Thursday 31 May (off Power Head) A fine sunny day's passage.We had up to 16k wind, but always from the north and therefore on the nose, so we motored for 14.5 hrs.The coastline is very pretty with interesting coastal features, but the highlight of the passage was the SHARKS!We must have passed a couple of dozen basking sharks altogether, usually in packs of 3-4, and often within a few metres of the boat. Twice we rounded up to have another, closer, look. The big...

Wednesday 30 May (Crosshaven) crew picA wet day here, shopping, and stocking up with diesel in the jerry can to avoid fuel scares.In the evening Kate Grahamarrived via Kevin the taxi, and admired the view of the harbour from the YC bar and wandered down to the village with Cath, before we cooked and ate aboard and retired for our early start for Waterford next day.

Tue 30 May Blarney Castle A beautiful sunny day, perfect for the bus trip to Blarney via Cark. The castle was quite beyond our expectations: a great castle, with unlit dungeon passages and narrow winding stone staircases leading to the famous Blarney Stone. We both kissed the Stone, in a process which was well-organised and not at all tacky! Did you know that it's half of the Stone of Destiny (or Scone)? I didn't! In the grounds there was a magical and mystical p...

Monday May 28 CrosshavenCath's birthday dawned to strong winds and blue skies with showers. Cards and presents were duly opened aboard, and we set off into Cork for the promised SHOPPING! Did all that (Cath says Cork is Shoe Heaven), and had a meal at Luigi Malone's (the well-known Irish mafioso - remember? They made him an offer he couln't understand?). Super meal, rounded off with candles on the chocolate dessert and a round of Happy Birthday, then ...

Saturday 16 May (Cork/Crosshaven)Finally Cath arrived to join Vega. Met from Cork airport at 1810, with the redoubtable Kevin, everybody's local taxi driver, and reyruned to Crosshaven for a lovely meal in the RCYC restaurant - oysters at last!Sunday 17A quiet domestic Sunday: brilliant sun, strong winds, and irregular sharp showers. We made it into the village and after a look around (doesn't take long) we sat in a quaint Irish bar, nibbled, drank the lo...