Isle of Man to Holyhead

I really didn't want to leave Peel but the weather was forecast to get worse and although I had originally intended to go north and down the east coast I though getting home was the safer thing to do.
So off I went back down the West coast. I had a hard initially start as I was under prepared on leaving in my haste to get out of the gate and it was quite rough as I exited the harbour. After a bit of a bashing I got the sails up and set off all ship shape. I left around 0850.

The sail down the coast was fairly uneventful but the wind was almost directly behind the boat so I tried goosewinging it.
As I reached the end of the island I had to decide was really whether to go through the sound or between the lighthouse and the calf of man.
The advice was to avoid the sound but also there was a trawler in the entrance and that clinched my decision. Between the lighthouse and the Calf it was.

After seeing a few tankers and having lunch there was only the traffic separation scheme to negotiate. I crossed scheme watching nervously as a large tanker loomed on the horizon. It passed behind me as I was into the other lane as it drew near.
When I came out of the scheme there was a hell of a rip taking me onto the skerries but after battling with it for some time I managed to miss the skerries and get into Holyhead bay. I got back from my adventure at 1910 60.1 nm. What a great trip.

Skerries getting too close!

Safely home at Holyhead D18

Ireland to Peel

Exit Howth Port

 

Leaving Howth

Sun beams

I set off at 06.00 as it was going to be a long day. It was a grey start and although I had done quite a bit of planning it was my longest sail single handed yet. It soon brightened up and the sunbeams bursting through the clouds were amazing. After a four hours and other than a bit of map reading things became a bit boring so I sat wondering how cool it would be if there were some dolphins. A few minutes later I thought I saw a dorsal fin... I contemplated radioing the coast guard and telling them I was delusional but then I saw another and another. Amazingly 5 came along then another 5 and so on. At the most I think there were around 20 to 25 but the core 5 that came first were with me for about 25 minutes. These are the days that make all the hard work worthwhile.

After the brilliant dolphin interlude it was back to the slog of just staying on watch and plotting the route. Making the most of the tide or lack of it in the area between Ireland and the Isle of Man. Eventually the Isle of Man appeared on the horizon and slowly I advanced along the length of the Island towards Peel.
The entrance to Peel is amazing, you have a medieval castle, a beach, a swing bridge and flap gate to get into the marina. You have to wait for the swing bridge to open and for the gate to be open depending on the tide. Past a certain time and it is controlled by Douglas marina so you have to call them on the radio.

I got in at about 8.30 and the very kind guy who ran Peel Marina came back down from home to give me a Marina gate card and tell me what was where. I went in the Creek Inn to catch last orders, what an amazing sail. 73.5 nm.
I spent the next day looking around Peel, it is amazing, I went to the Castle, spent time at a cafe on the beach, found the way to pay for fuel. The guy selling the fuel didn't seem to appreciate the advantages of living in Peel. I suppose we all get used to our own surroundings and hanker after other things. Well worth a visit by sail or otherwise.

View from the castle

lovely sunny day

the marina is so picturesque

Holyhead to Ireland

On the bank holiday Monday I set off for Ireland, original idea to head for Carlingford Lock but due to sailing angle I headed to Howth part way through the trip.

I also think it was comforting to head for somewhere I had already been into!. The trip was fairly uneventful just had to be careful crossing the shipping lanes and keep an eye out for ferries. I set off at 07.50 arrived at 18.40. 57nm

I love Howth, the fishing dock, the life boat, the whole feel of the place.

I decided to have a slap up nosh before setting off to the Isle of man, so went to a local wine bar, nice.