And so we head for Kinsale. A popular staging post for boats from all over the world and a pretty town with lots of goings on.
Our start was early (5.15am) somewhat delayed my Marks last minute ablutions before departure but necessary to ensure a comfortable passage!
As we left Dunmore East Lir (The Celtic god of the seas) was indeed smiling on us. We were treated to a spectacular sunrise over Hook Head and escorted out of the inlet by a school of dolphins...a good omen heralding a day that was to be our best sail yet. The wind was to the north west force 3 occasionally 4, though more often 2 and we were close hauled in full sail. This is a point of sail loved by Goose, occasionally dipping her rail in the waves in a gust and finding her groove for good jaunt across the south coast. The wind did drop at times and we resorted to motor sailing but this was short lived. At one point the Skipper was dozing below when the crew cut the engine to test if there was sufficient wind. He sat bolt upright scowling up into the cockpit sure that things were not right. Reassurance from above soon calmed his anguish and he returned to sweet slumber.
We made better time than anticipated and by early evening we were preceded and followed by two French boats towards the sailing club Marin and were shortly secured. The Skipper and Neil were dispatched to the clubhouse bar to register and shower ,an excercise taking longer than anticipated and resulting in a significant tipsiness on their return. Mark had started to cook and we feasted on frittata as we waxed nautical on the days events. The evening was polished off with another pint for the main offenders while Mark enjoyed a hearty pudding in a local hostelry as we were entertained by a session complete with dancers. All was good with the world as we retired to our bunks having purchased the makings of a good lunch for our next days sail to Marks home port of Baltimore, a town ravaged by pirates and holidaying Dublin legal types but one which would mark a certain achievement on our circumnavigation.
Again we were escorted out of port by dolphins and while this was welcomed it did not herald fair winds. In barely a puff we motored for hours before we were treated to a short motor sail...but that wasn't to last either. The fog/sea mist that had threatened all day closed in as we approached the Stags and were it not for our satnav we would have been lost...literally! It was a strange and silent atmosphere as the screen coupled with Marks local knowledge guided us into Baltimore harbour. We tied up on the pontoon and we're informed that there were to be no visitors berths as a result of the poor weather so we inflated our tender and managed to secure a visitors mourning for our stay. Maireita arrived (Marks wife and the Skippers sister) to ferry us to their warm and welcoming abode but not before Goose had been secured on the mooring and our, slowly disintegrating, tender was safe in the inner harbour. Off we set determined to shower, sleep, renew our supply of fuel filters and replace Goose's tender with that from Pirate Nel (Marks Boat).
Welcomed and amply fed we were to sleep in proper beds....could this make softies of us? Time will tell.
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