Stage 9 & 10, Ardglass - Browns Bay - Port Ellen

A nice but tiring sail (much of the way) to Browns Bay in variable but generally brisk winds and close hauled or close to it most of the way. It was rather weird trying to identify what is left of RAF Bishops Court where I was stationed with the RAF in 1971/2 – not much is left, least of all the large radar head on Killard Point.

The wind got up close to Browns Bay and the shelter was marginal but with a wind change due shortly I decided not to spend the extra time going into Larne. 

46 nautical miles in 10 hours.

A tight and initially quite bumpy anchorage.

The trip to Port Ellen was a disappointment, a nice reasonably warm, sunny day but a light cold wind and I motored most of the way and was lucky to have secured to the pontoon and had power connected five minutes before rain arrived.

The Maidens, North of Larne

The Mull of Kintyre with more yachts at sea than I have 

seen at one time since leaving St Mawes.

Port Ellen, Islay when the weather improved the day after I 

arrived. Unfortunately all of the distilleries were closed 

to visitors.

Port Ellen marina had places to spare, unlike those on the

south coast where I understand that bookable berths are all

taken until the end of August, and the Scilly Islands are also

very busy,

50 nautical miles in 10 hours.

Slide show all of my pictures from Ardglass to Port Ellen. Page through by clicking the arrows or click in the centre of the pic to view from Flickr in a new window or full screen:

Port Ellen – Loch Tarbert