Northern Ireland Revisited

We dragged ourselves away from the lovely Isle of Man - we'd got quite used to the sight of grown ups in leather romper suits on huge motor bikes roaming the streets - we headed back for another look at Northern Ireland.

Initially Ardglass was our chosen destination, we set off at mid day when we could get out of the marina and set the #4 and a reef in the main. The wind then decided to drop and out came the reef....it then dropped even further and we had to change the #4 for the #2 headsail.  After all that exercise we had a pleasant but sedate sail across the Irish Sea.  This now meant that we would arrive at Ardglass at low tide - on a spring - so no chance of getting in there.  On to Portaferry instead.

Portaferry (so named because it is the port where the ferry goes!) is at the head of Strangford Lough, known for very strong tidal rips, up to 7.8kts on a spring.  Having contacted the Harbour Master and been assured that it would be no problem to enter at the current state of tide, we spent the next 1 1/2 hours on the same spot, doing 2000rpm.  So much for that local knowledge!!!

It did give us plenty of time to study the buoyage of the area.

Never did understand what either of the white 'beehives' were for - did think of asking the Harbour Master, but not sure that would have helped!

We finally made it to Portaferry at dead low tide, in the dark.  Its all in the planning.

The next day we took Zilla for a walk whilst waiting for the ebb tide - there was an air of neglect about the area, lots of boarded up properties - even the estate agents' was for sale.  The 'shower block' was a portaloo.  Time to move on to Ardglass.

Quite a narrow entrance concealed a well shetered old fishing port.

Ardglass was in fact three basins - the Marina, the fishing boat harbour, and 'God's Pocket', which was created as a safe refuge for Fishing Boats during severe gales.

God's Pocket

Clearly the gales would have to be at high tide to avail ones self of the Pocket!

With a beautiful start to the morning and a slightly rising wind forecast it was time to move on. Carlingford Lough was our intended destination, but after discussion with the Harbour Master at Ardglass he persuaded us that it wasn't worth a visit and we would be better off going straight to Dublin......so Dublin here we come.