Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2015 - Part 4
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DAY 31 - Thursday, 23rd July, 2015
Circa 11:10...having said farewell to Cool Runnings and Snow Mouse earlier in the morning we now set out for Glengarriff which is approximately 2 hours away.
circa 11:10...Hungry Hill looks down on us as we depart Lawrence Cove Marina.
VIDEO
11:11...click the above image to view a 52 second video clip of "Arthur" departing Lawrence Cove Marina.
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We head along Berehaven towards the East Entrance which leads to Bantry Bay.
Approaching Roancarrigmore Lighthouse located at the East Entrance to Berehaven.
Circa 11:35...Passing Roancarrigmore Lighthouse.
Looking back down Bantry Bay, Bere Island on right of picture.
VIDEO
11:36...click the above image to view a 41second video clip of "Arthur" heading into Bantry Bay en-route to Glengarriff.
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VIDEO
11:45...click the above image to view a 31 second video clip of "Arthur" approaching the entrance to Adrigole Harbour.
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circa 11:50...we have decided to make a detour into Adrigole Harbour. Unfortunately the weather is poor and this popular destination is not showing to best effect today. But it's another item ticked off Arthur's Bucket List.
VIDEO
11:51...click the above image to view a 37 second video clip of "Arthur" entering Adrigole Harbour.
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The overcast sky leads to a disappointing first visit to Adrigole. Will have to make a return visit at some future time when the location is basking in sunshine.
VIDEO
11:59...click the above image to view a 23 second video clip of "Arthur" in Adrigole Harbour.
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12:05...We leave the Marine Farm on our starboard side as we exit Adrigole Harbour.
VIDEO
12:20...click the above image to view a 50 second video clip of "Arthur" heading up Bantry Bay towards Glengarriff.
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VIDEO
13:09...click the above image to view a 28 second video clip of "Arthur" on the approach to the entrance to Glengarriff Harbour.
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VIDEO
13:19...click the above image to view a 47 second video clip of "Arthur" entering Glengarriff Harbour.
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VIDEO
13:23...click the above image to view a 47 second video clip of "Arthur" in Glengarriff Harbour.
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13:25...we are approaching Glengarriff Harbour.
14:35...we have tied up to a mooring buoy in the bay and we then used the dinghy to visit the mainland for some shopping. The well-known Eccles Hotel can be seen in the background.
The smile on Mary's face reflects our happiness at being back in Glengarriff. This is our third visit in four years.
14:35... Arthur on a visitor's mooring buoy in Glengarriff Harbour.
Arthur on a mooring buoy in Glengarriff Harbour. The yellow buoys are the public visitors moorings. The red ones are privately owned.
Arthur on a mooring buoy in Glengarriff Bay with Eccles Hotel in the background.
20:00... view from Arthur's stern. Garnish Island to right of photo. Whiddy Island in distance. The evening was so calm, not a ripple on the water!
Looking forward towards the mainland.
DAY 32 - Friday, 24th July, 2015
08:45... we are about to depart Glengarriff and head to nearby Bantry Harbour. Passage time will be approximately 1 hour. Unfortunately we will rue not having commenced our departure 30/40 mins earlier... :-(
VIDEO
08:48...click the above image to view a 47 second video clip of "Arthur" prior to departing Glengarriff Harbour.
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09:00...and we have slipped our mooring and are headed for Bantry Harbour. Unfortunately the wind has picked up somewhat and we will subsequently regret not having departed Glengarriff 30 mins earlier...
VIDEO
09:04...click the above image to view a 38 second video clip of "Arthur" departing Glengarriff Harbour.
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09:15... Whiddy Island and oil refinery.
VIDEO
09:17...click the above image to view a 29 second video clip of "Arthur" re-entering Bantry Bay en-route to Bantry Harbour.
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VIDEO
09:46...click the above image to view a 53 second video clip of "Arthur" as she approaches the entrance to Bantry Harbour.
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circa 09:50...Bantry Harbour ahead.
09:51... Bantry Harbour. Tug 'Thrax' to left, new (relatively!) floating pontoon in distance slightly to right and overlooked by cemetery.
VIDEO
09:52...click the above image to view a 40 second video clip of "Arthur" as she enters Bantry Harbour.
The 'fun' is about to start!!!
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circa 12:55... Yes, that's a three hour interval since the last photo/video!
Well, we had an exciting time once we arrived in Bantry Harbour. The wind blew up (F5) and we experienced great difficulty in securing a visitor's mooring buoy. It's always easier for yachties!... They can lie down on the deck near the bow and reach down to secure a line to a mooring buoy. Mobos have it more difficult because of the height between deck and water!
First problem was actually picking up the lead line and even when we managed that the fun was only starting. We simply could not secure a line to the mooring buoy and in the process we lost our trusty Moorfast... the plastic head simply broke off as we tried to use it to secure a line to a mooring buoy... :-(
We considered some options... head back to Glengarriff and hope that it might be easier to secure a mooring buoy there, or head back down to the sanctuary of Lawrence Cove Marina and a solid berth.
BUT, in the end we tried a third option...We contacted the Bantry Bay Harbour Master and explained our predicament. He insisted that we hold fast and he then got into his car and drove out to the harbour and got into his own boat and sailed over to where we were and enabled us to secure a line to a mooring buoy. However, in the process I got a nasty feeling that the line had got tangled under Arthur's hull. The Harbour Master contacted a local diver, Diarmaid Murphy (pictured above with Mary), who came out and cut the tangled line before re-connecting it to the mooring buoy. And we also discovered that Diarmaid, together with his wife, runs a local fish restaurant, the Fish Kitchen (more later).
So, all's well that ends well. And having secured Arthur, and with the wind having reduced somewhat, we hopped into our dinghy ("Baby Arthur") and headed over to the new pontoon and then walked into town, approx. 10-15 mins depending on your walking speed!
14:05... we walk into nearby Bantry. Meanwhile Arthur swings on her mooring in a gusty F4/F5.
14:09... Still walking into Bantry...and Arthur still swinging on her mooring!
14:10... Arthur on her mooring in Bantry Harbour.
14:12.... We pass Thrax, a locally based tug. The other vessel is a ferry that operates between Bantry and Whiddy Island.
Approaching Bantry Town.
The Main Square which hosts a market every Friday from 09:30 - 13:00.
Bantry Harbour Master's office which also houses the Tourist Office. We called in to pay the mooring fee and to say 'Thank You' for the assistance provided upon our arrival in Bantry Harbour.
circa 15:50...The Fish Kitchen restaurant operated by Diarmaid and Anna Maria Murphy. We partook of a seafood lunch. The restaurant is located on the 1st floor above the Central Fish Market shop where we purchased some superb prawns (in their shells)! We had a yummy prawn dinner on "Arthur" that evening.
Mary with her Open Prawn Sandwich on Brown Bread. We enjoyed a delightful lunch. And wine is available!
One of our favourite shops in Bantry which stocks a great range of cookware.
DAY 33 - Saturday, 25th July, 2015
circa 10:00... Arthur on her mooring in Bantry Harbour. We took the dinghy to the pontoon for an early morning trip to Bantry for some last minute shopping before we headed to Lawrence Cove Marina.