Mandalay - From Wales to Ireland.

From Wales to Ireland.

Mandalay

Robin & Jenny Martin

Thu 30 Jun 2016 07:33

Dale Bay near Milford Haven was to be our anchorage for the next 3 night giving us plenty of protection from the strong north wind then we were given a day off and a moderate easterly to take advantage of. Just a long enough interval for us to have a lovely sail around to Fishguard. This involved actuate planning of the tide to take us through Jack's and then Ramsey's sounds off St David's Head. Jacks was a fairly easy zig zag at slack water but even so the rocks looks very close. Ramsey's sound is wider but by the time we got there the tide was flooding through, all I can say is I'm glad the weather was good and it was neap tides! There was little time to get a good look at he new lifeboat station being built mid way as we rode the overalls at get speed and before we knew it got spat out the other end!
Got into Fishguard and anchored near the lower harbour, Robbie getting psyched up for tomorrow big match....Wales v England in the euro football.
The return of the north wind kept us in Fishguard for another 3 nights but at least we got ashore to see England win 2-1.
So this brings us up to 18/6 and it's an early start across state George's sea to Southern Ireland. A good passage, a mixture of sailing and motoring getting us into Arklow before dark. We were soon tied up on the riverside pontoon and ready to get ashore. A hard day like that was rewarded with a couple of Guinness and a meal at Christies bar.
After a day tidying up and washing down, no shortage of water here we were ready to move on and Howth was the next stopover. Great Marina with lots of friendly yachtsmen. We did the tourist thing and got the dart train into Dublin for a days sight seeing and shopping. Bought some Dublin bay prawns on the way back for supper - they were fabulosity, well worthy of their reputation.
Next the Skerries, picked a mooring and called the sailing club punt for a lift ashore. We had a Guinness at the very social able club followed by fish and chips at Stoop Your Head and then back to Mandalay.
Time to leave the south, next stop Ardglass. Three enjoyable days in the little port with the oldest golf clubhouse in the world, busy fishing boats and huge seals.

I'm getting behind with the blog already so will catch up with myself next entry.....perhaps.

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