The night was rocky roly. Having said that, it wasn’t awful and did improve overnight. In fact when we woke in the early morning the sea looked really flat despite the swell. The wind had changed into the west so unlike last night it was blowing in an offshore direction. The sun was shining out of a cloudless sky. Enjoying a lazy morning cuppa, I heard a conversation going on which wasn’t with anyone on the boat! Out of the cabin window, there was a swimmer who had swim out to see us! And was literally passing the time of day whilst treading water in the middle of the sea! Afterwards I felt very guilty that we hadn’t invited him on board for breakfast! Once we had breakfasted, we upped the anchor and continued our progress north. The wind was fickle and kept coming and going. In and out went the headsail. On and off went the engine. One of those sailing days which are frustrating, but it was sunny and the coastline was really pretty. A patchwork of fields and woods, descending to beaches and shoreline. Eventually we arrived at The entrance to Arklow. It is a river with a pontoon on the northern bank, for visitors. Boats of our draught have to moor up the seaward side of the first gangway. I had phoned ahead and the HM said there was room on the pontoon…. which there was! We moored up ahead of a Halberg Rassey, where there was plenty of room. We’d reckoned getting in in the middle of the day would be a good time and that proved correct. The friendly HM came round, took our dues and explained where everything was. The biggest boon was the Aldi, literally 300m away, and the laundry machines at no extra cost. We all went to do An Aldi shop and then I left them ( Julian and Stan) to find a Guinness.. which they failed to do! We ate on board … thanks for the delicious pasta Stan!
What I learned today…..Gypsy moth 3rd …… the boat owned by Francis Chichester, was built and launched in Arklow. In 1960 he won the first Transatlantic yacht race in her. Later he became the first solo, British circumnavigation of the world in 1966/7. In Gypsy Moth 4.
Our swimming visitor 
The facilities… 
But inside! 
And free laundry 
19 Arch bridge 
Pictured.. Gypsy moth 3 
Arklow
Angelique 