Wednesday 23 May (Crosshaven)

Still motoring into an uncomfortably bumpy sea and headwind I began to worry about our fuel situation.? We had done the UK coastal passage on 50litres of diesel for 30 hours' motoring, so I had assumed that our 100L tank would give us a comfortable 60 hrs.? However, it was becoming worryingly clear that motoring hard into headwind and heavy sea was taking much more, and I was anxious that would risk entering Cork harbour with no engine: not an inviting prospect. The contingency plan was to start sailing, even though that would mean several long tacks, and a much increased passage time, getting us into Cork in the dark.? We held out (eying the gauge anxiously every few minutes) until about 1400, when the wind both backed and strengthened, and we were able to complete the passage under full sail, making up to 6 knots on a close reach. Bernard had suffered mal de mere the whole day, but recovered as soon as the engine was stilled and we were sailing properly at last. We were further rewarded by more dolphins and a pod of 4-6 whales, blowing off our starboard side. We made the pretty entrance to Cork harbour and entered the Owenabue River through a fleet of racing dinghies. We berthed safely at the Royal Cork Yacht Club marina in Crosshaven at 1915, opened a bottle of champagne to celebrate our arrival in the Emerald Isle, and watched a stunning sunset from the cockpit. After a welcome hot shower we got to the very grand bar (the RCYC is the oldest YC in the world, founded in 1720) for our first Irish Guinness. We were too late for dinner, but the staff kindly made us sandwiches, which was just fine, and retired after then usual malt whisky nightcap, to sleep in a stationary bed!