Cruise to Ireland and the Outer Hebrides

1st Jul 2009

After last years successful round Ireland cruise with Pete Bundell this year we had a cruise to the Isle of Man, Bangor NI and the outer Hebrides, ably crewed by Ray Morris and Keith Fisher. Click on the headline above for more text. Hasta Luego! John

We left Dartmouth on May 24th, sailed round Lands End and across to Milford Haven to meet Pete Bundell and Ed Mellor on Drama Queen, after a rough passage past Skomer, (lost the mast head nav lights) we sailed through the night to Holyhead, climbed holyhead mountain, then off to the Isle of Man, Douglas, did all the tourist stuff, steam train, elctric tram, horse tram and Laksey wheel. Next Bangor NI, left with the plan of sailing to St Kilda but strong northerlies and a sloppy sea made us opt for Tiree. Good overnight anchorage, through Gunna sound, lots of basking sharks and dolphins. Then to Castle Bay on Barra where we meet up with Richard and Sheila Houston on Suinnart. Visited the beach airport, with Suinnart we sailed to Eriskay, then to South Uist. Said goodbye to the Houstons and off acroos the Minch to Skye and Loch Scavaig; stunning situation under the Cuillins, lots of seals. Next to Rum with Kinloch castle, worth a visit and the midges. Round Ardnamuchan to Mull and overnight at Tobermorey. Down the Sound of Jura, past the Correyvreckan and down to Islay, visited Laphroaig distillary; brilliant and excellent tastings too! Next back to Bangor NI, there 5 days with strong wind warnings, revisited the museum at Cultra. Howth next, very full of boats, its the round the island race(Lambay that is) this weekend. Good trip into Dublin. Left Howth to go back to Dartmouth in one hit, wind died and we had to motor most of way for 60 hours. An excellent cruise made possible by the good help of Ray and Keith, keep in touch folks, all the best John