Page 14 - Yachter Spring 2023

14 CRUISING REPORTS
the heavy north westerly swell.We made the most of our time there exploring Tresco and the Abbey Gardens, and with our usefully large dinghy the islands of Bryher and Samson as well.
We estimated that it would take about twenty-four hours to make the 130 mile passage to the Irish coast, so we left at midday to ensure departure and arrival in daylight.The first twelve hours were just about windless, we even kidded ourselves we were motor sailing.We had an excellent supper down below, cooked by Nigel whilst watching the radar and having a master-class at the same time (it is sometimes handy having a master mariner aboard!). During the early hours an easterly breeze filled in much to the relief of the fanbelt.
We had set a course for a mid-coast landfall so we could change our minds about which end to start the Irish coast,
Windless Celtic Sea at sunset
west to east or east to west dependent on the longer-range weather forecast.This worked excellently and we plumped for Kinsale, mid-east along the coast. As we approached the coast the visibility reduced until we were down to less than a mile.With the radar on we worked our way through coastal traffic, dolphins, whales and possibly an orca. Kinsale is a large easy entrance with the town three or four miles up the river around a long looping port hand bend past the impressive Fort Charles dating from the Napoleonic era.
Kinsale has three marinas, and we chose the KinsaleYacht Club which had good access to the town. Entry into Ireland is different for UK subjects, you just rock up and tell the local HM you have arrived, no passports! A day later customs turned up and asked a few questions about proof of identity and excisable goods aboard and also
took a photo of our vessel, that was it, all very relaxed! The Club was very friendly and welcoming offering food, drink and showers.They showed a genuine interest in what we were about, and gave us any helpful advice that was required to make our visit and cruise enjoyable.The walk out to Fort Charles was worth the effort, the history of the politics and construction were well told.
As the weather pattern looked to be south easterly and not good for the anchorages sheltered from the south west, we took the opportunity to nip around to Crosshaven, the home of the Royal CorkYacht Club, reputedly the oldest yacht club in the
world dating back to 1720.We then had
an interesting sail in a south south-easterly breeze with a huge south westerly swell of about four metres, with the waves breaking spectacularly over the inshore Daunt Reef. It definitely made us think twice about our usual cavalier approach to peering in all the nooks and crannies.The entrance into Cork Harbour is easy but there is a central shallow bank, with the big swell causing breaking seas which dictated keeping well to the west. Crosshaven is a mile inside the entrance
up the River Owenabue to the west.After forty years the Royal Cork was pretty much as we remembered it and just as friendly. Anne welcomed us into the bar, talked us through the intervening improvements and then took us on a personal tour of the club and its substantial array of silverware lest you be in any doubt it has history.The village
has changed little, has several eateries and pubs, a good convenience store plus a large boatyard. It was at this time it began to dawn on us that it was early in the Irish season - the yard was still rammed with laid up boats!
After a day spent in harbour we prepared to leave and took the opportunity to refuel at the Royal CorkYacht Club.Then we were off westward in a pleasant force four south westerly – upwind (what’s new),