21st June – Wicklow to Howth

            

First a couple of thank yous. The Grand Hotel in Wicklow provided rooms and comfortable beds…..even baths for all 7 of us! Thanks so much for your help and generosity, even when we arrived at 3.30am one ‘night’.

Secondly thank you to Lorraine and all the staff at St. Columcilles for their care, coffee and sandwiches. You made a long night much more bearable for Jo, Paul and Toby as well as myself. Everything seems to be working, so you obviously did a great job.

The send off from Wicklow, even at 2am, was fantastic. The life boat mustered and I wore their hat, which stays on better than any other, so thanks. The harbour master, and various members of the public were out to see us off. The Commodore of the sailing club, who runs South East sailing, sailed part of the way with us (or mostly motored as there wasn’t much wind). He had two students aboard one doing their ‘competent crew’ and the other their day skipper exams. I hope you passed, you deserve to if only for being up at that time in the morning!

There was very little wind, and it came from the Northwest as opposed to the Westerly we were expecting. This meant that we were pointing into the wind the whole way. After a slow start the wind picked up a little so that, by the end, it was around a force 2. It meant that we arrived on time to a reception committee consisting of the Commodore of Howth yacht club amongst others. Considering their annual regatta had only concluded a few hours earlier they were remarkably bright and cheerful. I was presented with the club bargee, which I will fly on my trip to Carlingford Lough. They have made us feel very much at home. Huge thanks go to Mark, the general manager, and the committee for letting us take up their waterfront space. Richard from the Lions was also there and disappeared off to buy us breakfast, which was hugely appreciated. He even showed Toby around his boat and has continued to pop in and bring us food parcels.