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Ocean Froggie Specs

Few photos of passage from Dingle to Kinsale. Including Puffin, the Bull Island off Dursey head near Bantry bay, the famous Fastnet Rock lighthouse. Left Dingle at 11:00 and pulled into Kinsale at 19:20. Weather was spectacular and the sea calm. Strangly enough there was a 2m swell between Dingle and the Skelligs, which then virtually dissappeared as I rounded the SW coast. On Saturday when we came down from Killaloe to Dingle there was no swell there, just a little off Kerry Head - so where did it come from given the light winds? Fergal assures me it was made where there was wind a few days ago, mid atlantic and drifted over here - interesting.

Puffin Island with Valentia in background

The Skellig Islands - Awsome looking - Gothic

The Bull Rock - Tempted to drop the rib and run through

Buildings on top of the Bull Rock

The Cow Rock - Strong tidal stream here

Looking astern at the Calf, Bull and Cow rocks off Dursey Head

Mizen Head

Fastnet Rock Light House - On a good day!

Fastnet looking foreboding

The Navy came to check us out - P23 LE Aisling

Marpa in Action - A mo-cat behaved irratically

Stopped for lunch and to soak up the weather near the Old Head of Kinsale.  Serene conditions.  The reason for the windscreen cover was to keep the boat cool in the heat wave.

Old Head of Kinsale

Cork week is on that week so the place is alive with Yachts. Met two Navy vessels P52 in Kinsale and P23 near Fastnet. Got a text from the God parent of the Skipper of the LE Kiera to say they were monitoring me on Radar! (ie mobile phone call from bridge to Dublin solicitors office and back down to me via text). Jeepers you can't go anywhere in this country without being spotted. :-) Thanks Stephen of the Gerda naval intelligence agency.

Navy - P52 LE Niamh at anchor in Kinsale

Charles Fort in Kinsale

Kinsale YC Marina. Stayed here for two nights on a well serviced YC visitor berth.

Tied up beside a Broom 39 "Bloody Mary" which had travelled all the way from Bristol (12m tidal range in the Severn estuary). Had a chat with the 2 friendly couples on board, both lady's being called 'Mary'. Later had a long chat with a nice chap who had been in the RNLI at the time of the 1979 Fastnet storm, and was called out to the rescue efforts over the few days. He had some stories I can tell you. Also got great 'local intelligence' on places to visit, moor, eat, avoid, anchorages, etc. Kinsale has changed beyond belief since I was last here as a lad on a ketch in 1973 during the August storms. Two Marinas but more restaurants and 'twie' nick nack shops than you can imagine. The sea breeze here offers some welcome respite from the hot sun. No drift nets so far. Had to hose all the salt off the boat last evening, deck too slippy, but it washes off easily.

Kinsale Harbour - YC marina to stbd, Castle Park marina to port (Princess and Fairline agents)

Day 3 - 116nm @ 15kt AET 8h25m
I arrived in Kinsale at 1925 after a 116nm passage I will never forget as long as I live. The Cork/Kerry scenery must be one of the most scenic cruising areas in europe. I was privileged and blessed to have enjoyed it in such weather.