N Ireland

It's just a short hop (30 odd miles) from Islay to our next destination Ballycastle in Northern Ireland but reading the books and looking at the chart, it's a bit scary with overfalls and races all round and between Rathlin Island just off Ballycastle. So again the timing was important and again I think we got it right, timing our approach to Ballycastle at slack water.  Our sail down south was nice and fast mostly goose winging the Yankie jib, reefing, un-reefing and reefing again as the wind required it.  7 to 8 knots was the order of the day.  It was of course quite a rolling ride and both Alice and I were suffering from unstable legs when we got onto land. 

 View of Ballycastle from Spring Breeze

The facilities were superb. New, clean and free - wifi, electrics, water, showers, and laundry!  We had to stay a few days with another gale coming through but with such a nice place, we put up with it.

The first full day was a jobs day, 4 loads of washing, shopping and sorting out the lines to ensure Spring Breeze could withstand the gale without damage and it being too uncomfortable and noisy.  The harbour has a bit of ground swell in a gale which pushes and pulls the boat and ensuring there is enough spring in the lines without letting her vere too much and reduce any chafe is the challenge.  

The second day of the gale we visited The Giants Causeway which is just a few miles away by bus.

 With it blowing best part of a gale, interspersed with driving rain made the visit someway dramatic if not uncomfortable.  Nice to get back to the boat, leaning to the wind gusts!

On the third gale bound day we visited Colraine and one of our suppliers that manufactures foil strain gauges.  A very interesting visit with a view of the town thrown in.  Bought another mobile phone because my one had died.

The wind had eased in the morning so departed with a good favourable wind.  Reached across the top end end of Ireland, round the headland and goose winged south.  The wind and swell increased and we had an issue of needing to stop so headed to the lee of north shore of Belfast estuary, removed all sail and motored down to Bangor Marina.

I don't have much to say about Bangor.  The town is large, visited their museum but the marina is large and un interesting.  Sailed further south in the morning.