Up at the crack of dawn again and departed from Kilmore Quay at 05:45. Following the Harbour Master’s advice, we motored out on the shoreline transits for 0.5nm then altered course for Smiths Buoy. It was a lumpy sea, with a headwind of 8kn, so we kept motoring.
By 10:20 the wind had set in from the NW on the beam, so sails up and engine off. With the wind shift, we were at last treated to sun and blue sky – we realised then that we must have reached the warmer southern waters.
However by 12:30 the wind died and we had to resort to motoring again.
Roches Lighthouse (from Irish Lighthouses)
At 17:30 we passed Roches Lighthouse and turned into the entrance to Cork Harbour, with their seriously impressive forts.
Lifeboat 1550 cruised up the estuary past us like a gunboat out of Apocalypse Now, turned up river and passed us again on its way out.
After some difficulties finding the leading marks into Crosshaven, we tied up alongside the Royal Cork Y.C. pontoons, having completed 70nm. The yacht club was in the throes of preparing for their Cork Week regatta.
This was the second day of no rain whilst sailing and we even had some warm sunshine in the afternoon!! The crew basked on the lawn of the Club sipping pints, while the skipper undertook essential remedial work on the blocked heads (toilet) – followed by a shower. We had dinner in the Club, and what with the dawn starts and all the fresh air, we retired early again.
We noticed that there was a pair of swallows nesting under the sail covers of the boat next door.