Fair Wind and Violent Squall

Monday 27th May:  Just occasionally you may catch me complaining about 04:00 hour starts and unfavourable winds.  But, to set the balance straighter, our passage from Malahide to Ardglass started at 11:00 in the morning, with the favourable tide, and was 50 miles downwind all the way.  Yes, it does happen.

Goosewinged

Ardglass is a sweet little place, perhaps a little down at heel, but the broken pontoon has been replaced with a lovely new one and there is only a small hole now, where the walkway lands, and that is well covered with a piece of plate, so there is no danger of falling through.  A viking vessel (GRP version) attests to past marauders.


Ardglass Marina - New Pontoon

The next day we carried on Northwards, wind astern and then veering abeam, and we steered towards Bangor.  A larger yacht caught us up as we ran downwind in the initially confused seas but once we came onto a reach we managed to hold them off, all the way to Copeland Island, just south of Belfast Lough.  Not that we are competitive, you understand.

Close Reaching, Relaxed, Not Racing

As  we sailed inside Copeland Island, reaching at 7 to 8 knots, the tide helped us up to 9+ knots over the ground.  With the land sliding past so smoothly, we decided that it would be silly not to keep going, so we charged straight on past Bangor and north across the Lough. 

Inside Copeland Island, Good Breeze, Flat Water

About an hour later we saw trouble approaching.  Halfway between a line squall and an ordinary one (!), a wall of wind and rain swept down on us.

Belfast Lough Squall to Windward

We rolled up most of the genoa but left the main unreefed, because we knew it would be short lived.  It hit us with 30 knots of wind and huge, heavy raindrops that made a loud drumming sound on all surfaces, including us.  One crack of thunder and it soon rolled by.  Meanwhile we let the main luff (but not flog), dinghy style, and we were soon in the clear again.  A little while later the wind veered some more and faded, leaving us motoring the last few miles into Glenarm, with only a very gentle headwind and on flat water.

Glenarm Marina - Morning Grey


Glenarm Marina - Late Morning Sunshine





Comments

  1. Bruce&CarolMay 30, 2024 at 2:59 AM

    Nice little place, Glenarm. We stopped there 2 nights on our way home. Next stop Scotland?

    ReplyDelete

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