Date: 29-06-06     Time: 17:30 UTC     Position: N53.27.24  W006.09.09   Name: Malahide, North of Dublin 

Vi valgte å flytte oss fra flytebrygga til en ledig bøye i havnen i går kveld. Delvis for å kunne komme ut lettere i dag tidlig dersom vinden gjorde det vanskelig å komme ut av vår nokså trange plass, og delvis for å unngå havneavgiften. Vi fikk iallfall en brukbar tidlig start med vekkerklokka innstilt på 7. Det er bra vind idag, sørlig rundt 9 m/s først på dagen men nå (kl 11) er den ned i 8m/s og vi har rullet ut litt mer seilareal. Vi forventer å komme til Malahide, som ligger litt nord for Dublin mellom fire og fem i kveld. Vi fikk sett våre første delfiner for en halv time siden. Det var fire av dem som viste oss ryggfinnene ca 75m fra oss. Så kom den ene nærmere og hoppet helt ut av vannet slik at hele kroppen var en halv meter over sjøen - en flott skue på 30 meters hold. Da jeg hadde hentet videokameraet var de blitt borte - så ikke bilder av dem i dag.

 

Det er ikke spesielt varmt ute på havet i dag, og Rønnaug har tilbrakt mye av tiden under dyna på sofaen i kahytten (se bildet).

 

Nå er vi i havn, etter en livlig seilas i liten kulig på slutten av dagen. Vi har vært innom byen - som er tydeligvis velstående. Ryddig og rent, fine butikker og koselige blomster langs handlegatene. Havneavgiften var like horribel som Liverpool - €42 for en natt her. Til gjengjeld er det strøm og vann like utenfor båten, sentrum er bare noen hundre meter unna, og sikkerheten er på topp. Vi måtte innom en pub mens vi var i byen - og fikk våre første ekte irsk glass med Guinness - nydelig.

 

 

 

 

We moved the boat from the floating pontoon to a vacant mooring yesterday evening. As the wind was pushing us on to the pontoon and the rather confined space to get out from, we decided to move while there was little wind. This also avoided the issue of paying another £23 for the harbour fees, or conversely sneaking away feeling a little guilty. So we got up at seven this morning, slipped our mooring, and headed out. The wind is a fresh southerly force five, so we started with a fair bit of sail reefed away yet making a good speed. Just now (11 o'clock) we have rolled out a bit more sail area as the wind is just a bit lighter. We expect to arrive at Malahide, just north of Dublin, between four and five this evening. We saw our first dolphins today - there were four of them showing us there backs and fins about 75m from the boat. One came closer, about 30m, and showed off by jumping completely clear of the water - his body half a meter above the sea. It was a spectacular sight, one which will no doubt be repeated often on our travels. However, by the time I had got the camera out, they had all disappeared - so no photo today.

 

It is not particularly warm today, so Rønnaug has spent most of the morning tucked up under her duvet on the sofa in the cabin - see picture.

 

Now we have arrived in the harbour after a fast and pleasant crossing. The wind got up to force six, so we had to reef away a lot of sail again. Malahide is a super harbour with plenty of room, water and electricity by the boat, and just a few hundred metres to the town. Security is also very high - at a price. We had to go to the harbour office to pay and get our security cards - fees €42 for one night - as bad as Liverpool. The facilities are however very good. We had a look round the town, bought bread and juice, and had a pint of Guinness each at a pub - lovely. Neither of us have been to Ireland before, so this is a new experience for both of us.