Arthur's Coastal Cruise 2017 - Part 5
Read MoreWindguru forecast for Brandon Bay. Note that this is quite similar to the forecast for Smerwick (above). I would like to be approaching Kilrush circa 14:00 which will mean departing Dingle close to 06:00. Another early start for Arthur and her crew...
Winds are particularly low in the early hours of the morning and wind and wave direction also seem okay for the morning. And wave height is fine.
Now it's time to check on tides with particular reference to Dingle Bay, Blasket Sound, Smerwick and the Shannon Estuary.
Unfortunately there was a Full Moon on 7th May which means that there will be Spring tides rather than Neap tides...
High water in Dingle Harbour is predicted for 07:00. And High water at Smerwick will occur circa 07:05.
Low water at Carrigaholt is timed for approx. 13:30.
Passage planning is beginning to look good.
If we depart circa 06:00 then we should be transiting the Blasket Sound close to Slack Water. And we should arrive at Kerry Head close to noon. So, it is probable that we will have wind against tide as we cruise up the Shannon Estuary. But we should be safely tucked up in Kilrush Marina before the wind rises significantly towards the later hours of the day...08:36...Mt. Brandon lightly covered in a morning haze. I always experience a sense of sadness on this passage. It means the end of the current coastal cruise is nigh and we won't get down here again until next year! I love boating on the inland waters but there really is something special about coastal cruising.
SIX video clips follow as we round Kerry Head and make our way up the Shannon Estuary. Some feature commentary.
VIDEO: Click the image above and then activate the Play button on Media Player Toolbar at bottom left to play the video.
Note Volume/Mute and FullScreen buttons on right of Media Player Toolbar.
Press ESC or Close button ('X') at top right of video window to return to the PhotoJournal.11:59...We rounded Kerry Head circa 11:30 and are now cruising up the Shannon Estuary. The ebb tide is still running and we will have approx. 75 mins of wind against tide. Also, wind has increased, exactly as forecast. But we are on the home run now. That window that we referenced on the two Windguru forecasts (Smerwick and Brandon Bay) came to pass exactly as predicted. Each time this happens my confidence in Windguru rises a notch!
SIX more video clips which show the sea state as we make our way up the Shannon Estuary. Again, some with commentary.
VIDEO: Click the image above and then activate the Play button on Media Player Toolbar at bottom left to play the video.
Note Volume/Mute and FullScreen buttons on right of Media Player Toolbar.
Press ESC or Close button ('X') at top right of video window to return to the PhotoJournal.