Leaving Rathlin

A civilised departure time of 9.30 saw Dark Tarn motoring slowly out of Church Bay on Rathlin Island, leaving the wreck of the Drake to starboard we headed for Rue point and raised sail. The tide was in the last half hour of ebb and as the flood began the seas began to steepen in a classic wind over tide situation. Unfortunately this couldn't be helped as we had waited for the wind to move from the South, to a more easterly direction to give us the best chance of making the course from Fair Head south. For the next hour or so however it was cutting up a little rough and the boat had water occasionally breaking right over the decks, Lynne got quite wet at one point and moved to shelter in the companionway. The tide was helping to push us towards the lee shore of Fair head so we put the engine on to head directly upwind for a mile or more. When we could make the course again the genoa was rehoisted with two reefs in and as the tide picked up under us we fairly flew south.

Fair Head  about 5 miles astern.

Luckily the over falls reduced to a lumpy swell and the sun even came out. Non the less the wind was building towards 20 knots so to make progress more comfortable we put a reef in the main.

The cliffs of Antrim flew by rapidly for the next couple of hours and Geoff texted us that 5.9 knots seemed quite satisfactory ( he was following us via the internet, Dark Tarn is equipped with AIS ) however I had to correct him as at this point we were doing 7.4 knots which by the time Geoff had checked the internet again had risen to 7.5!

The sun continued to shine as we  passed Cushenden. However some black clouds were beginning to cover the horizon to the East. I mistakenly assumed they would bring squalls but surprisingly they brought a lessening of the wind to a benign force 3

Soon we had to shake out the reefs and try to identify the entrance to Glenarm while evading the assorted lobster pots and fish farm hiding in the swells. As we put the sails away and started the engine two large painted boulders on the breakwater seemed to suggest an entrance and as we swooped in on a small wave we could see the harbourmaster Billy waiting for us on one of the pontoons. He kindly helped by taking one of our lines as we tied up to a convenient berth.

Glenarm harbour.

Billy was a mine of information about Glenarm and we quickly knew were the shop was, which of the two pubs was the best and some top tips for local walks ( which proved correct)

Also the showers electricity and laundry facilities were free which made up a little for the £23 overnight charge ( we were more used to £14-£15 a night) .

It also became apparent that Glenarm was being serious about floral displays for Britain in Bloom.

Even the few bits of waste ground were filled with wild flowers.