The wind held all the way
past McGregor Point and even increased a bit as we
sailed close-hauled on port for the end of Badgeley
Point where we planned to cut through the “Hole in the
Wall” (see chart above) between the Point and
Creak Is. This would be our 2nd "Hole" after the “Hole
in the Wall” near Killbear Park.
.....
.....
We made it through the
narrow, shallow part (above) with only three
strokes of the paddle. As anticipated, the wind inside
Lansdown Channel was backed to ESE and we spent the next
three hours doing long starboard and short port
tacks. We got occasional rain but the wind held,
and by 1500 hrs we were within sight of Killarney.
Since the fresh breeze
seemed to have cured our earlier malaise, we were
totally ready for the challenge of short-tacking into
the current and the heavy traffic of the channel into
Killarney. Even Doug’s tender ankle did not prevent us
from doing a dozen or two neat roll tacks (although we
did make one sixty-foot yacht a bit nervous. He
suddenly hit full power so that we wouldn’t run him
down!)
At two minutes to four,
we made our landfall under rather threatening skies.
While Doug rushed off to get the van and trailer from
the municipal lot, Uncle Al quickly dumped all the
gear onto the dock. A man with three youngsters came
up to tell me he’d gotten some shots of us beating up
the harbour (if you’ll pardon the expression!)
Just as Doug returned
with the van and smokes, the rain began in earnest,
but with the help of the photographer and the kids, we
got everything stashed in time. Now we could relax -
starting with another much anticipated trip to Mr.
Perch. Yes indeed, they were still the world’s
greatest Fish and Chips...
By the time I had waited
for our “lunch”, Doug came in to report that several
impressed boaters had come to ask him: “Was that you
who was tacking up the Channel just now?”
The drive back to
Huntsville was done at a safe speed, especially while
Al was learning how to drive Doug’s van so that the
latter could get a bit of rest after his tough night.
We finally arrived shortly after 2100 hrs and Julia
very kindly proceeded to feed us a late dinner once
she, David and Joanna had gotten over the shock of
seeing the weary travellers in eight days’ worth of
beards.
Are we going again? Of
course! Doug and family likely next year but Doug and
Al for sure in ‘99 (In ‘98 it’ll be the International
Wayfarer Rally and Wayfarer Worlds X in Denmark for
Uncle Al!)
P.S. This started out as
a serious cruise log but somewhere along the way, I
think it has become something more personal - a
reminder to Doug and me of eight glorious days and the
absolutely magnificent time we had. A thousand thanks
to any of you who contributed to that in any way - and
most especially to the Cantwells and to our lovable
cruise organizer, Tim France!
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