BEVERLY:

Travelling down the Irish coast we really only stayed a night in every place as we where in a hurry to make the most of the good weather. We had to get to Cork so that we could be ready if we got a good forecast to cross Biscay.

It meant long days at sea but we got a night in bed, From Ardglass we sailed to Dunlaoghaire, then to Arklow, on to Dunmore East and then Crosshaven which is the marina for Cork. This was the most expensive marina we had come across, with the worst facilities, but in fact we met up with four other boats waiting to sail across Biscay. It is an interesting and happening place where you get the feeling that everybody loves the water and boats.

There was a lot of activity as we arrived with dozens of little fishing boats at the entrance and about 50 Optimists out sailing as well as other yachts. It was Sunday and everybody was just enjoying the last of the summer weather.

We met an American couple, Paul and Sonya, also, Maureen and Mark, from Skipton and the crew of Bootlegger, all preparing to go to Bayona in Northern Spain. We where waiting for our friend, John Mactaggart to join us on Monday night but weather-wise it was looking as if Tuesday morning was going to be a good day to leave.

We got talking to a couple who where building their own steel boat who turned out to know Andrew, one of our boat builders. They where very good to us and visited our boat and we visited there’s. They also took us to do our shopping at the next town where prices where cheaper. Again we where so busy working on the boat that everything was rushed and by Monday night we where still very tired.

Dinghy sailors in Crosshaven are towed home by a RIB.