Tuesday 15th. Day 3

Waterford - Kinsale. 8am.

We were all thirsty after last nights lovely curry and found a great pub for the evening. Celebrated Jason’s wedding anniversary till they wouldn’t serve any more and then back to the Stn.
We are all now looking like swan vesta's. Red / brown puffy heads on top of very white bodies - And that is with Nick's SPF 30 sun cream. Turns out Jason’s tablets make him Hallucinate when he goes down, amongst other things he has seen are someone pushing a sack barrow down the boat, the roof of the mini bus along side and keeps seeing Neil in various places. He won’t say what Neil is wearing each time but we are starting to question his sexuality! He is going for another go today so hopefully this time they will work.

A fantastic day. We were very slow getting away as still had to do everything to the boat - fuel, two stroke, fix the bilge pump and plot today’s navigation. Checked out the weather on Icom's excellent VHF they generously donated and new we were good to go. Went for breakfast first as the chandlers didn’t open till 10. Brought a new pump which Jason offered to fit only to find out it was only the fuse. To get to that though involves taking the front seat back off which is a major contortion in itself and involves a lot of grunting and swearing! Once all sorted we got away about 12 and Dickon took us out up through the estuary and westbound. It is his last day today so he went on to do the first 40 miles before handing over to Nick. We were running mainly on the under deck tank as it defiantly helps with the trim in the head sea's. Sea state was moderate with a short chop on top of rollers. Easiest speed was between 17 and 22 knots which made the journey very comfortable and effortless. Unfortunately though, Jason probably wouldn’t agree as he has had his worst day yet. Never actually sick but a banging headache and feeling like death - just what you need into a head sea...........
Arrived Kinsale about 17.00 and went straight on to a berth kindly donated by the marina. Alan and Neil already had it all sorted with fuel waiting on the jetty and bags up at the stn. It is a brand new one and very impressive too. Kinsale itself looks great so we are in for a good night.
Out about 7.

Today’s mileage 82 at a moving average of 18.7. Total 298.3 Sea state moderate.

Wednesday 16th May.

Set off about 11 with Kev driving into a stiff breeze. Called a time out after about 10 miles with big sea's and after a team talk turned around and started back. This is meant to be fun........
Back in the bay we anchored up in the lee of some cliffs and gave the boat a good clean. The water was looking quite inviting again by now so it was off with the lifejackets and time for a swim - then all we had to do was get back in the boat..........

Met up with Neil, Jason and Alan who had just got back from dropping Dickon off at the Airport - he was facing a 10 hour wait for his flight- Ouch. Did some photo promotions for Icom who have given the radios and Buff who donated headgear, then on to do our own things in the afternoon then all out together for supper and a few beers. We are going for a 04.15 alarm in the morning to try and catch the dawn lull. Drastic but necessary, we need to get on.

Thursday 17th May.

04.15 is an obscene time to get up. We were all prepped and ready to go so were straight down to the boat and away just as it started to get light. It was worth getting up early as conditions were a lot better than yesterday. Gradually the wind increased though and it started to get silly again. I really wanted to go around Fastnet Rock but just 2 miles off the seas started to get huge. No wonder it has the reputation it has. Well deserved we would say. By now the seas were starting to break fairly heavily and a nasty moment left us all a bit shell shocked. Decided on a pit stop for a time out and pulled into Barley Cove just 3 miles short of Mizen Head right next to a sunbathing seal. Unfortunately, as soon as Alan and I went ashore we had some urgent business to attend to between the rocks, Hope we haven’t driven him out of the bay.
Kev consulted the chart and almanac and found we were only a few miles from Crookhaven, even better - it was downwind. Al wanted to keep going but the rest of us had had enough for today. Arrived on low water so put the boat on a floating pontoon and swam ashore. O Sullivans Bar was a welcome sanctuary and Dermot the landlord was fantastic and couldn’t do enough to help us. Not only did he welcome 3 very wet blokes in drysuits, he gave us as much tea and coffee as we wanted, produced some freshly baked scones with jam and cream and gave a very generous donation to the charities. He is the third generation of his family in the pub and a top bloke. Thanks Dermot.

By now, Neil and Jason were on there way to meet us having driven on to Bantry. Although alongside was still very shallow, the tide was now on the way in so I swam back out and Nick and Kev caught a throw line to pull me in. We are now refuelled and sorted, Revenger is on a mooring but the weather isn’t looking too promising for tonight - increasing force 7 to 8. Not good.
We are overnight at Schull Fire Station where the Stn Officer Luke Delainey has been superb and even arranged a meal for us in town. This is by far and away the friendliest place any of us have ever been. Absolutely amazing. Thanks Luke.

