After much planning and deliberation about what time to leave to get the best tides we set off from Fowey at 0600. We arrived at the Lizard just as the westward tide started and carried this right the way to Lands End to catch the north going tide for another 6 hours. The tide was against us in the slack bit and then another huge boost from the tide had us surging past the Smalls and Tuscar Rock. We were about to make the fastest trip to Dunlaoghaire so far, until the wind shifted and the final 12 hours were a beat in a typical Irish Sea gale. Still arrived in Dunlaoghaire in time for an afternoon ashore in Dublin and a meal out.
Another huge boost from the tide gave us a fast trip up the Irish Sea to Campbeltown where we managed a trip to the distillery. Yet another boost from the tide took us all the way from the Mull of Kintyre, into the sound of Islay and out the other end to Loch Tarbert before it turned.
In all we gained 38 miles of help from the tide. Great sunrises and sunsets added to the enjoyment as well as being accompanied by Dolphins. In the north channel we were shadowed (radar target with no lights) for 4 hours, was it a submarine! We’ll never know.
Ready for Norway now, the sun is shining and the wind is forecast to be with us for the first few days. Great, now to work out the tide for the Kyles!
