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Published: July 22nd 2011
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Day 33
July 22nd 2011
Ardlass to Howth 55 nm
Departed at 0555 and arrived 1650
We had a lovely evening in Ardglass. This is a delightful little town just south of the entrance to Strangford Lough. It has a little marina and a few conected small harbours one of which is delightfully called Gods Pocket because it is a safe haven. The entrance is well bouyed but the channel is narrow and shallow and we met a couple taking their 36 footer out by crane because they had wrecked their rudder a few days earlier reversing out at low water. We were surprised to see a huge tricolour flying over the local fish factory inn the harbour... the first we saw outside of Belfast. We met the manager and paid him 20 pound which included showers and electricity. Then a stroll around this delightful little town which once harboured 500 herring boats. We did some shopping and brought the grub back to the boat before going out to the pub to get wi-fi and then getting fish and chips in the bar!. This is a busy little fishing port with lots of small boats fishing the Irish Sea.
There was lots of activity and it was in sharp contrast to Killybegs. This place had very little deriliction and seemed like a town that had never lost the run of itself. The girl in the empty bar greeted us with 'wil ye be wantin to be fed?' She was wearing a Down jersey and of course I could not help myself so I asked her ' Whats the one thing that Cork has that Down does not?........................
Don't know...........The Sam Maguire!
Had to get that in seeing as we are meeting in the qualifies next week.......................... We were joined by an American man that we had seen earlier in the marina in a 44 footer called Colleen. He appeared to be a single handed sailor who had arrived from Scotland and was going down the east coast. A chatty friendly man who when Sally said he was going in the wrong direction replied with a smile 'thats the story of my life!'.
Then we met the English couple with the banjaxed rudder who seemed in remarkably good form..... thank god for insurance... before we gave ina and had more Fish and Chips.
We decided to leave early the
next morning partly because the tise was dropping after 0430 and partly because it was a long sail at 55 miles. Up at 0530 and we departed soon after. We had a cracking sail up until 1030. The wind was slightly behind or starboard side and their was a following sea. We touched 8 knots on the log at times. Then around 1030 the wind slackened then dissappeared so we had to motor for the next 7 hours. But it was a hot sunny day and we put on thhe autopilot and took turns off watch to get some rest. Eventually we reached lambay island which is the only inhabited island on the east coast before rounding Irelands Eye and in to Howth harbour. We had called uip earlier on Ch 80 and been told to to a certain berth G7 which was a very tight fit. Their was only room for a fender between us and the other boat. Paid the fees 31.30 before going out to find an ATM and having a coffee in Findlaters. Then a shower and a chat with my friends Ger and Maire Dorgan who we are planning to meet later for a drink.
The sun is shining and the outlook is good!
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Tot: 0.354s; Tpl: 0.01s; cc: 12; qc: 45; dbt: 0.0848s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
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zuzuzu72
zuzuzu72
I loved this blog, I have so many childhood memories from Ardglass it's always been a great wee spot. Happy and safe sailing, I am enjoying your journey......Oh and UP DOWN :-)