Two week navigation cruise 1994.

Having waited at the end of the phone since Thursday evening 19th May for the wind to change from the S.E. Martin O'Neill and I drove to Cork on Sunday afternoon and met Brian Smith of blue water Training on whose Carter 33 "Ariadne" we were going sailing. Two corkonians, Billy "(Boom, Boom)" and Kevin "That’s The Business" arrived with no less luggage than I. It was Monday at 13.30hrs that we cast off from the Marina in Crosshaven and headed into the Irish Sea with the wind on the nose and the diesel engine thumping away en route to the Scilly Isles. The only things we saw besides sea birds were three sightings of lone basking sharks, a school of dolphins and the ever present fishing boats. At 19.40hrs, Tuesday we spotted Round Island lighthouse and Billy, who was Navigator on this leg and I, as Skipper and therefore on the tiller, got into gear for our fist landfall. How terrifyingly confusing it is at dusk to identify which island is in the foreground and which the background, your chart does not give you a skyline. At 23.00hrs we were gently rocking at anchor in the inner harbour. I woke at 5am to a turbulent motion and at the same time heard some of the crew on deck and the engine starting. We had dragged the anchor on the sandy bottom and been sucked out with the tide but were lucky to have cleared other boats. Added a second anchor which did the job, went alongside for water, fuel, shower and shopping. Harbour master had worked in Arklow for 8 months and visited all the lifeboat stations in Ireland. Town damp and wind, population elderly - no children and saw one dog! We were introduced to cornish pasties which are substantial and tasty. Eager to be on our way we headed off next day under sail for Falmouth. Here the facilities for yachts persons are excellent, with Bar, Restaurant, Launderette, Insurance, Chandlers, Everything built round private berths but recession had hit and any old one could have a berth. Enormous motor sailor tied up the full width of the marina without moving for two years. The town very arty crafty with many "Rough" types in bars. Narrow very steep alleyways running down to the waters edge. Excellent fish and chip shop where we had dinner.

We are eager to be on the move again and head for Plymouth. Discovered how easily you can make what you see on shore fit what you want it to match on your chart. There are so many towers between Falmouth and Plymouth we were quite confused at times. Plymouth is a very easy harbour to navigate. Tied up in Sutton harbour marina which has good facilities. We soon realised from the pop and jazz music blaring that this was the English long weekend. Had one terrible drink sitting on steps on the opposite side of the street from a pub and gave up and went back to the boat for a night-cap. The following day we split up and Brian , Kevin and I went up Plymouth town where there was a vintage car and bus rally on. Plymouth is very much a Naval town but with very few old buildings due to the severe bombing during the second world war. Martin, Billy, Kevin and I were eager to get a real sail so headed for the Channel Isles. Martin had done a navigation exercise to the Isles and was eager to test his calculations. Billy was in his element at the helm and the rest of us were happy to be reaching in a force 4, if icy cold easterly wind. Approaching our E.T.A. Billy announced he had Jersey radio beacon on the RDF but 60 degrees west of our southerly track. A puzzled Martin agreed to alter our course by 30 degrees. Two hours later we realised Billy has got it wrong and we had now missed Jersey and to reach there we would have to beat against wind and strong 4 knots of tide so turned around and headed back towards Plymouth. Lots of naval ships and submarine activity during the night but dawn saw Eddistone light house on port and the sky cleared to promise a warm and sunny day. Nobody wanted to go back to the marina so we sailed into the Yealm river creek on the east of Mawes Island. It was just like Glandore with trees on either hilly side and houses and cottages overlooking the river. Tied up to a gloating pontoon and broke out the shorts and T-shirts. this is what we came for, we found the Dolphin pub with an "interesting" "Gents". Tucked into great steaks. This establishment must be the only occupied building in Great Britain and Ireland where you cannot get Tea! Coffees and pints all round. Next morning noticed barometer dropping and forecast for wind to go south and then west so decided to start going west while the tide was slack. Kept going west to Lizzard and Seven Stones light. Gauged we would make good speed under sail so kept going though forecast for wind to rise. We were sailing along at a spanking pace and were well into the Irish Sea when we got a force 9 - 10 westerly storm warning 350 miles west of Shannon. The sea started to rise as did the wind. We shortened sail to two reefs and rolled in half the jib. Before we knew it we were in the middle of the storm and seas of 40-50 feet were trying to knock us down or pitch pole us, with Brian on the helm and martin playing the main and me on wave watch we saw the loom of the Gas rigs 3.5 hrs ahead of time. The sight of Mine head light was relief but it still took us hours to get the sails down and motor into a very welcome Ballycotton in the early hours of Friday morning. We were a very weary, chastened crew who dragged ourselves to the beautifully rebuilt Bay View Hotel for "showers, shaves and should feel better" before a very tasty fish lunch and glorious sleep.

Though we got more than we bargained for and made mistakes, we all agree that we learned an awful lot more that we would have if the wind had been force 3 on the quarter all the way. it would all have been perfect if only the wind............