Froggie's cruise underway

[oceanfroggie]

We started at the weekend and have been blessed with superb cruising weather so far. It's due to hit 31 degrees here on Thursday. I've attached the pics below rather than links so click on them if you want to see them in large size.

Little Samphire lighthouse in Tralee bay. Let the fun begin. Its 27 deg here.


A few days ago in the 102ft deep sea lock at the Ardnacrusha hydro electric dam.


Some anchored traffic at the mouth of the Shannon Estuary where it meets the Atlantic Ocean waiting for the tide. 80% of Ireland's energy fuel comes up this Estuary as it has the deepest port facilities on the Island.


Mount Brandon and the Kerry coast line as we approach Tralee bay


AWLB on training drill off Fenit Pier where


Leibherr export their giant cranes manufactured in Killarney all over the world. Dock III in port being loaded with disassembled giant cranes.


Anchored in Tralee bay for the day. There are endless miles of silky soft sandy beaches on this part of the coast and they are virtually devoid of people due to the sparse population in the area.


Will post some decent pics in a few days when I get access to hosting again. Forecast is excellent for the whole week with temps high 20s already and due to hit 31 in a few days time.

 

[AndieMac]

I bet you are loving the near heatwave conditions N, perfect way to begin your cruise. Hope the wind behaves itself to compliment your journey.

 

[Dino]

Great photos Noel. Heading down that way on ReeBelle on the 8th of July. Hope the weather lasts

 

[Mike k]

You have picked a great week Noel , great pictures and I am looking forward to more, even a vid perhaps?

 

[BruceK]

Great photo's. That sea lock looks a bit daunting. 120 foot? Good god!

 

[scubaman]

That’s quite a lock. Shows well the nice straw coloured teak, btw .

Beautiful photos and really tranquil looking locations.

Seems the weather gods are on your side. Good going :encouragement:!

 

[oceanfroggie]

Thanks guys. I'm anchored at moment so can only post a few pics. Will try and do a proper narrative when next ashore.

Limerick - there is a half tide here due to a weir currently covered (i.e. under the yellow market and behind the crash barrier pontoons. River Shannon flowing through city.

Sheehen light house half way down Shannon Estuary near Foynes island which used to be the busiest transatlantic airport between 1939 and 1946 when the clipper flying boats used to land here.

BBQ in Fenit Harbour Tralee bay. A small fishing port that is mainly used by Leibherr to export their giant cranes all around the world from their factory in Killarney

Little Samphire light house looking west from Fenit. Dingle is behind that mountain range.

Ships at anchor at the mouth of the Shannon Estuary on the Atlantic. The deep water facilities are the reason most of Irelands energy imports come this way.

Mount Brandon on Atlantic SW coast with Maharree islands in the foreground. Was hoping to make Baltimore but had to divert to Lawrence Cove due to strong sea breezes combining with weather due the heat wave.

Passing through Blasket sound at the top of Dingle bay looking back at the seven sister peaks.

Great Skelling Michael island famous for its 8th century settlement on top, or in the eye of some for Jedi Knights as it featured in the two most recent Lucas/Disney films.

There is a strict quota of the number of visitors allowed per day. It is a UNESCO world heritage site. When they were filming star wars they were not allowed to use helicopters so the cast, crew and ALL the equipment had to be carried up those steps.

Little Skellig Island beside famous for its bird colonies that occupy nearly every square inch of space.

The Bull Island off Dursey head. Or I like to call it the Polo Mint island.

Lawrence Cove Marina in the West Cork mountains. This tiny marina is often the first port of call for transat yachts sailing west to east.

It is alleged that years ago this soviet freighter was deliberately sunk by her crew because their wages had not been paid. Bearhaven sound in Bantry bay. Castletowbear and Beer Island were one of the three 'treaty ports' and remained sovereign British territory until 1938. During WW1 the US Atlantic feet was based in this sound for the duration of the war so that the Royal Navy could concentrate strength away from the Atlantic.

Bearhaven sound approaching entrance to Lawrence Cove marina

Mizen Head - Footbridge to light house which now has a visitor centre.

