Valentia Harbour Entrance

 

The next day was fine, dry and clear and we headed out to the Blasket’s once again. We were travelling at about 6 knots downwind when a squall hit us and we had to reef in the foresail and put a reef in the main.  That was a lot better, but it would have been uncomfortable to the Blaskets that way and so we headed straight back to Dingle– arriving at 3 o’clock. Just another little trip before the boat goes over to the yard to be taken out of the water for three months.

                                                                                  PART TWO

We had a cracking sail on November 20^th to more or less round off the season for this year.  (Though there’s still the boat to sail over to Valentia for the lay-up.)  We set off good and early in the sunshine and had a new member of crew with us called Kilian from Tralee College. He comes from Youghal and was really remarkably good. As usual, we had the trusty Breda with us as well – but she had hurt her back.. 

           As soon as we were out of the harbour the wind was pretty strong and we had to put a reef in the main and roll in some jib.  We were doing 6 knots at times and fairly thumping along on a fine reach with a heavy and lumpy sea.  Some of the big Spanish fishing boats that had unloaded their catches and refueled overnight passed us slowly on both bows.  All their crews were getting shuteye as they went out to the fishing grounds 30 miles off the Blaskets, leaving only the mate or skipper steering the boat.

           At the end of the peninsula we were about to go into the Blasket Sound when there was a loud “crack” and we realized we had split our mainsail.  We undid the sail and put in another reef – luckily the split in the sail was on a cringle and so we could reef it below.  But it made us decide to turn back.  So, we were back in by 2 o’clock after an invigorating, if a little expensive, sail.