oceanfroggie
Well-Known Member
Part 8 - Sherkin Island to Dingle – 75nm in 8hr (06:20-14:20)
This was the 2nd part of a two passage leg to move the boat from East Ferry marina in Cork to Dingle. If I could get the boat as far as Dingle, then she would be within only one days striking distance of the Shannon Estuary. Then I’d only be looking for three days settled weather in September to get her home to Killaloe on Lough Derg (ie two days for swell to dissipate and one day to get to Kilrush or Foynes).
06:30 shortly after leaving the anchorage off Sherkin Island near Baltimore in west Cork. Beacon Point in the back ground with Lot’s Wife tower. I decided to start early for the 75nm passage to Dingle as the forecast suggested conditions could deteriorate significantly after lunch.
Sea Area forecast issued 0600 that morning was good for the first half of the day. Ideally I had hoped to cruise all the way to Dingle at displacement speeds, but the possibility of F6 from noon onwards suggested I’d have to go faster for part of the passage anyway.
Sunburst east of Clear Island. For now I was happy making 7kt as the conditions were so nice and I just wanted to relax.
South of Clear Island I got some wonderful company. A pod of Dolphins escorted me for 45 minutes. They playfully zig zagged, dived and weaved, ducking and diving off the bow.
Fastnet Rock light house on a beautiful morning. I pondered what a different place this might be during a typical Atlantic storm, especially in years gone by when these famous old houses were manned for months on end.
Mizen head – Once past this headland I had expected the sea might deteriorate but it didn’t. Conditions were so good I got in close for a few photos of this significant headland. The foot bridge is used to access the Mizen head visitor centre http://www.mizenhead.net
Dursey head – or is it a Jurassic dinosaur having a drink from the Atlantic
The Cow Rock with its jagged gothic features, more like the volcanic south china seas
The Bull Rock – I was so tempted to go through the hole in the boat, but as I was single handed, wiser council prevailed. Note the old buildings over the tunnel, and the 1000s of sea birds nesting on it.
Bull Rock Light House – This light house was built to survive the worst the Atlantic could through at it, but it took a few attempts to get it right (see http://www.commissionersofirishlights.com/cil/aids-to-navigation/lighthouses/bull-rock.aspx ) The rock is no longer manned due to automation. Can you imagine being storm bound on this for a whole winter? The Mizen head and Hook head light house exhibitions sell DVDs covering the history and showing just how precarious it was getting light keepers on and off these rocks during winter with the Atlantic swell.
As I felt I had time I deviated westwards to visit the world famous Skellig Islands. These islands were settled by monks around 670 AD and they built a stone village and beehive buildings that survive to this day. (see http://www.skelligsrock.com/history.htm ) The Skelligs are not accessible by leisure craft, but can be visited by local trip boats equipped to deal with the tricky landing points exposed to the Atlantic swell.
Little Skellig – the world’s second largest Gannet colony. Hence the colour!
Skellig Michael or the Great Skillig – World Heritage site and popular amongst adventurous tourists. The stone beehive settlement built by monks over 1400 years ago is incredible. Local trip boats bring ‘fit’ tourists out who are capable of the long winding climbing walkway to the top.
Dingle Bay – It doesn’t look to far, but those mountains are not small and it will take me a further two hours to cross the bay to the entrance to Dingle Harbour
Our tender strapped firmly to davits is invaluable as it has allowed us to overnight in sheltered anchorages. It is important is rougher seas that it is secured firmly to the davits with straps to minimise movement. It was such a lovely day with only a 1.5m swell.
Ryan’s Daughter Country – The Dingle Peninsula where David Lean’s famous movie was filmed.
At the entrance to Dingle Harbour I was met by two Dolphin watch trip boats that tried to play “chicken” with me as they were astride Dingles most famous resident “Fungi the Dolphin”. I stood on and they reluctantly gave way, but I had no choice as I was at the edge of the narrow dredged channel on a falling tide.
The small buzzing town of Dingle across the sheltered harbour. This place is full of wonderful restaurants, pubs, cafes, boutiques, craft shops, live music, art, and all manner of way of getting a few bob off you – but it’s worth the fun.
Dingle marina has to be in one of the most scenic locations on these islands
LE Ciara, formerly HMS Swallow is a peacock class vessel, ex-RN from Hong Kong. She was in port for her annual inspection. The crew worked hard all afternoon preparing her.
Top brass from HQ inspect the ships officers!
Map of my track around the SW coast from Sherkin/Baltimore to Dingle.
Thrilled to have made it here from Cork and at ease that OF is now within only one day's range of the Shannon.
