Broad Haven to Blacksod Bay

Today we need to get round Erris Head which is one of the more challenging headlands on the West Coast of Ireland. However slack water was at noon and we thought that would be the best time to get round it, so we hauled up the  anchor just after the 10:03 repetition of the weather. Before leaving I told the coast guard about our plans as usual and also asked then about whether we could have a bridge list through Achil Sound. They found out for us, but the council now wants 2 days notice before a bridge lift and you have to plan to go through at high water, so it all seemed a bit hard.

Fishing boats off Erris Head

We got the sails up before leaving Broad Haven Bay and turned the engine off after turning onto our course for Erris Head and had a lovely sail. Three of the Ballyglass fishing boats were anchored amongst the rocks at the headland. We passed them bang on noon, and there were no overfalls anywhere to be seen. The plan had worked.

Running through Eagle Sound

Once clear of Erris Head we turned Robinetta onto her new course, which meant we were on a run, and made slow but steady progress at 2-3 knots. We passed inside Cross Rock and Eagle Rock, something the pilot book advises is only possible in calm weather. We gybed down the coast inside the islands, which provided good shelter from the Atlantic swell. Once past Inishkea South we turned onto a beam reach and picked up the leading line beacons behind us to get through Duvillaun Sound.

With the wind on the beam our speed rocketed up to 4.5 to 5 knots and we passed through the narrow gap with never less than 9m beneath the keel. Julian looked behind all the time to keep the beacons in line. The only worrying but was a crab pot line that ran was out, over 20m from its buoy. By the time we saw it there was no way to avoid it and we ran right over it; luckily it did not catch on anything.

Once clear of the Islands we sailed on into Blacksod bay ever more conscious of the wind strength as we hardened up to sail closer to it. I wanted a reef within 10 minutes, but Robinetta sailed beautifully. It felt great to be slicing through the water after lolloping along all day. After a few minutes I handed the helm over to Julian so be could enjoy it too. He decided on a second reef and we furled the jib.
Our chosen anchorage at Blacksod Pier required us to head straight into the wind, so after a whole day's sailing and over 30 miles we finally put the engine on and dropped the main.

The day suddenly became a lot less fun. There was a short chop in the bay that slowed Robinetta down and made her plunge about. The anchorage north of Blacksod pier looked uncomfortably exposed to the north and had no shelter from the chop. We could see moored boats bouncing around.

We decided to go for an anchorage more protected from North Easterlies and sheltered from the chop. Ellie Harbour, 3 miles north seemed ideal, but it was an uncomfortable hour under motor before we reached it. Anchoring as instructed in the middle of the bay seemed miles out; the wind still blew but we were snug and secure with no swell. It was a bit chilly on deck but warm and comfortable down below. I did the deck work while Julian cooked; definitely a good distribution of labour.