Ocean Froggie's 1000nm Coastal Cruise
Killaloe to Dun Laoghaire

Part 1 - Starting out - Dingle

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Day 1 - Killaloe to Dingle (via Ardnacrusha and Limerick)

This is a photo log of Ocean Froggie's 2006 cruise and adventure around the Irish coastline from Killaloe on Lough Derg, to Dun Laoghaire on the east coast.  The round trip was about 1000nm covering a wonderfully dramatic coastline and the awesome Atlantic headlands that are the Kerry/Cork coast.

Map of 2006 Cruise

Departed Killaloe on inland Lough Derg at 0945 or Sat 15th July heading for Ardnacrush Dam and then Limerick. Had to wait for the tide to drop in Limerick so we could fit under the bridges.

Starting out from Killaloe on the Ardnacrusha head race canal.  Weather was quite different from last year.

Down the Shannon Estuary - Passing Shannon Airport.  "Skipper, trust me there is a runway in there somewhere!"  Meanwhile there is an electronic voice exclaiming "Terrain, Terrain, Terrain, PULL UP, PULL UP"

Sheehen Light House - Auginish Aluminium loading jetty and Foynes behind.  The Auginish aluminium plant has so many lights it is the brightest object in Ireland, the single largest electrical consumer, and is the only place in Ireland that can be seen with the naked eye from the cockpit of the space shuttle at night.  It's impressive on the ground too.

Kerry Coast - Mount Brandon one of the highest mountains in Ireland.  We were accompanied by multiple pods of playful dolphins along this passage.  We had left Killaloe on the Inland Shannon at 10 that morning thinking it would be nice to run down the estuary just as far as Kilrush, but then decided the weather was so nice we would push on to Fenit as it was easier to get a train home from there.  But on passing Kerry head in the Mediterranean conditions I suggested to by beloved that we could be in Cassidy's restaurant in Dingle around 19:30 if we pushed on - and we did!

Sleeping Puppy

Three Sisters and the Blasket islands in far right distance.  Smerwick Harbour is a good anchorage tucked in behind the three sisters if your looking for a quite bolt hole.

Blasket Sound - Inishtearaght Island in background.  Out here the gothic coast is more like somewhere in the far east.  This is as far west as the EU land mass or islands stick out into the Atlantic ocean, next stop the north American continent.

Dingle Bay looking back at the blaskets.  We arrived in Dingle at 1930 after covering 110nm in one day, and we had a fab meal in Cassidy's restaurant over looking the Marina.  Dingle marina is excellent and the little town is a wonderful spot to spend a few days in.

Dingle Marina and Folding Bikes.  The bikes were invaluable throughout the cruise as they were light and yet folded up small enough to stow in lockers.  Looking SW across Dingle harbour out towards the entrance Dingle Bay.

Froggie on Berth in Dingle Marina - 28 degrees C!

Day 1 - 110nm @ 15kt AET 9h45m
Left Killaloe at 0945 that morning and headed out non-stop, down through Ardnacrusha, Limerick, Estuary, past Bunratty, Shannon Airport, Foynes, Kilrush, Loop Hd, Kerry Hd, Mt Brandon, Smerwick bay, Blasket Sound, Ventry and into Dingle for a slap up meal in the Marina Waterside restaurant.

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(C) 2006 - Crew of Ocean Froggie