054:22.750 N
005:32.902 W

Portaferry, Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland

We had distinguished company last night when the ‘Hebridean Princess’ cruise ship pulled into Peel Harbour. A quick peek online showed she’s £1K a night per person for up to 49 guests. She certainly looked very elegant alongside the quay under Peel Castle.

As the TT doesn’t begin until Monday, we decided not to wait as there is a SW wind blowing, so we headed off this morning in warm sunshine. Thankfully the deliberation whether to wear thermals landed on the side of caution as once we were beyond the breakwater the wind was very chilly and we were back into bobble hats and gloves ~ no heatwave here!

It was champagne sailing for 30 miles today, glorious conditions with a beam reach, such a treat just to stand on the foredeck and soak it all up. Land was visible in both directions at the half way mark, Isle of Man behind us and Northern Ireland in front.

We timed our entry into Strangford Lough to be at the weakest of the flood tide, Pilot Books emphasis not getting it wrong with ferocious tides; fortunately we are a day from neaps. We were still pretty apprehensive; once a boat has entered it is fully committed and you just have to go for it. However, we had done a very detailed plan of the route on Navionics last night, so it was now just a question of joining the dots.

We managed to sail most of the way with a handkerchief of jib giving us enough steerage to navigate; our speed over ground was 10 knots with probably only 2 knots from the jib!  Everything was coming at us thick and fast, cardinal marks, isolated danger marks, the ‘Angus Rock’, all passing us very swiftly.

Portaferry Marina also came into view very rapidly, so a handbrake turn in the middle of the waterway, ferry-glide TC across, Bol did a brilliant parking job into a port hand finger pontoon; with 15 knots of wind and 8 knots of tide pushing us in there was going to be no second chance. Fortunately the super-friendly berthing master and another sailor caught our lines.

We’re here one night only as the SW wind lasts for one more day. As we are sailing tomorrow no chance of our first Guinness, instead we sampled Guiness flavoured ice cream!

Nice walk along to the headland to look up into the rest of Strangford Lough, it is a haven for wildlife with so many anchorages and places to explore, perhaps another time on our way south?