CROSSHAVEN TO CASTLETOWN BERE

Liz and Vanessa arrived just before Brian and Ian left.

We walked into the village and had fish and chips. Then early night as we are leaving for Kinsale in the morning

19^th May Crosshaven to Kinsale

We left at midday after filling with fuel, and did the short trip to Kinsale arriving at 5 oclock in the evening.

The Kinsale Yacht Club was being rebuilt, and no marina manage available. We managed to contact one of the RNLI shorecrew, who very kindly loaned us is card to get into the Marina.

The girlswent along to the Lifeboat Station and got the signatures of the Lifeboat Crew, they were just going on a training. They came alongside, and said hello. Which was nice.

We have decided to go to Baltimore tomorrow, after doing the passage planning, we had an early night. The Raymarine Chart Plotter, had decided to go wrong, so we are going to have to use the hand held chart plotter. We are happy with the charts anyway. I also managed to set up the computer with the SeaCharts, and the GPS Mouse, as back up.

20^th May Kinsale to Baltimore

Today left at 7.30am Weather NW 3 to 4, which wasn't ideal, we put up the main and motorsailed.

Some of the time we were able to put up the gib. It was quite a smooth journey, and we had a few dolphins with us for a time.

We had the waypoints on the chart, and proceeded along the coast. We were excited about going into Baltimore, it looked a tricky entrance, but it was easy to pick up the green buoys to lead us in As we arrived the sun came out which was a bonus we actually felt that it was becoming Summerish. It has been really cold, and the wind still has a chill in it. The local Yacht Club only opens July and August , so we won't be able to have a shower here.

We were able to go alongside a pontoon beside the harbour master office.

We met the Coxwain of the Baltimore Liftboat and another life boat crew member.

We went ashore to get a few supplies and cards to send to John Ring and Royal Cork YC as a thank you, and to Robert Acton, form the RNLI At Kinsale to return his card.

We decided to go again tomorrow, while the weather is in our favor, even though its a NW wind.

21^st May Baltimore to Castletownbere Bere Island

We left Baltimore at 8.30 on route to Castletownbere. It was a lovely day and we motored out towards the Fastnet Rock. Sea was calm and blue sky and sunny. We had waypoints to Mizzen Head and beyond. As we got towards Mizzan Head the wind got up to force 5 to 6 gusting 7. Story of this trip. What was worse we were head to wind. It made our progress very slow and very lumpy with sea washing over us. We had a malfunction on the Chartplotter, which decided to stop working. Our Handheld Compass stopped working, we have been using the Computer with the GPS Mouse, and that didn't work. The girls were taking fixes on the headlands. I remembered we did have a second hand held GPS, which luckily did work.We are not doing very well with our electronics wizadrry, thank goodness we have good viz. We had to find the entrance to Castletownbere which was quite tricky, so it was a good job we were able to check where we actually were. We saw a fishing boat coming out which gave us good guidance for the entrance, we picked up a white light, that turned to red when you were on the incorrect course. It is quite stressful coming into the new places until you get to the red and green buoys. The trip took longer that we expected nearly 9 hrs.

The entrance to Castletown is beautiful like the Norwegian Archipelagos, With pinetrees and little coves. We turned into the harbour, it was a very busy Fishing Harbour, we went along side the harbour wall behind the fishing boats. The harbour master said we could stay, we were relieved as it was really windy and and an anchor wouldn't have been very nice. We finally ended up beside a large sailing boat called 'Ar Seachrain' the crew were all men and very friendly and helpful.

We were alongside the wall and able to walk into town. Great.

Went on board 'Ar Seachrain' after having a curry dinner followed by merangue rasberries and cream

We then went to the famous pub in Castletown called McCarthy's there is a book called McCarthy's by and author Pete McCarthy's

We didn't stay long as we have to go down a very long ladder to the yacht. You need to be sober.

We have done the homework for tomorrow, and a good time to be leaving at about 2.30 in the afternoon to go to Darrynene.

After Tomorrow we will be only 2 days behind schedule. The weather may be changing though, so we could falter again on the time - who knows?

22nd May Today is Ness's birthday. so we had smoked salmon and scrambled eggs for breakie.
All went to local B and B and had a shower.
Met up with the lifeboat crew. Done some laundry and shopping.
Soon be on our way to Darrynene.
Sending this from the Lifeboat Station.
L Patx