Tuesday 26th August 2008

Can't believe how long it is since we updated the site, so will try to be as concise as possible.

Decided to skip Yougal and go straight from Arklow to Kilmore Quay. We passed our South African friends in 'Freya' and took pictures of each other. A good run taking 9 hours, 0500 to 1400. Then early night after quick reccy of very pretty village. We spent a full week in Kilmore Quay while the weather really closed in, 35 knots SW just offshore and driving rain for days and days. Many worst places to be holed up in since there is a great pub, three good restaurants, excellent chandlery and very friendly harbour staff. The local lifeboat here is called 'The Famous Grouse' and was gifted from Scotland. They are very proud of it.

Owl man turned up here also, and we got to know them better. John and Joan and 'Donegal Breeze' a 33' steel Spray built by John himself in Oman. She has sailed from Oman to Goa, India, and back again and was then shipped to Cork.
In Kilmore Quay the favourite sport is catching crabs off the slipway, then lining them up for a race back to the water. The kids do the crabbing and the grannys seem to run a book on the outcome of the race.

On reading the ship's log over the last couple of weeks, most days read 'raining went to pub'.

On Friday 15th August we left Kilmore Quay at 0720 and had a very tiring lumpy 12 hour motor to Crosshaven. I went to bed and Gordon went to pub with 'Donegal Breeze' who tied up close by. Apparently there was a colossal thunder and lightning storm through the night but we did not hear a thing. Everyone was talking about it the next day.

Before we left Edinburgh we had organised for a super-duper mattress to be made and delivered to Crossshaven. It duly arrived one day before us. So we struggled onto the boat with it discovering in the process it was much heavier than the existing one and after 2 nights on it I was experiencing back pain. However it was such a hassle to organize return that we decided to persevere a while at least until we had to set off for Spain. Since it was bought at my insistence I could feel a huge 'told you so' coming from the direction of the skip and I may have to like it or lump it.

We cannot imagine what it must be like hear during Cork week but it is certainly a busy place. Due to said bad weather and time spent in pubs we have developed a keen interest in gaelic football a fast exciting sport. There is no offside, so the best of football, and no scrum, so the best of rugby, leads to a very fast moving game.

On Tuesday 19th August we left Crosshaven for Kinsale in 10 knot NW wind long swell but not uncomfortable 3.5 hour trip. Tied up at Kinsale yacht club which is pretty much bang in town. Very picturesque and continental feel to the place. The European flying fifteen regatta is on during the coming few days so a buzz of activity all around us. A bit different from yacht racing, nobody appears till midday.
Mattress situation- keeping new one since too dear to return.

A lot of the time here has been spent catching up with my family here in Cork. Since one of my cousins lives in Kinsale we have had great help with local info. We had a friend onboard from Edinburgh this weekend which was lovely and I volunteered Gordon and he to go on a charity walk in support of my cousin Fran who is off to India to teach and live. I, of course, was the sponsor. A very Irish experience since 8 km became 12 miles.

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to leave a message on our site, it means a great deal to us, keep it up.