Following a lumpy and wet Ailsa Craig overnight race on Friday/Saturday, the boat was dried out and restocked ready for our departure at lunchtime on Sunday. There were 5 of us onboard initially - David (Skipper), sister Susie, Rob Armstrong (owner of Signet, a Sigma 33) and two of his daughters – Aileen, who would stay with us until Portrush & Alice, who was on board just for the day-sail up to Glenarm.
We left Bangor at 12:45 and headed north across Belfast Lough on a close reach, passing Blackhead Lighthouse in just over an hour.
Continuing
up past the cliffs and caves along the Gobbins, we passed abeam Muck Island by
14:40. We passed inside the Hunter Rock and it looked as if there were divers
operating from a RIB over the rock. An Irish Lights vessel passed close ahead of
us on her way into Larne.
The wind veered into the NW, which together with our course change for Glenarm brought the wind on our nose and we motored the rest of the way to Glenarm. Arrived at 16:50, having logged 21.5nm. Berth fee £9/night.
Soon after arriving, we rendezvoused with Rob’s wife Betty, who had driven up by car to collect Alice and we retired to Anne Marie’s, an antiques shop/café/restaurant for dinner.
Another Contessa 32 - Eclectic, owned by David Thompson, was also in Glenarm – en route from Strangford Lough to Scotland. David Thompson turned out to be a work colleague of Gordon Smyth, who would join the cruise on Week 2.