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| Aleria in Kilrush |
We launched Aleria mid-May but several things delayed bringing her home.
For one, we had her brightwork redone and to do so they removed all the hardware but failed to reinstall it. So when we tried to install the spray hood, we realised there were no fittings. We had to acquire and install a new rail which, fortunately, our sail maker in Galway had enough of in stock to supply us. The snaps are still missing.
Then we had an engine problem. It kept stalling and we couldn't find the spare Racor filters. So we had to order new ones, treat the fuel with diesel bug killer, and then polish the fuel which took a couple more days. It worked!
Finally, we were ready to depart from Kilrush. We arrived Saturday, the first day without gale-force winds. It was hot. Never mind that the airflow was going to be northerly for several days which would see us either motoring north or bashing into headwinds, we were taking off. Check and check. I provisioned while Alex installed the dodger and got the boat ready to sail.
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| Scattery Island in the Shannon River |
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| Setting sun over the Shannon |
High tide was at 5:30 pm. That was when we had to leave. Simon had let the water out of the harbour to get rid of the brown sediment that had washed out of the river with the heavy rains they had had, so the water was too low for us to leave. But he opened the locks at about 4 pm and left them open for us to slide through. We motored the short distance to Carrigaholt and anchored in view of the castle for the night. It was going to be a light northerly breeze overnight so this was perfect.
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| Anchored in Carrigaholt |
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| Strange cloud bank |
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| Carrigaholt Castle |
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| Lighthouse at Carrigaholt |
Sunday, we arose to sunshine and light northerlies as expected. Heading down the Shannon around Loop Head proved easy and the current stayed with us as we headed toward Inishbofin. We set sail and were doing about 7.5 knots up the coast in moderate seas. We had planned to pass by the Aran Islands as we had a full day and a good angle to the NE wind. By mid-afternoon, however, the wind picked up and shifted to the North. We decided to seek shelter in Clifden instead, but eventually diverted to Roundstone as rounding Slyne Head seemed uncomfortable. We had not been to Roundstone in many years and found it very beautiful. Big open anchorage with a backdrop of the 12 Bens. It was a comfortable night at anchor.
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| Beautiful Connemara |
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| Skipper Alex |
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| The coast of Clare |
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Approaching Slyne Head
Rounding Slyne Head
From Roundstone, we sailed out to Slyne Head and then motored to Bofin under cloudy skies and northerly winds with the occasional sunny spell. Dolphins were jumping high in the air but no basking sharks were spotted. There was a British boat anchored in Bofin without a courtesy flag. It was flying an RCC burgee. We are not happy with Brits sailing in Ireland without the respect to fly an Irish flag. They would be incensed if we did that in their waters. How disrespectful and discourteous of them. Apparently, there is an RCC meet up in Scotland to which members are heading. They will hear about their digressions up there.
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A second British boat came in just before sunset and they were properly dressed. That we delight in.
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| The Holy Mountain, Croagh Patrick, in the distance |
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| Had to avoid this guy on a collision course with us |
Our final leg was again in a northwesterly airflow from Bofin to Clew Bay and we managed to sail the entire way through Middle Earth, as I like to call it. Past the familiar grounds of Killary, Inishturk, Cahir, and Clare Island. We had to slow ourselves down as we had to wait for half tide to head into our mooring at 4 pm. Alex hove to for lunch and we reduced sail to slow even more.
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| Our hove to track |
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| A bit nippy for the last day of May |
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| Grey with a touch of blue |
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 | | The inner bay |
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| Inishoo hardly discernible anymore |
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