kindredspirit
Well-known member
Well, had a great Bank Holiday weekend on the boat. (It's the first Monday in August in Southern Ireland.)
Had an interesting Sunday, though. Decided to explore Canon Island in the Clare River section of the Shannon estuary and have a barbecue there. Cruising boats never go there because of the high tidal range and the strong tides between the islands. Any piers that are there are only accessible at high water.
Anyway anchored north of the island and rowed into shore only to find that the rocks for landing were covered in the slimiest bladderwrack possible. Struggled ashore, slipping knee deep into grey mud that turned into black mud on top of the sharpest mussel shells ever. Lots of screams from participants and dire warnings of my future fate later on.
However, had a lovely barbecue, visited the old disused abbey and castle. Ready to go back to the boat only to see it dragging anchor and now about three quarters of a mile away. Pile everyone into the dinghy (it had taken two trips to get everyone onto the island) and row like hell. Eventually, with aching arms, get near the boat, to find the current, now coming frm the side, suddenly sweep me past the boat, try again, aiming for the starboard side, to find the current sweep me past the boat at speed again. Go for a third try, and now near exhaustion, tell myself "mind over matter, you've GOT to make it" and after bending one of the aluminium oars and just as one of the rowlocks on the dinghy collapsed, grabbed the stern of the boat. I smile sweetly at everyone, who all looked stern faced and say "Easy peasy!"
Now we're ready to set off home back to the marina. Go to the windlass and start to reel in the anchor. Two seconds later, the windlass jams. Can't get the allan key to open it. Nothing for it but to haul in the anchor by hand. Pretty wrecked by my little rowing excursion but what's a little anchor hauling by comparison.
Opened a couple of bottles of wine on the boat on the way back. Drank one of them completely myself. Well, I did deserve it!!
<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.begleys.com/weather.htm>Useful links for Irish waters.</A>
Had an interesting Sunday, though. Decided to explore Canon Island in the Clare River section of the Shannon estuary and have a barbecue there. Cruising boats never go there because of the high tidal range and the strong tides between the islands. Any piers that are there are only accessible at high water.
Anyway anchored north of the island and rowed into shore only to find that the rocks for landing were covered in the slimiest bladderwrack possible. Struggled ashore, slipping knee deep into grey mud that turned into black mud on top of the sharpest mussel shells ever. Lots of screams from participants and dire warnings of my future fate later on.
However, had a lovely barbecue, visited the old disused abbey and castle. Ready to go back to the boat only to see it dragging anchor and now about three quarters of a mile away. Pile everyone into the dinghy (it had taken two trips to get everyone onto the island) and row like hell. Eventually, with aching arms, get near the boat, to find the current, now coming frm the side, suddenly sweep me past the boat, try again, aiming for the starboard side, to find the current sweep me past the boat at speed again. Go for a third try, and now near exhaustion, tell myself "mind over matter, you've GOT to make it" and after bending one of the aluminium oars and just as one of the rowlocks on the dinghy collapsed, grabbed the stern of the boat. I smile sweetly at everyone, who all looked stern faced and say "Easy peasy!"
Now we're ready to set off home back to the marina. Go to the windlass and start to reel in the anchor. Two seconds later, the windlass jams. Can't get the allan key to open it. Nothing for it but to haul in the anchor by hand. Pretty wrecked by my little rowing excursion but what's a little anchor hauling by comparison.
Opened a couple of bottles of wine on the boat on the way back. Drank one of them completely myself. Well, I did deserve it!!
<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.begleys.com/weather.htm>Useful links for Irish waters.</A>
