Smooth sailing
Published on 08.06.2011 - Avannaq 2011
Little Skelligs Island, Bertrand in action !
© Pierre Auzias
Between currents and swells, the sailing in that part of Ireland is not too hazardous after all... Avannaq 2011 reached Dingle after a smooth sailing.
Excerpts of thei logbook : "... When casting off from Kinsale of June 1st we were fully expecting strong winds on our way to Glandore.
We believed we had enough time to pass Mizzen Head and from then on benefit from the currents. We just managed to stop before Mizzen head, before the turn of the tide and anchor in Crookhaven.
As soon as we arrived, some very pleasent fishermen indeed offered us 3 kgs of fish that were quickly turned into a memmorable soup.
The owner of the only pub in Crookhaven was also in charge of the moorings and gave us the night free of charge, under the pretext that the moorings did not meet his house keeping standards.
On June 3rd, we left at 7am with the tide in order to pass Mizzen Head with a heavy swell. A few hours later, 25 knots winds compelled us to turn back and take shelter behing Bolus Head, by Horse Island, our mooring for the night.
On June 4th we closed the Skellig Islands with a moderate breeze. The sights of these islands is exceptional with the Little Skellig covered in birds droppings and its 10 000 birds flying over it. We finally managed to arrive in Dingle in the evening. We will stay there for a couple of days. Fiddles and Irish Pipes (uilleann pipes) were on the programm for the night...."
