( Overview
/ Two Bullocks on a Boat Go West
Not the best weather for us to head out from Kinsale as there’s a southerly wind (yesterday the forecast was a wind with some easterly in it), but we hope it will improve as the week goes on.
Kevin stowing the fenders, having left at slack water. The tide can make it tricky manoeuvring in the marina.
Kinsale Marina in the mist.
It may look calm in the photos, but it seemed to take ages to plough through the swell and wind on our nose to reach the mouth of Kinsale Harbour; we couldn’t even see the lighthouse until we were almost there. We had one other yacht for company which had left the marina at the same time.
As we approached Kinsale Head the swell became greater and the sea very confused.
Kevin making the tender more secure. He fortunately returned to the cockpit just in time, as trying to round Kinsale Head everything happened at once. Typically, there were lobster pots on our line, and then a yacht coming towards us suddenly appeared through the even higher waves.
Soaked through with water coming over the port side of Avalon, we steered away from Kinsale Head, avoiding the yacht, and ploughed out further to sea, with waves now breaking over our bow.
Crossing Courtmacsherry Bay the sea remained confused and swelly, and, unusually for Kevin he felt seasick when he tried to do anything.
The sea had calmed a little as we passed Seven Heads, but still wasn’t comfortable. The wind had veered too, and although down to 11 knots was still on our nose. Hardened sailors would say we should have tacked our way along the coast, but we’ve not got our sea legs yet!
Rounding Galley Head into Glandore Bay we finally noticed a little help from the tides. Their effect around here is minimal.
Although the route shows us coming inside Doolic and Sunk Rocks, as we were further out we came outside as this gave us a smoother sail. Distance from Kinsale to Union Hall 31 nautical miles.
Adam Rock. There are two islands in Glandore Harbour, Adam and Eve. The pilot book says to avoid Adam and hug Eve. Coming close to her means you see the green navigation marks which help you avoid a hidden rock in the middle of the harbour.
We pottered around near Glandore trying to find the yellow visitor buoys mentioned in the pilot book, but felt anchoring nearer to Union Hall might be better and calmer.
1.5 metres chart datum so should have enough depth at low tide.
A calm evening.
Kevin is proud and amazed our cockpit tent has survived another year. This evening it provided just enough protection from a little rain and cool breeze.
We’re anchored across the bay from the fish harbour. The bright lights are the only indication in the middle of the night.
Sign in with Apple 
Log in with Facebook