Delivery to Aleria's winter berth

- October 14, 2022

A weather window of sorts finally appeared this week to bring Aleria down to the Shannon from Clew Bay for her winter rest in Kilrush. Monday we'd have moderate northwesterlies, Tuesday we'd have moderate south-westerlies, increasing to fresh later in the day, and Wednesday we'd have little wind facilitating motoring up the Shannon. Moreover, the tides were favourable at both ends and the currents would carry us in the right direction most of the time.

We departed from our mooring shortly after 0900h and sailed briskly out of Clew Bay. As we approached Clare Island we saw that the weather forecast for Tuesday was deteriorating, with strong SW-lies now being forecast, building steadily through the afternoon and gusting to 40 knots or more around 11-12pm before calming way down. As we were heading SW, we'd have a very bumpy ride at best. Instead, we decided to forego the scheduled stop at Inishbofin and continue straight through to Inishmore where we'd have good protection from the S and W.

The NW-ly wind gave us a pretty good ride most of the way, though the seas were quite confused near Inishbofin and around High Island, before settling into a big but gentle swell. We reached Inishmore just after dark and managed to snag a mooring. Alex secured two ropes through the mooring eye and we settled in for the night. In the morning, a light drizzle developed. The meteorological situation was that a low pressure sat above us and a high-pressure ridge was wedged between it and another low to our south. Our pressure was registering 30.1 and it barely budged, but the wind just steadily built throughout the day, reaching a crescendo at midnight. We kept anchor watch until then, and as it started to ease, had a nightcap and went to bed.

Around 1am, the wind stopped completely so suddenly that it woke me up. I had cramps in my feet at regular intervals throughout the night, forcing me to get up and walk the cramps out periodically. All remained well aboard.

On Wednesday, we rose promptly had a quick breakfast and were underway for a long day of motor sailing. The wind was variable in strength from the West, and the swell came from the South but moderated as the day progressed. We reached the Shannon at about 2:30 pm and followed the incoming tide, arriving in Kilrush at 4 pm ahead of schedule.

The lock operated smoothly, and we brought Aleria into the bay for lift-out the following morning. I was at the helm both into the lock and into the pontoon, and all went well. Alex and I were able to remove and flake the sails in calm conditions, thank goodness. We then got the guys to help us spring Aleria into the reverse position for the morning lift.

We had dinner at the pub in the middle of town, as Crotty's was not serving, and went early to bed. We were both shattered. In the morning, the lift out went smoothly. We put her to bed and caught the 1345 bus to Ennis. The Galway bus was just departing so we caught that luckily, then on to Castlebar and a taxi from C-bar home. It was exhausting altogether. Today we are off again to an ICC meeting.

I need a vacation.

(Photos uploaded in reverse order. Sigh...)