Meanwhile, I am a physical wreck, scabs on the side of my neck from the salt chaffing of the drysuit. 2 infected cuts on my hands, tracking up my arm, 5 boils, spots, - and I wont even talk about the state of my arse. Am 45 tomorrow, is this what it is like to be old or have I just got scurvy? Think I need some vitamin C.

Saturday 19th May.

Cant go out again as the sea state is still "very rough" (Wave height peaked during the storm at 11.7m) Drove to Heally Pass, Watched second half of the Cup Final, few beers and bed.

Sunday 20th.

At last we can get going again. The swell is predicted to still be significant and there is a small craft warning in operation but at least we can move on. Up at 6am and drove to Crookhaven. Good to see Revenger again. Just Nick, Kev and I on the boat today. All swam out to climb on and get her sorted again. As we are running lighter now decided to change back to the 21' prop and see how we go. Steel Developments have done a cracking job rebuilding the prop to the extent that it has a leading edge you could shave on, found that out after I sliced my finger. Once sorted we eventually let go the lines about 08.45. Jason and Al had seen us off and were going back to sort the stn. The boat felt a bit nose heavy as we went and I couldn’t work it out till Nick opened up the anchor locker and found it brimming from the rain and spray. Felt very different with that sorted and once out of the bay I was able to fulfil one of my lists of "to do" things in life and finally get to go round the Fastnet. Nice One. The Mizzen Head still wasn’t done with us though and the swell still pretty substantial but at least we were making progress. Needed a pit stop at Cahasiveen as we were again taking a battering and the local knowledge seemed be pretty unanimous at "stay put". A call to Valencia Coast Guard put the significant wave height as now dropping to 2.2m though so we decided to go for Kilrush. Got horrible going through Blasket Sound and then running before the Cliffs, Christ they were high and the waves were coming at us all ways. Gradually evened out a bit though and the run up the Shannon to Kilrush was actually fun, even saw a couple of dolphins. The Lock was on free flow in to the Marina and it was good to tie up.
In the Marina we met up with Cathal Blunie who runs Lisroe Marine Services (www.lisroemarineservices.com). A top bloke and very clued up. He is also very generous and later in the pub gave us an extremely generous donation. Thanks Cathal. Take away Chinese in the station and bed.

Forgot to write down the mileage in all the excitement. Sea state moderate to rough.

Monday 21st.

Decided last night to try and make the most of the break in the weather and go for a big one to Sligo which was about 200 miles. To do so in (relative) safety meant turning ourselves into a floating bomb as with a good reserve we needed to carry an extra 100 litres in cans. Couldn’t lock out till 10.30 but were still in with a chance. Even the sea was being kind for once as the swell was now under 2 meters and nicely spaced, we cut up the outside of the Arron Islands and were going great guns. Gradually though things got back to normal as the wind increased to a five which on top of the swell was not kind to us. We all swallowed a lot of spray and went for our original plan of Cliften. Got to hold my hand up to a bit of a FUBAR on the nav front here. Apparently, to go round Slyne Head in the conditions we had you either stay inside 200m or go at least a couple of miles out. The route you DONT take is about half a mile off. Guess where we went. As horrible a following sea as I have ever seen. Never come across such steep waves either; it was a relief when that was over. Had a few problems identifying Cliften against the hills but eventually felt our way in. The quay is tidal so we rang the guys on support then picked up a buoy and waited for the tide. Cleaned the boat and topped up the tanks from our jerrycans then started to creep up the channel, I bottled it when the sounder dropped to three feet so we anchored for bit. Needed a comfort break so jumped over the side to wade ashore and realised I had just made FUBAR number 2, Bloody hell, that is the third mobile phone I have trashed in the pocket of my drysuit now. Luckily, ICOMs excellent IC-M71 VHF and my hand bearing compass are waterproof or they would have suffered a similar fate. Kev went ashore for a scout around and Nick and I hailed a fishing boat also coming in and followed in there wake. Tied up alongside only to find the three of them are all on the local lifeboat crew. They introduced us around and before we knew it we were in the life boat stn for a cup of tea and some excellent local knowledge. Bernard and Dave are also on the retained section here. Top blokes, we have arranged to meet them for a beer later. By now Brendon the Sub had put all our stuff in his car and carried the lot to the Fire Station so we can get ourselves sorted. Thanks guys.

Mileage exactly 85. Sea state moderate to rough. Total 599.4.