Crew wakened at 6 a.m. to prepare for departure from Howth at 7 a.m.  Bright sunny skies and the embrace of the well-protected marina did not give us any accurate impression of conditions off-shore along our intended leg to Peel in the Isle of Man.  The forecast gave S/SE at 6/7 for most of the day with scattered showers, winds to decrease pm (it didn't). 

 

Swung the boat north south from the corner of the pontoon on a starboard stern slip and moved out along the sagging port and starboard markers into the outer harbour before setting main and foresail to allow our intended course of 050 degrees.  We watched as the coast of Ireland disappeared like a slowly smouldering and dying bonfire.

 

A lumpy wave pattern and gusty squally winds did not offer us a peaceful sail, even after a quick reef was applied to each sail just before lunch.  Hard to distinguish any real pattern of waves and some mean buggers crept up on us from behind and surprised the helm.  Obviously for the majority of the day, no land was in view, one only had the rolling white-topped waves to give the immediate view;  watched a single puffin at the half-way wilderness and marvelled that such a small sea bird appeared so tame in the disturbed water. 

 

The radio cackled to life fairly regularly en route as we journeyed between Ireland and the Isle of Man;  my preference was for the sweet sounding lady in Holyhead rather than the careless drone of the gentleman in Dublin;  but both suggested research, preparation, accuracy and clarity and their comments were supported by the slow incremental rise in the millibar reading on our recently fitted barometer.  It is 2 o'clock - no sight of land as yet and it is only the chart which gives any sign of actual progress.  Peter is heroically risking all to get the first sighting of the Isle of Man through our newly acquired marine binoculars. 

 

Motor sailed north up the coast, Peel Castle attracting the eye before turning into the harbour to moor outside the pub above the sill - quickly evacuating the boat into the bar - a fitting end to a workmanlike to a day's sailing.