Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1

Carrigaholt in the distance, centre-left. We will be turning to starboard shortly to head into the channel for Cappagh and Kilrush.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Circa 17:40...Tankers on the Shannon Estuary between Kilrush and Carrigaholt waiting for the tide. Tide dictates water depth as well as water flow, either or both of which can determine when tankers will move.

Note that whereas there are many red and green markers on the estuary these are essentially for the large tankers which have to take account of draft. Small leisure craft can afford to ignore these markers but should certainly keep an eye on water depths.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
17:41.... approx. 5 and 1/2 hours since we departed Limerick and we are approaching Cappagh and the adjacent Kilrush.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
On the approach channel to Kilrush Creek Marina.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
On the approach channel to Kilrush Creek Marina. Note the red and green markers that denote the safe channel leading to the entrance to the sea-lock that gives access to the marina.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
17:52...inside Kilrush Creek Marina... :-)
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
18:00... Arthur on a finger in Kilrush Creek Marina. View of the administrative and service block.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
DAY 4 - Wednesday, 2nd July, 2014.
The day after our passage from Limerick to Kilrush and the wind has blown up somewhat. Kilrush Creek Marina sea-lock in the distance. For the past number of years we have got into the habit of taking a 'rest day' after we complete a lengthy passage. So, today we will relax... and check the weather of course!
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Day 7 - Saturday, 5th July, 2014
Still in Kilrush Creek Marina... another breezy day as a training session for children gets underway in the relative safety of the marina.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Mary uses her new folding bicyle for a trip to Tesco on the outskirts of Kilrush. As previously mentioned...great value from Halford's in Limerick. [Photo via HTC One M8]
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Day 17 - Tuesday, 15th July, 2014
We had to leave Kilrush and head back to Galway for a funeral. We returned to Kilrush on the 14th July.

Mary with our new found French friend Philippe who had solo sailed from France! I greeted him the previous day with a salutation, in my best french, 'Je vous souhaite un joyeux jour Bastille' which I thought meant that I was wishing him a Happy Bastille Day... In fact they use the phrase 'Fete Nationale' when referring to the 14th July... :-( Anyway, he appreciated the general sense of my intentions. We shared a schanpps onboard his yacht...before I had eaten breakfast!!!
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Me and Philippe. It was a feature of this year's cruise, as in previous years as well, that we met such a diversity of characters of varying nationalities.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Day 18 - Wednesday, 16th July, 2014
Carreras arrives in Kilrush... Brian and Maura, together with their three teenage boys, cruised from Limerick via Foynes. In 2013 Carreras had cruised to Fenit. This year her captain wanted to go further! Dingle here we come!
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Mick Tevlin of Kilrush Creek Marina doing some cleaning of the jetties/fingers.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Brian of Carreras having a cuppa on-board Arthur circa 20.30hrs! Brian was suffering from an upset stomach and was taking things gently after a poor night's sleep. Our plan was to head for Dingle in the morning...assuming all going well with the weather... and Brian's stomach!
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Day 19 - Thursday, 17th July, 2014
Weather looks okay. Winds F3 backing to F2/F1. And gusts also easing later in the afternoon. And swell is low. Brian has returned from a trip to a local pharmacy which in turn resulted in a visit to a GP. The smile on his face upon his return speaks volumes... :-) We are all set to go. Departure will be circa 11.30hrs. Dingle here we come!
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
11:29...and Arthur departs Kilrush Creek Marina bound for Dingle.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Crew of Carreras getting ready to depart Kilrush Creek Marina...
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Carreras exits the sea-lock at Kilrush Creek Marina
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Close-up of Carreras. Note the leading diagonal markers on left of picture. Keep them aligned as you make the approach to the marina and also when departing!
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Arthur with her bow pointed towards the mouth of the Shannon Estuary! Note the tanker on the Kerry (left) side of the estuary. And Carrigaholt is visible in the distance on the Clare (right) side!
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Carreras with Kilrush in the background.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
On the Shannon Estuary.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Carreras heads towards the mouth of the Shannon Estuary.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Mary at the helm.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Mary at the helm...Carrigaholt in the background.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Carreras, with the Kerry coastline festooned with windmills, in the background.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
circa 15.15...Carreras passing Brandon Bay. Passage so far has been quite gentle.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Carreras approaching Brandon Point.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
circa 16.00...View of Kerry coastline from Arthur
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Carreas coming up behind Arthur with Mt. Brandon to right of photo.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
circa 17.10...the Three Sisters centre right and Mt. Brandon in the distance...
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
In the Blasket Sound...The Great Blasket.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
circa 17.30...we are heading through the Blasket Sound. Valentia Island in the distance.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Looking astern. Sybil Point to left of photo.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Carreras about to enter the Blasket Sound.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Mary, with paper charts to hand.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
circa 18.12... on Dingle Bay... just short of seven hours since we departed Kilrush Creek Marina.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Circa 19.11...and we are on the channel leading into Dingle Harbour. Passage time will cap out at approximately 8 hours by the time we berth at Dingle Marina.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Approaching Dingle Marina.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Day 20 - Friday, 18th July, 2014
Brian and Maura on-board Arthur for a drink to celebrate their first passage to Dingle.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Mary with Patricia Fenton of Fenton's Restaurant in Dingle. And yes, that is Lobster on the table... :-) A couple of points... #1... we LOVE seafood, #2... we love the range of super restaurants in Dingle, #3... we have learned from previous experience that it is, for us, a waste of time going out for a meal after a lengthy 8 hr passage. Although we never suffer from sea sickness we both DO experience 'motion' for several hours after a long passage. So, we go out for a meal on the day after we complete a long passage.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
What a lobster! And boy was it tasty! You may wonder why there is only one dish of food on the table. Mary and I love sharing food when we eat out. We call it '50/50'. We will each place an order for a different dish and then share each plate of food. That way you get to taste twice as many dishes as you might otherwise do!
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
Mary and Paul with Patricia Fenton who had actually prepared the lobster dish.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
A happy looking Mary!
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1
The happy smiles are due to a combination of satisfaction in getting to Dingle and enjoying a nice meal in Fenton's.
From 2014-06-29 Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2014 - Part 1