Three Men in a Boat

We woke to a clear calm day, though there was some sea mist some distance off.  Heading for Glenarm through Rathlin Sound it was still and the legendary tidal races were only mildly evident.  As we rounded Tor Head the skipper raised the radar reflector, visibility was dropping fast! Within minutes it was down to 20 yards and worse, so the autohelm was engaged,navigation manages thoroughly it and the chartplotter, Mark perched on the bow with the fog horn and Siobhan and the skipper had their eyes peeled. It was a long and stressful run but as fast as we can remember. At one point we were making just over 10 knots over ground and we reckon there must have been a tide of over 4 knots!  There was nothing to be seen until out of the mist came the spectral image of a yacht almost dead ahead and heading in our direction.  A minor adjustment to course saw us pass close to and exchange a silent wave. Then they were gone! On occasions we heard fog horns of other vessels,...

After a hearty breakfast, thanks to Pier 39 we were off.  Just a short skip to Ballycastle and along one of the most spectacular coasts in the world.  Winds and swell were light enough for us to pull right into the causeway then on to Ballintoy, Kenbane Head and finally to Ballycastleo!   Neil would leave us here as he had pressing issues to sort, So Siobhan, Mark and the skipper lazed for a while before the skipper headed off to see an old friend in the town. Colm is one of the nicest people one could hope to meet, and his wife Deirdre is even nicer!  The skipper was sad to see Colm's health had flagged a little since they'd last met over a year ago, but at almost 90 his humour hadn't failed him and the afternoon was spent reminiscing old times, not least an infamous trip to France that the skipper, Colm and Austin, sadly now left this world, had taken over twenty years ago.With the blessing of the nicest pair in Ballycastle the skipper returned to Goose to...

Was this a fishing trip? Or a circumnavigation by sail.  Today it was hard to tell!  And as ever our lines came to the surface devoid of  fish!  This did not prevent gales of laughter...but sadly our morning was without wind apart from that.  By lunch the wind picked up and we were on a broad reach all the way to Portrush.  A good days sail for Neil who had been part of the crew last year where too much or too little wind seemed our constant condition. The legendary twin islands of Inistrahull beckoned and as the skipper had never come close enough for full inspection, this was our opportunity.  There was something eerie and mysterious about them.  Abandoned many years ago the light still stands. The notion of rowing to this light is surely beyond modern comprehension. The wind was building and we had a spanking sail into Portrush.  Neil has a house here and friends, Karen and Alfredo were staying there. They invited us to dinner and Siobh...

We woke early with no small degree of anticipation.  The forecast was for force 4 and 5, but this was manageable and as Killybegs slept we slipped away from the pontoon and had the main up as we reached open water.  There was only a slight swell and soon we were sailing nicely along in a 3/4.  This was the kind of day Mark had hoped for (speed freak that he is!).  As we reached Slieve League we were on a reach and making over 5 knote.  Perfect!  ........But don't speak too soon!....It wasn't long before the wind had freshened and we were over canvased.  The wind velocity probably magnified by the downdraft from the mountains. We reefed the main and reduced the jib. Just in case we started the engine as we rounded the point off Rathlin O Byrne and set a course for outside of Aranmore.  It proved a pleasant sail and the sun was deceptively strong.  As we passed Dawros Bay, probably about five miles out, Neil's son Conor, who was holidaying in R...

Goose in the Bay Off Portsalon We woke before the alarm and as both crew were alert and willing we set off early for Portsalon on Fannad head we hauled anchor at 5.30! Not much wind, so we motored along this spectacular stretch of coastline. Past the Rosses and on towards Marble Hill and Downings.  Passing the spectacular Tory Island we wondered if the King was receiving visitors but on second thoughts we decided to press on!    we had Fannad light in our sights and once we closed on it we swung to starboard and into the deep water fiord.  It seemed more than calm enough at Portsalon (still and hot as we have ever known Irish waters) and intending to anchor we spied a substantial visitors mooring and duly picked it up and made fast. Neil was to join us here and he was a keenly anticipated addition to our crew, having sailed with us from Ardglass to Dingle he didn't take long recognising Goose and we were no sooner tied up than our phones were hopping.  It w...

This had been a long anticipated days sailing.  It was to be our longest, with considerable time spent out of sight of land.  It was also a homecoming of sorts as the skippers second home! Skipper Sets Foot In Donegal The anchor was raised as dawn was breaking and we bade farewell to Mayo on a glorious morning.  Past the staggs and Buddha rock and we were soon in the wide expanse of Donegal Bay. Winds were light but building and it wasn't too long before the main was doing more than steadying the ship.  What had been anticipated as a somewhat arduous haul turned into a stunning days sail, though Mark seemed particularly excited and almost salivated as Goose heeled with the wind. It wasn't long before we were sailing under Slieve League, the highest sea cliffs in Europe, looking resplendent in the spring sunshine.  Killybegs was soon in our sights and there was a an easing to our elation.  This was to be a hiatus in our odyssey with Siobhan ta...

An early start with us slipping our mooring at 6a.m. in fine spirit and singing our hearts out, joyous to be at sea once more.  The joy was short lived...as passing through the sound we struck bottom.  We had been advised locally that there was sufficient water...what was charted at 10ft was less that 6ft and the consequence chastened us considerably.  About turn and a more laborious long way round saw us on our way.  The American boat that had been moored alongside us had promised to depart for Frenchport, but there was no sign of life.  We were alone on the Atlantic and the mood was lifting again.  Soon we were singing again as we moved up the west coast.b Our destination Broadhaven and our jump off for crossing the huge Donegal bay the next day.  On arrival we anchored next to the lifeboat.  A local fishermen offered us a lift to the local shop...but as it was a 20k round trip and all we wanted were Soleros we thought it best not to accept....