Sunday 25 July 2010

Shore leave

The economy in Caherciveen had a substantial boost from the crew of Sidewinder and the associated shoreparty. Laundry, diesel, provisioning, lunch, showers, dinner, and the occasional pint of Guinness all left the town considerably richer.

For anyone passing through Cahirciveen and looking for good food, Kate and Andrew Cooke's seafood restaurant "QC's" can be enthusiastically recommended.

We did have one minor mishap on Friday evening when we returned to the Marina to find we had been given a key for the showers rather than for the pontoon access. Just as well at least one member of the party was well practised in climbing fences (a mis-spent youth).

Sunday morning departure for the Blaskets was leisurely thanks to the tide times. However the river mist quickly became dense sea fog and we found ourselves navigating through the Blasket Sound without being able to see either the island or the mainland. The carefully plotted course on the chartplotter saw us through, but the combination of a tense lookout for other boats and some very nastily confused seas made it a far from relaxing day.

We made it to Smerwick Harbour and anchored near a little slip where the dedicated shore crew were waiting again. This time we were whisked off for something to eat before returning to move Sidewinder to a more sheltered anchorage off Ballydavid.

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