Kilrush to Smerwick Bay

Kilrish Marina from the lock

We spent a very pleasant evening in Kilrush, having managed to find a pub, The Haven Bar, whose chef was happy to cook an order put in at 20:50. Thank you!
After a good night's sleep we headed to the fuel dock and filled both both tanks and both cans, which took 41.5 litres. That meant Robinetta had had about 23 litres left in the tank, much more than I calculated! I shall continue to use 1 hour motoring = 1 litre used though, as it gives a decent safety margin.

We locked out at 09:30, together with the ferry to Scattery Island, and headed back along our previous track out of the Shannon. It was this necessary retracing of our steps that had made me think Fenit a better choice of stop over, but I am glad we went to Kilrush. The marina staff are friendly and helpful, and the town is a very short walk away. Having a schedule for the lock is useful (although they will also open on request) as it allows planning, and the lock is well set out with a pontoon for mooring to on entering the lock. They even have a fuel dock you can operate yourself with a credit card, like a modern garage forecourt, while simplifies fuelling tremendously.

Scattery Island

We did not bother to raise the main sail as the morning was totally calm, with a grey overcast that hid most of the details of the coast line. Not a great start to a 43 mile passage. Then we noticed how fast we were going. The tidal gate off Kilcredaun Head is also a tidal express. We touched 8.2 knots over the ground as we passed it under engine, and the strong tide continued to take us at well over 7 knots for about four miles down the estuary, a very useful speed boost. We kept the tide under us until Kerry Head, when it turned against us, but by then we were well away from the coast, where the tide had less effect.

By noon the sun had burnt through the haze and there was enough wind to be worth raising the sails, but the engine stayed on and the main was sheeted right in, with the jib only just drawing. It was almost a perfect South Westerly, the prevailing wind on this coast line, and one we had been very happy not to see before on our trip! It was only force 2 though, so did not raise enough waves on top of the swell to be a problem.

Julian decided to head closer to the cliffs west of Brandon Point so we could admire them, but the clouds came back to cover the sun and the waves got a little larger. It was nearly 3pm, just about the time the wind had been getting up on previous days, so we changed from the no1 jib to the number 2, just in case the same happened again. As it turned out the wind stayed light, and the engine only went off for quarter of an hour while we tacked away from the cliffs.

We closed with the cliffs as we neared the entrance to Smerwick Harbour, which is a wide bay with a rocky outcrop called Duncapple Island in the entrance. The wind died totally, leaving nothing but a very gentle Atlantic swell which rolled beneath us imperceptibly, so we got the main sail down  then headed in past the island.

Approaching Smerwick Bay

We motored half way round the bay, admiring the scenery, before anchoring just off the beach in 4m of water so clear I could see down to the sand  beneath. I love these clear water bays! The pilot book warns that Smerwick Harbour is subject to swell, but it feels very gentle at the moment.

Ballydavid, Smerwick Harbour