 10.45am having travelled 15 miles.

The entrance into Dingle is well hidden and very interesting to navigate.  You approach by a sector light and then work your way into the bay following the channel into the harbour.  

Once we made it inside the harbour walls the wind direction meant we were being blown off the pontoon as we tried to tie up, very tricky.  Arrived safely though and as I sit here now I can hear howling wind, a good Force 6 at least, glad again to be in shelter.

Approach to Dingle

Our short track over

Dingle Marina

Dingle typical street view, pubs!

Day 10

So after 3 days stuck in the marina by the weather we returned to our adventure.  The weather forecast was marginal with a Force 6 blow over a Moderate Sea.  Not for the faint hearted but very doable in Wind Singer.  We left at 6am and set off for Valentia, some 61 miles away.  The whole trip once we cleared the harbour and until we entered Valentia Harbour was made by sail.  We made great time, arriving at 4.30pm.  That is really quick.

Many highlights included, The Bull, the Cow, the Calf and the Heifer.  Islands off the mainland that need to be avoided. Skellig St Michael that featured in Star Wars and Lemon Island.

The entrance to Valentia Harbour was very tricky with a tight entrance that uses a sector light to guide the arriving vessel through the entrance.  This was tricky due to the conditions.

https://www.safe-skipper.com/sector-lights-directional-lights-leading-lights-how-do-they-differ/

A very kind individual,Cliff Jeffers photographed our approach into the bay, found us on our pontoon and gave us copies of the photographs.  Thanks again Cliff!

The Bull

The Skellig St Michael

View of the lighthouse from the boat

View from the lighthouse of the boat

Close up of the last part of our track

Full track view