Youghal and Crosshaven (Cork)

Marita3
Mark & Helen Syrett
Sat 27 Jun 2015 08:55
51:48.324N 8:18.176W
The plan was to take advantage of the southerly wind to go just over halfway of the 75 miles to Cork by stopping off at a small harbour called Youghal. We wanted to see what it was like so that we could assess if it would be possible to leave Marita there whilst we visited friends ashore. Having positioned ourselves at Dunmore East we were free to leave when we liked without having to bother about the tidal conditions at Waterford and in the River Suir. The forecast was southerly force 4/5 increasing to force 6 and above in the afternoon, so at 0600 we departed. We had a good sail and aimed to arrive by 1300 to enter the the harbour at slack high water. The harbour is open to the south and one approaches either over the east sand bar or the west sand bar. A narrow channel between two headlands leads into the harbour which then opens out over sand dunes to the north and east. The moorings, described in the pilot book, were noticeable by their absence and there were no yachts other than a Cornish Shrimper---—an ominous sign! 
We picked up a rather dodgy looking mooring to draw breath and decide what to do. That decision was taken out of our hands———Helen went into serious melt down (for the first time on this “cruise”), the boat swung round with its bow pointing into the now very strong ebbing tide, the boat was pushed forward by the southerly wind and the mooring was disappearing under the boat and to cap it all a local fisherman called out “i had that mooring dived on last week and the shackle is not good”. Despite the forecast of deteriorating weather a quick departure from the harbour and out to sea was the only sensible seamanlike option. We would be safer at sea whatever the sea conditions. Time to leave but casting off a mooring is difficult when it is under the boat———full power astern, a lot of shouting from the crew on the foredeck and we were free!
BUT we now had to get out of the harbour through the narrow channel where the incoming sea pushed along by the wind met the fast flowing ebb tide. Following a rather rough, helter skelter ten minutes with the engine at full power we had escaped and were soon in calmer water; sails were hoisted and we set off for Cork. We had a wonderful sail in the continuing force 4 entering the harbour at about 1830 about 27 miles later.
and arrived at the Royal Cork Yacht Club marina at Crosshaven at 1900 and dived into the surgery for a Dr Bells' prescription. 
Life on board would have been better if the weather forecast had not been misinterpreted!! The Irish forecast is read at speed with a soft Irish lilt. There is very little time to write anything down and before the wind strengths they give a more detailed description of which part of the Irish coast it refers to by reference to various headlands—several beginning with ‘m’ sound different to how they are spelt!  Anyway it transpired that the Force 6 and above was for a section of the west/north west coast.  The section of south coast where we were sailing was  only force 4/5 with no predicted increase!
The old Royal Cork Yacht Club building has been sold off some time ago and a more functional club house alongside the marina pontoons together with a youth training centre has been built. About 30 Optimists were out yesterday
There is room for functions (a wedding yesterday), bar, dining room and a very active and welcoming atmosphere.