Ardglass to Carlingford Lough, Eire - Day 39

Ardglass to Carlingford Lough - Tuesday 14th June 2011 - Day 39

For my last day in Northern Ireland, I went ashore to the Tide Water Cafe just outside the marina for the famous large Ulster Fry Breakfast and I was not disappointment, this certainly set me up for the rest of the day.  At Milligan's just around the corner filled up my fuel containers with red diesel at 76p/litre the cheapes so far on the trip.

 We left Ardglass at 11.30 and set full sail and an hour later were passing the St.John's Point Light House a 37 mtr structure painted with yellow and black horizontal stripes like a bee.  It stood out magnificently with the background of the Mourne Mountains.  This guards the entrance into Dundrum Bay inwhich is situated the namesake of my home town, Newcastle, which we passed 7 miles off-shore.  On the VHF radio, at 14.00 Dublin coastguard were giving out a Mayday relay for swimmers in difficulty 60 miles to the south of us.  Helicopter was despatched and within 1/2 hour the rescue was over.

At the same time, we were passing the coastal town of Annalong which from our vantage point looked very picturesque with the mountins behind.  We arrived at the safe water mark buoy at the entrance to Carlingford Lough a little early and had to wait for the tide to takes us in.  I tried to call the marina but was having no luck, so I told Jack, I will call the local pilot.  He was taken aback, as Mike Cunningham answered and said he would do all he could to help. I sail quite often with Mike, who is Chief Officer on the Tallship Stavros S. Niarchos.

By 17.00 the conditions were right and we made our approach into the Lough which is an enjoyable run in a very well marked channel, used of course for commercial shipping.  The very narrow entrance into the marina was the most challenging so far with a strong cross tide and we were safely tied up for 18.30 in Eire.  Mike who lives on the other side of the Lough arrived in his own moror boat at 21.00 and took us to the small drying out harbour of Carlingford.  First into Taffee's Bar then onto the Carlingford Arms and to my surprise were served by a Geordie barman (we get everywhere).  The night past very quickly it was grand to see Mike again in his own neck of the woods and we were made most welcome.  The motor boat ride back to the marina with searchlight picking our way past the moorings was another adventure, which perfectly ended the day.