Dun Laoghaire Regatta goes to Howth and Killiney….......... Calves Week on the way!!!

 Our journey to Dun Laoghaire Regatta began in Cobh on Tue 7 Jul  when we left Cobh at 1600.  We had a flat sea with the NW breeze blustering up to 20 kn at times and fantastic sunshine. We hopped from Ballycotton Island to Capel Island and on to Ram Head at Ardmore and then hugged the coast to Mine Head and on to Helvick, Clonea, Stradbally, Bunmahon, Annestown, Boatstrand, Tramore and eventually arriving at  Dunmore East for pints at 1930. We had an excellent meal in the Strand Inn where Louise and her team run an excellent seafood restaurant. To top off the night we went to a trad session the Butchers before retiring to our very comfortable floating home.

The next day conditions were perfect and we again hugged the coastline. We went North East at the Hook and had our breakfast off the midieval port of Slade.

We continued eastwards over St. Patrick's Bridge (the channel between Kilmore and the Saltees} to the windmill covered Carnsore Point. We hugged the Wexford coastline and then Wicklow and finally through Dalkey Sound before finally arriving at Dun Laoghaire at 1530. A great trip on a great boat. 

The journey home over the same ground was a bit more difficult as we had head winds of 20 kn - we managed to maintain an average of close on 20 kn on the East Coast and having stopped in Dunmore on the way home we departed at 0600 an dI was ashore in Cobh at 0930 - what a boat - "Irish Mist". 

Time now to set our minds on the next big Irish Regatta and focus on the South West - and get ready for Calves Week running from Fri 31 Jul to Sun 9 Aug. Definitely one of Ireland's best loved sailing festivals. The week begins with racing from Ciork and Kinsale to Schull with local boats cruising to Schull (Holy Grounder intends to begin in Baltimore and cruise to Schull via Cape Clear.) After a great party night in Schull the fleet races viathe Fastnet, Cape or the famous Gasconane Sound to Baltimore for another party. The festivities continue on Bank Holiday Monday (Aug 3) with the famous Baltimore Regatta. Racing during the week includes coastal races, Cape Clear Regatta, the Fastnet Race, Crookhaven Regatta and finishes up with Schull Regatta. What a great series of races in fantastic sailing waters with the best of craic ashore  -  a week not to be missed.

Eddie English Blog