2011-08-02 Arthur's Summer Coastal Cruising Odyssey 2011 - Pt 4
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Tuesday, 2nd August, 2011...circa 06.40. Shortly after 06.00 hrs, after consulting the latest weather forecasts ,we made the decision to head back to Kilrush. The forecasts for the coming week were not encouraging. In this photo, taken by Caoimhe Ryan, "Arthur" departs Dingle Marina. Pantou Pao and Colibri would follow shortly.
Photo: Caoimhe Ryan
A panorama created from several shots that I took as we were leaving Dingle. Sometimes I forget to take the sequence of photos, shot in quick succession, that are required for a panorama and I only realise after the moment has passed what an opportunity I missed! Fortunately I remembered this time!. The section on the left is the marina, centre is the main harbour pier and to the right is the commericial harbour. A couple of years ago, on our first visit to Dingle, we made the mistake of entering the commercial harbour where the fishing boats/trawlers and dolphin discovery boats are berthed. Fortunately someone warned us as to our mistake and we diverted to the marina.
Click on the above image to enlarge it...choose a view size from pop-up menu that appears on right when cursor hovers over the photo.. Alternatively, click on the image and then choose a size rom list of options at top-left: S(mall), M(edium), L(arge), X(tra large), X(x2 large) or X(x3 large), or O(original size)
Departing the marina...
Arthur exited Dingle Marina circa 06.40. Pantou Pao and Colibri followed shortly thereafter.
A bright morning with a good forecast for cruising to Kilrush. Winds low, Force 2, with swell of approx 1.2m -1.3m. And we would enjoy favourable tide as we exited Dingle ....AND also as we cruised up the Shannon Estuary. It is a real bonus when you can beneft from favourable tide at two or more locations on a single passage!
Leaving Dingle in our wake...
Having exited Dingle we are now headed towards the Blasket Sound. The sun was just right at this moment...
Looking back on Dingle Peninsula. This is one of four shots of this scene (actually i must have taken approx. 20!). I just love the colours...the mix of sun, sky, water and clouds. A heavenly combination.
Valentia Island on the left and The Skelling Islands in the distance.
These special scenes are available in the early morning....last year it was 05.20 when we departed Dingle.
A last shot of Dingle Peninsula. If you enlarge the photo you should be able to make out Pantou Pao and Colibri in the distance...
Circa 08.35...and a small yacht, going in the opposite direction, passes us in the Blasket Sound...
We have now exited the Blasket Sound and are now enjoying the benefit of a following sea which eases our passage hugely and makes the trip so more comfortable and enjoyable.
Looking back....and not a single 'white horse' in sight!
Passing Smerwick
Brandon Head in the distance. And we are still benefitting from a wonderful following sea. Each time that a wave passes underneath us our speed increases by up to 2 knots! ...The joys of coastal cruising.
Pantou Pao with Matt Ryan and his daughter Caoimhe onboard...
Pantou Pao glides effortlessly through the light swell...
Pantou Pao with Tralee Bay in the background...
"Arthur" on the Shannon Estuary.
Photo: Caoimhe Ryan
"Arthur" on the Shannon Estuary.
Photo: Caoimhe Ryan
"Arthur" on the Shannon Estuary. The dark headland at left of picture is Kerry Head.
Photo: Caoimhe Ryan
"Arthur" on the Shannon Estuary against a backdrop of Brandon Head
Photo: Caoimhe Ryan
The first of a sequence of five photos of 'Colibri' which shows the illusion created by the swell...
And lower still...
And up she comes...
And the cycle starts all over again...
Circa 12.15...Colibri against a backdrop of Brandon Head
Approx. 14.30...Heading up the Shannon Estuary. We have been cruising for approx. 7 and 3/4 hrs since we left Dingle!
Arthur's Captain...
Photo: Mary Healy
"Arthur" on the way up the Shannon Estuary. Kerry Head is the dark headland to left of picture.
Photo: Caoimhe Ryan
"Arthur" on the way up the Shannon Estuary. And still no white horses to be seen...anywhere!
Photo: Caoimhe Ryan
"Arthur" on the way up the Shannon Estuary. We encountered a little turbulence near the end of our passage. A bit of wind against tide! Nearly there.
Photo: Caoimhe Ryan
Close to 15.00hrs...Looking back down the Shannon Estuary.
Kilrush ahead...circa 15.00hrs.
Pantou Pao, Colibri and Arthur on the last lap of what proved to be a long day. We cruised for 8 and 1/2 hrs. Swell, at approx. 1.3m, was lower than the previous day (Fenit to Dingle) and the passage was very comfortable. But it was a long and tiring day. The concentration called for in respect of lobster-pot spotting and physical demands of helming make it a very testing day. But all's well that ends well. Arthur's crew feel disappointed that we were compelled to cut short our summer coastal crusing odyssey 2011 particularly in the light of not getting to our primary destination...Bantry Bay. Next year....hopefully! And of course it should be pointed ourt that we could have got to Bantry Bay on this very day...but getting back would have proved a problem! As I write this, one week later, the weather on the coast is not conducive to cruising for a 34 year old boat with 2x145Hp engines! Our golden rule is safety and comfort first. Everythng else follows on from that....
Pantou Pao safely tucked up in her berth at Kilrush Marina after cruising from Dingle to Kilrush.
The crew of Pantou Pao...Caoimhe, Matt, Michael and Catherine Ryan
Colibri in Kilrush Marina after cruising from Dingle.
Crew of Colibri...Pat Morrissey, Ide Rowe....and Alex...
And as we entered Kilrush Marina (I think the 'Creek' bit has now been dropped from the name!) who did we meet but Eric & Mary Hopkins on Isla. They were heading home after having spent a short time in Kilrush and on the Shannon Estuary.
And so, safely ensconced in Kilrush Marina, we decided to wait for a coupe of days...just in case the weather might change in which case we could easily launch ourselves to sea once again.
Alas, after a couple of days in Kilrush and with no change in the weather, we sadly concluded that it was the end of our summer coastal cruising odyssey for this year and we can but look forwar to 2012 when we will start earlier and give oursleves the best chance of availaing of all suitable cruising weather options that unfold. And between now and then we will continue to cruise on the wonderful inland waterways that we enjoy so much, particularly during the spring, winter and autumn months.
So this year we learned that our tolerance level was raised re acceptable coastal cruising weather conditions. We feel that we can cope with higher winds and wave height than we previously thought acceptable. And we will study weather conditions more closely in the future with regard to wind direction and wave direction. Following seas make for much more comfortable cruising conditions.
It was a good couple of weeks with a nice combination of cruising interspersed with rest days in various locations. And we covered more ground in a shorter space of time this year than we had in previous years.
Looking forward to summer 2012.
"Arthur", out and listening!