Story 5

Barrie and myself left work at 17.00 on the Thursday evening, picked up Bob at his home in Preston and arrived at Holyhead (150 miles) at 20.10. After unloading the car and carrying our gear down the pontoon (no trolleys), we tried but failed to light the pilot light on the fridge. After many attempts over about forty minutes, we gave up and went to the pub. It was 21.45 when we entered The Sailing Club. After a pint of “Old Speckled Hen”, the question was asked where were our two missing crew. A phone call revealed that they were still two hours away, just passing Charnock Richard service station on the M6. After the bar closed we returned to Classic Wave and awaited their arrival. When they did arrive Alex introduced us to “Litty” (we had trouble pronouncing her name), she is of course French.

Holyhead to Dublin
The following morning at 10.00 we slipped our lines and left Holyhead in 18 knots of wind from the Northwest. We had discussed going to Peel on The Isle of Man, but with the wind from the Northwest, Dublin was the obvious choice of destinations. The forecast was that the wind would ease later in the day. We were heeled over under full sail, with some on board not feeling too well. As the day wore on the wind eased until with about 25 miles to go we started the engine and motored towards Dublin in light winds. It was early evening when we entered Dublin Bay and made our way towards the river Liffey. This was our first time up the Liffey as we had always previously used Howth Marina. We called Dublin Port Radio and received permission to enter. Dublin Port radio then asked us to slow down as a ship was about to back in to the channel. We watched as the ship passed us and then proceeded up river. Dublin Port Radio then arranged for the bridge to be lifted for us and we made our way up river to The City Moorings.
We were soon out on the town, with some of us having our first experience of spending Euros. We made our way in to The Temple Bar area of Dublin, which was absolutely heaving. Every pub was packed solid and the streets were so full of people that the traffic was barely moving. We ended up in The Oliver St John Goggerty, with standing room only listening to an Irish Folk group. It was two in the morning before we were all back on board.
We stayed in Dublin the following day, carrying out some minor repairs. We then had a walk in to the city centre visiting O’Connell St and Grafton St, where we did some shopping. The evening was spent in Lanigan’s Bar in the Clifton Court Hotel, at least here we got a seat.

Dublin to Malahide
We were informed that a car had crashed in to the lifting bridge at some point on the previous evening and that it would be lunchtime before the bridge could be lifted. Two of us went in to the city and on our return called in at the city moorings office. Bob saw us and was waving at us to return they were waiting for us to lift the bridge. A rapid departure followed and we left the Liffey in the company of two other yachts. We tacked out of Dublin bay in light northerly winds and rounded the Ben of Howth. The wind had dropped to almost nothing as we were rounding Irelands Eye. The sun was shining and Barrie got his fishing rod out (two very small whiting). The engine was started and we motored in to the Malahide channel and then in to the Marina. After tying up to a pontoon, we had a meal on board.
The waterside area has been extensively redeveloped with a lot of very expensive houses. We walked along the waterside path and in to the town centre. The first pub sounded loud and occupied by a younger crowd, so we walked by. The second was quieter, so we went in. After a couple of drinks we moved on to the third. As we approached we heard sirens and saw a police car approaching. It stopped outside the pub and two policemen or Garda as their called in the republic of Ireland jumped out. They assisted two other Garda arrest a man who was resisting. Another man was arguing with the Garda, while his mate was trying to calm things down. The man who was arguing was then arrested. The police cars moved off and we thought for a moment should we go in to this pub. The incident was over so we went in. as we headed back to the Marina we found the gates on the waterside path locked and a security guard on patrol. We had to walk round the back. This seemed pointless to us but as Bob put it “if your paying this much for the property, then you get what you pay for”.

Dun Laoghaire to Howth
The wind was on the nose as we headed north to round the Ben of Howth for the third time in little more than a day. The tide had turned and we now had wind against tide or “a bit lumpy” as Bob so eloquently put it. We motored round Ben of Howth and into Howth harbour. We were instructed by radio to go to berth B15, this we did. After connecting the shore power and filling the water tank, Barrie and myself were cleaning the windows while Bob went up to the Marina office. He soon arrived back and told us “we have to move”. The yacht whose berth we were in had arrived back unexpectedly. The Marina staff apologised and assisted us in moving to berth A6.
We took a walk round the village and had a pint in the yacht club before food on board and then off to The Cock Inn and The Abbott Inn for the evening.

It is here that I must end my log. Bob and Barrie headed north to Carlingford, while I headed for home and of course, work. I left on the D.A.R.T. in to Dublin, where I caught a Sea Cat called The Jonathon Swift back to Holyhead ( one hour forty five minutes ).
Kevan

Friday 3rd May 2002. Holyhead- Dublin                  11.20 hrs 63.9 nmls
Sunday 5th May 2002. Dublin- Malahide                    6.00 hrs 5.9 nmls
Monday 6TH May 2002 Malahide -Dun Laoghaire     2.30 hrs 12.0 nmls
Monday 6th May 2002 Dun laoghaire -Howth             1.50 hrs 7.7 nmls

                                               Total 21.40 hrs   99.5 nmls