Froggies 2006 Cruise - Part 5

oceanfroggie

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Photos of Ocean Froggies 2006 Cruise from Killaloe to Dun Laoghaire
Day 9 - Kilmore Quay to Dun Laoghaire

Ocean Froggie arrived safely in Dun Laoghaire 1120. We left Kilmore Quay at 0600 along with a few 'Cork Week' yachts returning east. Yippee we made it. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Good weather which was very welcome after yesterdays little Rock'n'Roll off Waterford and Hook head. Plenty of wind farms to see both ashore and at sea (ie Arklow bank). Kept off the coast until Arklow and then hugged the coast up past Brittas Bay, Wicklow, Greystones, Bray Head, and through Dalkey sound (ie between Sorrento Point and Dalkey Island). Then to the edge of Bullock harbour before continuing on into Dun Laoghaire marina. We really were thrilled to have made it around to DL, thanks in no small part to the good weather.

0600am - Wexford coast
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Wind Farms on Wexford coast before turning north for Tuskar Rock
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Tuskar Rock light house – Where once a shamrock perished /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
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Arklow Town – There is a nice marina in there if you need a pit stop
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Arklow bank wind farm
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Famous Brittas Bay beach in Co Wicklow used on sunny days by many from south Dublin
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Wicklow Head
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The County Wicklow coast line, known as the Garden county of Ireland and where we are lucky live. We were fascinated to see our home county from the water. The Great Sugar loaf mountain is just to left of the coaster, and the Small Sugar Loaf right of centre, with the famous Glen-O-the-Downs between them.
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Rush Hour - M50 traffic jam (M25 for UK viewers)
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The Great Sugar Loaf just south of Dublin, with Greystones in the foreground.
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Bray Head with the Dart commuter train passing through its tunnels
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Ferris Wheel at foot of Bray head. Bray a lovely Edwardian town was once a famous sea side resort.
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Amusement Parks on Bray sea front
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Dalkey sound marks the entrance to Dublin bay behind. Killiney and Dalkey are known locally as “Little Monaco” with many famous folk, movie stars, directors, pop stars, formula one drivers, BBC TV stars, etc, living on the hill over looking the Irish Sea. Sorrento point to the port and Dalkey Island to stbd. Howth is visible in the far right distance behind tiny Dalkey Island.
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1130 Sunday morning. Looking astern at Dalkey sound as we enter Dublin bay bound for Dun Laoghaire. Dublin bay is a hive of leisure boating activity.
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Mighty HSS making wake as it accelerates on route to Holyhead.
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This junior Helmsman takes Froggie into Dun Laoghaire and moors her perfectly as proud dad watches
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Froggie on berth in Dun Laoghaire marina. Famous Royal Irish YC behind
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Dun Laoghaire has undergone a renaissance of development in recent years, and has much to offer in its own right including theatre, cinemas, café culture, book and art shops, shopping, and numerous excellent pubs and restaurants. Railway line runs right past the marina giving quick access to the city centre. HSS ferry to Holyhead also based there. DL hosts the Royal Irish YC, Royal St George YC, National YC and DMYC as well as numerous dingy sailing schools.
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Royal Irish YC.
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Howth in the background across the bay behind the marina which was developed around 2001.
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HSS impressive on berth. She uses no mooring lines or fenders, just aims at the massive hydraulic buffer rams and uses thrusters to hold station. Tempted to go under her in the rib – no not a good idea.
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Interesting time in DL that week. Plenty of short spins around the bay with friends and family. 2 Incidents to report:

1. Fouled anchor yesterday on old lobster pot lines and cables off Sandycove. Managed to get free after a while by pulling the lot up to the surface for an untangle and cut. Dublin bay seems to be full of junk both on the bottom and floating on the surface.

2. Youngsters (late teens) swimming off Killiney beech paddled out about 200meters in a 'toy' inflatable dingy suitable for 5yo in a swimming pool. As we pulled anchor after a swim, they started shouting for help, we went over to assist - false alarm, they were just messing. I advised Dublin CG anyway in case they ended up requiring help later against the ebb. Plonkers gave me a slight scare. Otherwise Dublin bay so far has proved fun.

