Awa to Ireland

In a depressingly familiar pattern we left Port Ellen in a very mild force 3 which after an hour or so built into a solid upper 4 lower 5 and as we came mid crossing stayed at a six for at least an hour. We reefed the genny initially then put a reef in the main ( getting serious now)

Sea state was beam on and getting up to two metres.

No fun. 

I had decided to abort the direct approach and sailed instead for the upside down lighthouse on the west end of Rathlin island, as we entered the over falls which were getting up to  three or four metres I was reflecting on the wisdom of this decision however we were committed at this point.

As it happens a yacht on a circumnavigation of Ireland was approaching from the west and via its AIS was able to assertain that we were doing  seven and a half knots despite towing a dingy and having several rolls in the genoa and a reef in the main.

We later got very drunk with the guys from Chaika II in the Harbour Bar, we left at 3 in the morning but I believe the session went on till 5 am!

Ballycastle is a beautiful place, it's always had a place in my heart as it was the first" foreign"  trip I made as skipper.

The fearsome tides around Rathlin Island deserve respect and prior study, however the marina though small ,is tranquility itself and the facilities are first rate.

The town, Harbour Bar within staggering distance and one of the best chippys in the world (Mortons)

Just off to the right.

Dark Tarn is in the middle of the picture.

looking towards Fair Head.

Rathlin Island from the breakwater, we came around the left hand end past what is known as the upside down lighthouse as it's at the bottom of a cliff not the top!

 Fair Head so called because a beautiful princess was danced over the edge and died at the bottom of the large cliff. The foreground is the beach at Ballycastle.

We are going to stay here a week as the Lammas Fair is on this weekend, there will be loads to see and do, hopefully not always involving drinking until the wee small hours, although the people are so friendly it seems churlish to refuse!