2022 St Kilda Day 69 Bangor to Dundalk Bay.

I left at 05:40 to catch the tide south and got away without disturbing John in the next berth, to be honest I was rather surprised as the wind did not help me backing out of the berth and turning 90 degrees to starboard in a narrow fairway before motoring out, even with help from the prop walk (in reverse the prop pushes the stern to port and the bows more extravagantly to starboard) I had to go forward several times before reversing again each time making noise. 

Perhaps more power and noise would have got me round in one or two, that would probably have woken John up, but I was thinking more of the boats on the other side of the avenue and not hitting them.

John's view of Jester sailors is worth repeating, he is certainly from this mould:

"My Jester friend cast off quietly and without fuss in the wee hours to continue his journey south towards the Hamble without disturbing me. That’s the thing about Jester types, self sufficient and contained, quietly gregarious amongst their own kind, always ready to assist each other, non judgemental, followers of the KISS principle. Its a select rather eccentric group and the first mate said I would miss the whole thing – but as with being a soldier, once a Jester always a Jester; the mindset doesn’t change."

In nice conditions I had the sails up as soon as the mooring lines and fenders were stowed and sailed all the way past the entrance to Carlingford Loch before putting the engine to go the last five miles into the bay. Most of the leg was on a dead run, the wind changing as I had to change course, and I sailed goose winged without the pole for much of the way. 

The forecast was for thundery showers and gusty winds so I did not risk the spinnaker and in any case was making good speed. I was fortunate and only caught two of the numerous squalls about, the first was vicious with torrential rain and well over 20 knots, I had seen it coming and had one reef in the main ready, and as it hit I went straight to 2 reefs in the headsail and mainsail, the two line slab reefing and the furling headsail making that a very quick process, only 2 or 3 minutes and done from the cockpit.

The first squall approaching.

The second hit off Carlingford but with minimal rain and a backing wind and as it passed I was ready to turn into the Bay where I anchored close to another single handed yacht for a reasonably peaceful night, the wind having rather more west in that forecast so there was less shelter than expected.

64 miles in under 13 hours.

To Sorrento Bay Dublin.