Wicklow skyline at dusk over looking the town of Bray. Sugar Loaf in the background.
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Western Sky
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At anchor off Killiney Beech while the children swim. It’s 27 deg C!
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Had a lovely cruise around the bay this evening. Anchored off Killiney beech for cheese and wine with friends from the IWAI and the crew of Gerda. Dolphins at play nearby, and it was wonderful to moore right up beside the beech and listen to the sea itself echoing off the hill and cliff. Then cruised back to DL between Sorento point and Dalkey island in flat calm, watching all the city lights, navigation lights and the ships manoeuvring in the bay, pilot boats, etc.

Anchored off Killiney for evening cheese and wine with pals.
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Day 9 – 85nm @ 18kt AET 5h40m
Arrived Dun Laoghaire 1140 in glorious weather just in time for lunch. We have covered 455nm since leaving Killaloe on Lough Derg 8 days previously. So far this has been the trip of a life time for us and one we will not forget. Looking forward to a week or two in Dublin bay, and back to the office for some work!

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Fantastic stuff, brings back some really fond memories, spenty most of my youth all around DL, howth and a little further north Malahide. Must have spent thousands of hours round that way in little 14' Darragh with seagul o/b and canvas sails, 16' Pirahna dory and 26' motor sailor, happiest days of my life!. Thought nothing of setting off early morning from malahide and sailing all the way to Bray and Greystones in 14' put put and back again, now if could'nt do it in half an hour would be hacked off, how times change and not all for the better, honestly say that have had more fun on that £500 dingy than anything else to date including our current stuff, seem to have lost the art of just mucking about on the water and having fun.

Thanks so much for your report really enjoyed it.

Trev

P.S. Maybe there is a moral in there /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif even the chairman of one of our biggest UK builders spends his free time mucking about on a little cornish crabber, think he may have something there! anyone got a little clinker sailboat for sale???? getting all misty eyed now!
 
I've so much enjoyed reading your account of what must have been a wonderful trip. Its starting to restore my faith in these forums after the poisonous atmosphere generated by all the GC1 and similar crap. Please keep it up and good luck to you.
 
Great stuff Froggie!
How did you compile the Chart/Map arrangement?
ie where did the East coast of your land and the West bit of mine come from if you know what I mean! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Same here, more great pics of what sounds like a holiday never to be forgotten.

This surely is what the forum should be about, long may it continue!
 
Hi Folks, thanks for your kind remarks. It was the trip of a life time for us and one I have dreamt about for quite some time. There are a few more installments to come hopefully later this week.

FYI, The map images are edited screen images from the Garmin MapSource software I use on my laptop. I love it, much easier to use than the others I've tried. I use Mapsource to edit and plan passages, then download routes to our garmin units (ie one fixed, one portable backup, one handheld in grab bag). Some times I print the passage plans so they can be used with paper charts just in case (ie headings, dist, and eet for each leg). On long passages I still enjoy some chart work to help pass the time, I find it fun to compare reality with my pencil! Cheers. Noel & Crew

Satellite shot of Dun Laoghaire harbour and marina
Cut and pasted into MS-Photo editor, cropped, resized and compressed to fit here. BTW, this marina is set to double in size in the near future, and over time could fill the entire harbour if the HSS ever moves into Dublin port now that there is a tunnel linking the port to the cities M50 motorway
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Good to see you sharing your cruise report and images here OF. I was away for a few days and your images of our cruising ground are a nice surprise.
Looking forward to the finals episodes.
Note to myself: must try harder /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Hi SVII. Thanks, we must try and meet up next season too. I might truck OF up to DL on a low loader for the start of the season, and cruise back mid summer. Stuck a pic on cpb of OF at the same spot as your lovely SVII pic off Killiney. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Cheers
 
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Stuck a pic on cpb of OF at the same spot as your lovely SVII pic off Killiney.

[/ QUOTE ]

Found it.

Ocean Froggie and Son Vida II at a lovely anchorage just South of Dalkey Island (near Dun Laoghaire) Dublin...
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I won't go back mind if it stays so crowded /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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