To Killybegs
Our next stop after the Aran Islands was in nearby Roundstone Harbour on the mainland, a beautiful anchorage with the Connemara mountains as a backdrop. Made all the better when Dave spotted one of our sister ships in the harbour, recognizing the shape despite there being no name visible. She was soon identified as the ‘Ros Beithe’ when the new owner popped out to introduce himself – and check out our conversion.
The next day we had a bumpy ride around Slyne Head to another island, Inishbofin, where we spent three days waiting out more gales, up to Force 9 this time! I could well believe it after our first night spent rolling wildly on a mooring in the middle of the harbour. The following day we moved into the pier, having lost any reticence of taking the delivery ship’s berth! We had to move to make room for the supply ship the next morning but it was worth it for the stiller motion. And the view of the islanders latest acquisitions being unloaded – nice quad bike!
Inishbofin was very quiet, the landscape more hilly than Inishmore, a bit like a piece of Dartmoor set down off the coast of Ireland, sheep and all – we even found them wanderering on the beach!
Inishbofin Harbour
When the winds finally abated, we made a long day’s run around Erris Head to Ballycastle, a sheltered anchorage in pretty surroundings but with little to offer in the way of civilization. There was a great deal of boat movement as they are building a controvertial gas pipeline here and boats seem to be permanently whizzing crews back and forth. Still, a quiet and non-rolly night for us as more gale force winds came through…
We finally made the last long hop to Killybegs on 4th August, over a month after leaving the Exe. There was just the right amount of wind in the right direction (S force 4-5) for us to have a great sail up Donegal Bay at average speeds of over 6 knots.
We were met outside Killybegs entrance by a boat carrying local press and Michael O’Boyle, one of the original workers in the Killybegs boatyard and they escorted us in. When we tied up ashore, we had a welcome party waiting for us of people who either fished on board or had a part in building the boat right here back in 1954. Welcome home, Ros Ailither!
The next day we had a bumpy ride around Slyne Head to another island, Inishbofin, where we spent three days waiting out more gales, up to Force 9 this time! I could well believe it after our first night spent rolling wildly on a mooring in the middle of the harbour. The following day we moved into the pier, having lost any reticence of taking the delivery ship’s berth! We had to move to make room for the supply ship the next morning but it was worth it for the stiller motion. And the view of the islanders latest acquisitions being unloaded – nice quad bike!
Inishbofin was very quiet, the landscape more hilly than Inishmore, a bit like a piece of Dartmoor set down off the coast of Ireland, sheep and all – we even found them wanderering on the beach!
Inishbofin HarbourWhen the winds finally abated, we made a long day’s run around Erris Head to Ballycastle, a sheltered anchorage in pretty surroundings but with little to offer in the way of civilization. There was a great deal of boat movement as they are building a controvertial gas pipeline here and boats seem to be permanently whizzing crews back and forth. Still, a quiet and non-rolly night for us as more gale force winds came through…
We finally made the last long hop to Killybegs on 4th August, over a month after leaving the Exe. There was just the right amount of wind in the right direction (S force 4-5) for us to have a great sail up Donegal Bay at average speeds of over 6 knots.
We were met outside Killybegs entrance by a boat carrying local press and Michael O’Boyle, one of the original workers in the Killybegs boatyard and they escorted us in. When we tied up ashore, we had a welcome party waiting for us of people who either fished on board or had a part in building the boat right here back in 1954. Welcome home, Ros Ailither!
posted by Katie at 10:13 AM
1 Comments:
Glad to hear you had a good sail to Killybegs, hope work on boat is going ok. We had a great sail to Aranmore. There for 2 nights and then on to Tory and round Malin. In Belfast at the moment, Tall Ship festival starting tomorrow (13 Aug). Hope to see you in Dublin. Gerry - Solas.
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