Amy aboard for sail to "Long Island Bay"
No, we are not in "Long Island" near Manhattan, but we are in Long Island Bay, and near Long Island, and Long Island Sound, and Coney Island...all in an area just north of Fastnet Rock. Fastnet Rock (pictured below) is clearly one of the top most recognized navigational aids and symbols of the sailing world. Many famous and infamous events have taken place nearby. It is the first sighting if sailing from America; it has seen many ship wrecks; and, it is the turning point for the Fastnet Race which is a biannual race, in August, starting from Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK, involving inshore and offshore racing, rounding Fastnet Rock, and then returning (600 miles). The Race generally involves many of the top sailors in the world. Fastnet is infamous for the 1979 Fastnet Race in which 15 people lost their lives when a very sudden, large, violent storm arose, and many boats were capsized or lost; subsequently, many changes took place in safety gear and requirements as a result of this tragedy. But for us....conditions were 20 knots with seas about 3-4 feet...very nice. Amy sailed out of Kinsale past James Fort on the right (below), then Charles Fort on the left (below), then the lighthouse at Old Head of Kinsale (below...also a fine golf course adjoining). We tried to anchor in the North Harbour of Cape Clear Island, but could not find adequate room, so we headed straight north and anchored in Schull Harbour, above Long Island. Heading into town, we enjoyed "a pint" at Hacketts (below, a typical small pub), and then dinner at Bunratty Bar. We also discovered a quite meaningful plaque, from 1692, found in St. Paul's Church in Baltimore, Ireland, which is pictured in 3 separate panels below...words worth contemplating! A lovely first day! Mike |