This was the 2nd part of a two passage leg to move the boat from East Ferry marina in Cork to Dingle. If I could get the boat as far as Dingle, then she would be within only one days striking distance of the Shannon Estuary. Then I’d only be looking for three days settled weather in September to get her home to Killaloe on Lough Derg (ie two days for swell to dissipate and one day to get to Kilrush or Foynes).
06:30 shortly after leaving the anchorage off Sherkin Island near Baltimore in west Cork. Beacon Point in the back ground with Lot’s Wife tower. I decided to start early for the 75nm passage to Dingle as the forecast suggested conditions could deteriorate significantly after lunch.
Sea Area forecast issued 0600 that morning was good for the first half of the day. Ideally I had hoped to cruise all the way to Dingle at displacement speeds, but the possibility of F6 from noon onwards suggested I’d have to go faster for part of the passage anyway.
Sunburst east of Clear Island. For now I was happy making 7kt as the conditions were so nice and I just wanted to relax.
South of Clear Island I got some wonderful company. A pod of Dolphins escorted me for 45 minutes. They playfully zig zagged, dived and weaved, ducking and diving off the bow.
Fastnet Rock light house on a beautiful morning. I pondered what a different place this might be during a typical Atlantic storm, especially in years gone by when these famous old houses were manned for months on end.
Mizen head – Once past this headland I had expected the sea might deteriorate but it didn’t. Conditions were so good I got in close for a few photos of this significant headland. The foot bridge is used to access the Mizen head visitor centre http://www.mizenhead.net
Dursey head – or is it a Jurassic dinosaur having a drink from the Atlantic
The Cow Rock with its jagged gothic features, more like the volcanic south china seas
The Bull Rock – I was so tempted to go through the hole in the boat, but as I was single handed, wiser council prevailed. Note the old buildings over the tunnel, and the 1000s of sea birds nesting on it.
Bull Rock Light House – This light house was built to survive the worst the Atlantic could through at it, but it took a few attempts to get it right (see http://www.commissionersofirishlights.com/cil/aids-to-navigation/lighthouses/bull-rock.aspx ) The rock is no longer manned due to automation. Can you imagine being storm bound on this for a whole winter? The Mizen head and Hook head light house exhibitions sell DVDs covering the history and showing just how precarious it was getting light keepers on and off these rocks during winter with the Atlantic swell.
As I felt I had time I deviated westwards to visit the world famous Skellig Islands. These islands were settled by monks around 670 AD and they built a stone village and beehive buildings that survive to this day. (see http://www.skelligsrock.com/history.htm ) The Skelligs are not accessible by leisure craft, but can be visited by local trip boats equipped to deal with the tricky landing points exposed to the Atlantic swell.
Little Skellig – the world’s second largest Gannet colony. Hence the colour!
Skellig Michael or the Great Skillig – World Heritage site and popular amongst adventurous tourists. The stone beehive settlement built by monks over 1400 years ago is incredible. Local trip boats bring ‘fit’ tourists out who are capable of the long winding climbing walkway to the top.
Dingle Bay – It doesn’t look to far, but those mountains are not small and it will take me a further two hours to cross the bay to the entrance to Dingle Harbour
Our tender strapped firmly to davits is invaluable as it has allowed us to overnight in sheltered anchorages. It is important is rougher seas that it is secured firmly to the davits with straps to minimise movement. It was such a lovely day with only a 1.5m swell.
Ryan’s Daughter Country – The Dingle Peninsula where David Lean’s famous movie was filmed.
At the entrance to Dingle Harbour I was met by two Dolphin watch trip boats that tried to play “chicken” with me as they were astride Dingles most famous resident “Fungi the Dolphin”. I stood on and they reluctantly gave way, but I had no choice as I was at the edge of the narrow dredged channel on a falling tide.
The small buzzing town of Dingle across the sheltered harbour. This place is full of wonderful restaurants, pubs, cafes, boutiques, craft shops, live music, art, and all manner of way of getting a few bob off you – but it’s worth the fun.
Dingle marina has to be in one of the most scenic locations on these islands
LE Ciara, formerly HMS Swallow is a peacock class vessel, ex-RN from Hong Kong. She was in port for her annual inspection. The crew worked hard all afternoon preparing her.
Top brass from HQ inspect the ships officers!
Map of my track around the SW coast from Sherkin/Baltimore to Dingle.
Thrilled to have made it here from Cork and at ease that OF is now within only one day's range of the Shannon.
I know everybody knows everything about everybody in Ireland, but this was weird. I hadn't past or seen any other vessels for hours. So I rang him "Stephen, how do you know exactly where I am?". He roared laughing, "you've been tracked and monitored by the navy". I thought he was talking though his human waste disposal facility! 