Fastnet Rock Lighthouse - The 1979 Fastnet race disaster occurred one August during an unpredictable storm.

Sky View from inside Ardnacrusha's 102ft lock.

Arrived Baltimore harbour on SW coast this morning and anchored in the far back ground for the night. Could not be bothered with rafting scrums.

OF at anchor in one of the Anchorages inside Baltimore harbour. I came in here earlier to shelter from the growing SE which has been greatly amplified by strong sea breeze effect due to land temps untypical hitting 30 in this heat wave.

 

[Nigelpickin]

Beautiful images - it appears that there’s a bit of a summer in that part of the world for a change, looks fantastic.

 

[Mr Googler]

Beautiful images - it appears that there’s a bit of a summer in that part of the world for a change, looks fantastic.

A bit!!!

29c on the Isle of Man today. No one knows what to do with themselves.

At least another 5 days of it too.

Enjoy a lovely trip froggie

 

[AndieMac]

A bit!!!

29c on the Isle of Man today. No one knows what to do with themselves.

At least another 5 days of it too.

Enjoy a lovely trip froggie

I agree mate, its a big shock compared with average temps, that last 5 or so degrees can have a big affect. Unfortunately the sea temp takes a lot longer to catch up, so it's only really half a paradise

 

[AndieMac]

Thanks for the update Noel, great pics btw.
Are you continuing around to Cork, it looks as though you are pretty much on the extreme SW corner at Baltimore

 

[sogood]

Here in Kenmare where I live there is an annual event that includes a run out to the Bull rock. Through the hole that previous mariners believed was a portal to another world. Some footage of this event is available on YouTube. Search Kenmare bull run and it should come up after a million videos of idiots being gored in Pamplona!

 

[oceanfroggie]

Baltimore Harbour at dusk

Sunset from the anchorage

Moonlight over Baltimore

05:19am next morning as I was preparing to depart the Baltimore life boat launched a few hundred yard behind us at anchor, passed close astern but kindly did not get up on the plane until yards past us despite the urgency of a shout.

Had they gone up on the plane this wash may have resulted another unintended 'shout'

Off to the rescue by early morning moonlight

There as an amazing moon set just before sunrise over the old Friary on Sherkin island.

05:40 Sunrise as I depart single handed for Kinsale.

Some hours later I arrived off the Old Head of Kinsale.

Charles Fort on the approaches to Kinsale - the napoleonic wars left a lot of defencive heritage around the coastline.

Kinsale and the YC marina

Castlepark Marina on the other side of the River Bandon a few hundred meters up stream.

. . . More to follow in due course What an amazing blessing this wonderful weather is and this adventure cruising the S and SW coast of Ireland.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Great pics Noel. Looks to be about 25deg warmer than when I was in the same area about a month ago. Best wishes for an excellent cruise

 

[Mike k]

Delightful Noel, the pic of the skelligs took me back to my visit last year ( by road though).

 

[oceanfroggie]

Great pics Noel. Looks to be about 25deg warmer than when I was in the same area about a month ago. Best wishes for an excellent cruise

Cheers Mike. Yes unfortunately the weather was rather unkind for your visit last month. Going to base in Kinsale for the summer and tour the area. Plenty of scenic bolt holes and excellent anchorages.

 

[pks1702]

Great images OF.

Thanks for posting.

 

[oceanfroggie]

Delightful Noel, the pic of the skelligs took me back to my visit last year ( by road though).

Thanks Mike. Did you climb all the way up? It is too deep for us to anchor off so I could not land in the tender and it would be dam tricky with the swell and the trip boats. I must do it myself some day using one of the trip boats from Portmagee.

Great images OF.

Thanks for posting.

Cheers. Its a great blessing to visit places like this in pleasant weather.

Giant bronze statue at Fenit of "Brendan the Navigator" pointing west to the americas which some claim he discovered in the 6th century long before Columbus.

 

[scubaman]

Fab pictures, specially those moon pics are amazing! What lens/focal length did you use? I tried shooting the full moon but failed miserably.

Thanks for the update!

 

[MrB]

Fantastic pics Noel, Please don't stop posting a log of your trip.:encouragement: