And here we are in Bangor marina outside Belfast

Followed by a day trip to Belfast, with a little maritime history.

While there is no Titanic hereabouts there is the Titanic’s handmaiden – the Nomadic. Her job was to ferry the passengers to and from the Titanic and Olympic liners which could not get into Cherbourg harbour.

But much more interesting is this Ship Caisson used to seal off the dry dock.

This ‘boat’ is floated into position at the entrance to the dock after the main ship has entered. Next the ship caisson is flooded with water so that it sinks down with its keel and extended flanges fitting into the grooves in the lock entrance. This snug fitting boat / submarine now completely blocks the entrance of the dry dock so the the water can be pumped out leaving the main ship high and dry and ready to be worked on. But remember to keep it well supported Leith dry dock

Further upstream is the presently small (but in the future large) Belfast marina and obligatory new waterside dwellings etc. With some interesting ships to look at.

Back in Bangor

It’s a narrow, buoyed way in to Ardglass marina

Which opens out to enclose the marina pontoons

Instead, we shopped at Milligans – an independent, well stocked supermarket a short walk up from the front. Remember independent supermarkets in the UK?

Welcome to Arklow. Nice marina showers!!! (best not to count the days) And the kind manager gave us lift to the petrol station for more diesel (something you should know about relocating a sailing yacht over Easter). Here we are alongside the easy-to-access river pontoons – looked a bit tight in the marina basin. Large shopping centre close by on this side of the river. Town centre and harbour access via the road bridge.

And, just when you think you’ve seen everything, a motorised pontoon! They claimed they were recreating the Kon-Tiki expedition!

It is a rather ingenious contraption, or raft, built like a square doughnut with an outboard for manoeuvring and with a central hoist for lifting moorings. This was not an easy process yet a fine way to use up most of a day.

After a day provisioning we are off to Dún Laoghaire and much larger marina set up

Some motor-sailing from a to b.

Tuskar Rock lighthouse

A wonderful welcome from the folks in Rosslare after we first peered into Wexford Harbour and hastily changed our minds.

We anchored off Rosslare by the three public mooring buoys. Just look at the ‘warm’ setting sun, it could be the riviera, really😉

And so, for the pièce de résistance we found our way to Kelly’s Hotel (who kindly let us in despite our oilskins and boots) and served up our first:

Followed by

and to finish

Never too old to learn; it had all looked so easy as we motored in, hurriedly tied up the dinghy and walked off to see the sights!

Portishead sea lock is the somewhat daunting exit and entry point for yachts using Portishead Marina. Fortunately there is a floating pontoon inside the lock to make tying up and managing your ropes a whole lot easier. You are strictly monitored and controlled by the lock keeper far above!

As you can see this is a pretty deep lock, needed to deal with the second largest tidal range in the world at 13 to 15 metres.

Next, to lift the boats up to the level of the marina, just add water …

The first night after leaving Portishead we anchored in Oxwich Bay- no pics. Then onwards to Dale, Pembrokeshire, Wales where we called ahead and tied up to Dale Yacht Club’s anchored pontoon a little off-shore.

Then a quick motor ashore to meet up with others who took the plunge to retire early! Thank you for driving round S & D!

Nothing available at the yacht club this early in the season so we had to make do locally:

There is an interesting (for me) Welsh – Shona pun hidden away in there as beer in Welsh is Cwrw (said as Koo Ru) and Kuru is the short form of Sekuru (grandfather) in Shona. So if you have a Welsh grandfather, nicknamed Kuru, who likes beer… Be thankful you are not in my head!

Follow this link or click any of the pictures: Memories of Honde Valley, Wamba tea estate and Aberfoyle Lodge