Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2017 - Part 3
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DAY 17 - Wednesday, 12th July, 2017
06:30...Another early start to take advantage of more fabulous cruising weather.
Windfinder forecast for Mizen Head issued at 05:42. Distance from Lawrence Cove Marina to Baltimore is 31NM. Passage duration will be circa 4 hours. In order to benefit from the weather and tides we will depart Lawrence Cove Marina at approx. 07:30 and will expect to arrive in Baltimore circa 11:30. The forecast (see above) shows almost negligible winds, gorgeous sunshine, a wave height of 1.5m. Almost perfect cruising conditions for a mobo (motorboat)! Also, we will be departing Lawrence Cove Marina at approximately High Water which should give us an ebb tide as we traverse Bantry Bay.
You may be wondering why I sometimes use Windguru and at other times I use Windfinder. The reason is that Windguru does not provide wave data (height and direction) for all locations.
06:37...Photo taken shortly before we took our leave of Lawrence Cove Marina bound for Baltimore.
07:37 ...we had actually left our berth a few minutes before this photo was taken but had to give way to the ferry (see ahead in photo) which provides a service between Bere Island and the mainland.
07:37...Leaving Lawrence Cove Marina. Next stop...Baltimore.
07:41...Looking astern at Rerrin Village.
On Berehaven heading towards Castletownbere (see in distance) and then out on to Bantry Bay.
Looking astern towards Roancarrigmore Lighthouse at the East Entrance to Berehaven
Passing the wreck of the Bardini Reefer.
08:13..."Arthur" about to enter Bantry Bay via the West Entrance to Berehaven. The top of Ardnakinna Lighthouse visible on cliff face on left of photo.
08:37... "Arthur" making her way diagonally across Bantry Bay.
09:39..."Arthur" heading towards Sheeps Head at the mouth of Bantry Bay.
09:45..."Arthur" passing Mizen Head. Note lighthouse built into headland and the footbridge which connects to the mainland.
Mizen Head. Footbridge just coming into view...
Fastnet Rock and Lighthouse in the distance.
09:48...Better view of footbridge which connects Mizen Head to the mainland.
Closer view of the footbridge.
10:23... Looking astern at Mizen Head. Gorgeous sunshine beaming down on us as we head for Baltimore.
10:56...Fastnet Rock and Lighthouse. We would get closer to it on our return leg!
11:02... Fastnet Rock in the distance to right of picture. And yes, that's Mary's herb garden just to right of my left elbow!
Fastnet Rock and Lighthouse in background on extreme right of photo.
11:20...Entrance to Baltimore Harbour in the distance. Another item on Paul's Bucket List about to be ticked! Previously, Schull was the most southerly destination that we had reached.
Clear Island on left of photo. Entrance to Baltimore Harbour straight ahead.
11:50...Sherkin Island on the left. Lot's Wife beacon point atop rock face at centre-right of photo.
11:54..."Arthur" approaches the entrance to Baltimore Harbour. Lot's Wife beacon clearly visible on right.
"Arthur" in Baltimore Harbour. Baltimore on right of photo. Passage time was 4hrs 30mins.
Baltimore.
Baltimore Harbour.
"Arthur" berthed on the floating pontoon at Baltimore.
Atlantic Boating Services pontoon at Baltimore.
"Arthur" berthed at the floating pontoon which is actually a converted barge!
The floating pontoon at Baltimore, operated by Atlantic Boating Services.
Re-fuelling. Service provided via local Gala (Cotter's) store.
'The Lookout' restaurant at Baltimore. We dined out as, contrary to our normal practice, we planned to cruise to Kinsale early in the morning whereas normally we would be taking an 'R&R' day after our cruise from Lawrence Cove. And when I say 'early in the morning' that is precisely what it will be!
DAY 18 - Thursday, 13th July, 2017
Windguru forecast for Kinsale for Thursday, 13th July. And it looks good, especially in the early morning. So, we have earmarked a VERY EARLY start for our passage to Kinsale which will provide another tick on my Bucket List! In fact we plan to depart Baltimore at first light. It's not often that I need to check for 'first light' but this will be one of those days! Daylight starts at 05:35. We ready "Arthur" for the passage from the night before and set our alarm clocks (on our smartphones!) for 04:30!!! Distance is 41NM and that will give us a passage time of 5-6 hours at our usual cruising speed of 7-8kts.
And this is the Windguru forecast for Incheydoney which we pass en-route to Kinsale. You will note the heavy similarity between the two forecasts albeit that there are some minor differences between the two. Note in particular the differences with regard to wave height... the Incheydoney forecast is much lower, indeed the wave height is nearly half that forecast for Kinsale!
It's 05:05 and I sneak out on deck to capture a few photos. It almost makes me feel guilty that I will shortly be starting "Arthur's" engines. I remove window covers, set-up the GPS/Chartplotter, gather the paper charts, locate binoculars, gather camera, put on PFDs, etc. Meanwhile, Mary is prepping breakfast (usually a pot of tea-leaf tea and some brown soda bread) which we will have en-route. The previous evening she prepared lunch...sambos...egg mayonnaise (with chive) and ham & tomato! And a flask of tea as well. And then it's simply a case of pulling in shorepower cable, undoing lines and gently slipping off the pontoon.
05:22..."Arthur" departs Baltimore. We are a couple of minutes ahead of schedule but light was more than adequate and we were ready!
The floating pontoon. The barge at the heart of the construction is more obvious when one is away from the pontoon!
05:27...Arthur approaches the entrance to Baltimore Harbour. Lot's Wife can be clearly seen on the headland on the left of the photo.
06:15...We pass the Cardinal Marker that identifies the location of the sunken wreck of the 900ft Kowloon Bridge which sank off Baltimore in December 1986. The following link gives access to an article in the Irish Examiner which commemorates the 30th Anniversary of the disaster.
https://www.irishexaminer.com/viewpoints/analysis/kowloon-bridge-remembering-the-disaster-that-struck-30-years-ago-433673.html
06:12...The Stags, just off Baltimore...where the Kowloon Bridge foundered.
07:03
07:26...Galley Head Lighthouse.
08:28...Seven Heads
08:28...Old Head of Kinsale in distance on right.
08:46...The Old Head of Kinsale in the distance.