Hauling Aleria in Kilrush

- October 15, 2019

We chose Kilrush this year for two reasons: 1) it is close to Shannon Airport and 2) the operation there has become first-class under owner Louis Keating and manager Simon McGibney. It's also reasonably accessible for us by sea in a three-stop hop from Clew Bay. Being close to the airport was important as we have offered Aleria for sale. It's only a 2.5-hour drive for us now with the motorway open and that means we can drive down to show her fairly easily. The OCC discount didn't hurt either.

We had a raucous delivery down the coast which I wrote about in a separate entry. Then we kept rescheduling the haulout because the weather conditions were unpredictable and pretty awful -- gale-force winds day after day and changeable forecast hour by hour. Pouring rain and lashing storms. Finally, we had one day -- one day -- when the wind would be less than 20 knots, Simon's cut off for hauling Aleria. We arrived in Kilrush around 11 am and started the final offloading of the remaining gear. There was more than we expected. Around 1300h, Simon and Darren arrived to assist us to the haulout bay, but we weren't yet ready. We asked for 30 minutes.

Shortly after they left, the wind blew up to more than 20 knots in a passing squall. They came back more than an hour later when the conditions were sunny and breezy but okay.

We had to go in reverse with backstay removed to accommodate the boat in the TravelHoist. We explained that we can't reverse with any accuracy since the new prop doesn't have prop walk. We can go in reverse but only in a straight line with the long keel. They'd have to give us a nudge. So Simon came aboard to help handle lines and adjust fenders, while Darren took a bowline to try to align Aleria with the bay. It took a while but we managed.

Finally, they lifted her out and drove her to her space by the shed. They had a new cradle for us and it was 'some assembly required'. Alex and I pitched in, but it still took a couple of hours to get her set. At 1630h, Simon sent everyone home and said he'd take care of the final propping up and remove the slings on Monday.

Alex put the For Sale sign on and closed up. Then we drove home through many showers and many rainbows. The window of opportunity had shut. But she was in a safe place with people who would keep a close watch.

The next day, Toby and crew were arriving to pick up Truant which had spent the intervening time on our mooring quite comfortably. But that's another story entirely.

We woke up to dense fog. Oh well.