Decided to leave the hide hole that is the RNLI buoy at Larne, very relieved that the lifeboat didnt ask for it back overnight. We were in the middle of the Lough and the boat rocked us all (well, not quite all as our skipper Rick was a disturbed bye the rattles and rolls of the boat apparently!) to sleep.
- Leaving the haven that is Larne and looking at the weather ahead
A free mooring nonetheless – a donation to the RNLI coming up! Lovely hearing the roll on roll off ferries with the lorries clanging their way on and off!
- Larne – a lovely quiet haven – apart from the roll on roll offs!
Anyway, today, we wanted to see how we go -our destination is Raithlin Island, but we will have to see what nature has in store for us!
- Looks alot more inviting out there today than yesterday – no white horses….yet!
Its now 10pm, here we are in Glenarm Marina – not very far from Larne. We poked our nose out and headed north, trying to make it to Rathlin Island, and found a lovely wind – but it was a north westerly which meant we had to tack to make any distance. The wind again blew strong
- Here comes the rain again!
which meant we had to reef in again, and although we are having a lovely time, our progress was very slow. We knew we had to make it to the top of Ireland by midday or else we would have 6 knots of tide against us and we would struggle!
So – we went for “Plan B” and headed for shelter in a lovely little place called Glenarm.
- Our safe haven – Glenarm!
When we hired a car the other day and drove the Causeway Coastal we passed through Glenarm and discounted it as a place to stop for lunch and stopped at nearby Carnlough instead, so it is a bit ironic that we are now spending the night here.
We had another lovely Irish welcome as the harbour master took our line for us – he was busy nearby repairing the electric box at the end of a pontoon which a boat had recently knocked over, this gave me some reassurance that Im not the only one who is scared of bringing boats in!
What a lovely little marina, it only costs £22 a night, and the shower block is brand new, and – the washing mating and dryer are free! Wow – my bedding is currently in the washer having a nice free spring clean.
The harbour master not only offers free laundry facilities, but he also took Chris and John to Carnlough in his car to shop, and on the way back he decided to take a detour to show them the view from the hill – except John didn’t hear him say he was doing that and he wondered why he was bypassing the turn to the marina and continued up the hill – a vicar napping in the offing!
Safely back in time for John to cook, with a little help from Chris – risotto! It was scrummy – thanks John (and Chris!)
Once more we find ourselves supporting the local economy – another pint of Guinness!
- Another safe haven
An early night as we are going to try once more to reach the top of Ireland Goodnight!
