Probably not the most sensible decision to make at 10 o’clock at night, but looking at the forecast of light westerlies we decided to make use of the tides and flat seas going south in the morning.

Phoning the Harbour Master, Niall, who was very understanding about being disturbed on a Sunday evening, he suggested a donation to the Lifeboat instead of paying him, and said local knowledge was to set off an hour before high tide.

Working out times of tides at Arklow is very difficult, however. This area is generally two hours behind Dublin, but could be more. Different sources gave different times, but in the end we plumped for leaving at 7am.

This turned out to be right. We had hardly any tide for a couple of hours, but for the rest of the eight hour journey we had the tide with us, helping us through the 46 nm trip.

The lighthouse on Tuskar Rock. The little islands at the top and bottom are called North and South Hen and Chickens.

Can see why this is a good spot for wind farms. The sea was a maelstrom going over the changing depths passing Lucifer Bank, and when we rounded Carnsore Point we had strong winds against us, and it felt a trudge passing inside Barrels Rocks and Black Rock.

The Saltees.

Good to see the green and red buoys of St Patrick’s Bridge; a channel over the sandbanks leading to the safe water mark of Kilmore Quay Marina.

Using pilot book instructions, our GPS and the leading lights of the marina we managed to avoid the rocks, shallow ground and narrow entrance to be welcomed by someone taking our lines at our pontoon.

Arklow to Kilmore Quay. 46.5 nautical miles.

Biscuit Tin was the only other boat we saw yesterday doing the same journey. Named after Irish Kimberley Biscuits, as the owners are Kimberley and Alan. We met them on the pontoon and they explained the combination flag; with Irish colours and shamrocks instead of stars as Kimberley is from the USA.

Good to be in port with delicious food from the farmers’ market at Killruddery House, and the store that has become our go to, SupaValu.

Summer sailing gear in Ireland. With the addition of a woolly hat under the hood and gloves.