At 08:45 we departed from Portrush with a F3 westerly wind and set a course outside the Skerries and on to Benbane Hd. Although the wind was behind us and we were running with the main and genoa goose-winged, it was a very cold day. By 10:30 we were abeam Benbane Hd and the tide was starting to kick in behind us.
By 12:10 we had passed through Rathlin Sound, making 10kn over the ground with the genoa reefed.
The wind continued to increase, gusting 20 – 25 kn off the land, and by 13:50 we had 1 reef in the main and two reefs in the genoa.
We reached Glenarm marina at 15:15 and our top priority was to put the kettle on for hot whiskeys, as the crew were close to being hypothermic. Summer eh??
Distance travelled 35.6nm. From the bowels of the cockpit locker, the Skipper produced a pair of old spray dodgers, which were fitted either side of the cockpit to try to protect his crew from the wind chill in the days to come.
We wined and dined on board.