CRUISING
The long way round
In search of adventure, Doug Farmer decided to return Iridescence, his
Jeanneau 42.2, from Troon in Scotland to Brixham in Devon, via the West
Coast of Ireland. As he explains here, Ireland more than lived up to his expectations.
W
hen I suggested to just staring at them, cross I think the locals tend to move and the good weather window.
my brother Fred referencing possible moorings them out of the prime spots Apparently a lot of people start
that we return to the excellent pilot and of where they prefer to have their later in the year and although
Iridescence, my Jeanneau course the inevitable Reeds’ own fishing boat moorings it tends to be warmer they
42.2, from Troon in Scotland Almanac. Google earth was (rather than vacant visitors experience more storms and
to Brixham in Devon via also useful as was the web buoys) so they’re not always shorter days.
the West Coast of Ireland where I discovered A result of the
my mind set was of big seas that Bord Failte, the planning was the
and adventure. These we got Department of the realisation that we
in abundance together with Marine and Coastal didn’t need a detailed
a plethora of memories of County Councils, had plan since there were
stunning vistas, some real placed visitors mooring many possible ports/
characters, an almost total buoys at 38 locations moorings at regular
dearth of fellow yachties all around the West intervals (apart from
and some pretty mundane and South coasts. the 60+ nautical
challenges like where to Interestingly, although mile stretch from the
dispose of the rubbish or find mentioned in Sailing Aran Islands to the
a local pub or shop. Directions they are not Shannon), so detailed
Having made the suggestion listed, but once on the trip exactly where advertised. mooring/port selection could
we very soon became we often noticed them on the We’d budgeted 4 weeks be left to the cruise when we’d
committed by buying the charts or mentioned in Reeds. for the trip which was to have a clearer idea of weather
pilot (Sailing Directions, Irish A complete listing can be commence on Saturday 24th conditions (and crew thirst).
Cruising Club) and borrowing found on the Sailing Holidays May 2008. A lovely lady We also elected to skip the
the passage charts. Planning in Ireland website (www. in Lawrence Cove Marina cities (which can be easily
consisted of laying the charts
sailingireland.com/moor2. later told us that this was an visited by land) and stick to
out on the sitting room floor htm). The listing was usually ideal start time because it small fishing villages and
and spending many idle hours accurate although in Donegal maximised both daylight hours romantic offshore islands.
84 Sailing Today September 2009
ST149
Ireland_RTG.indd 102 17/7/09 14:46:55
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