Day 11/12 Around Ireland Cicumnavigation

Barry managed to get a bowl of porridge down but still felt sick. The West Cork Hotel would give us a significantly reduced cost second night so we chose to stay! Following morning we all met at breakfast and had delicious eggy bread with Maple syrup, bananas and roasted almonds. Barry was also looking much better! Jim picked us up and dropped us back at our boats and soon we were off again with Barry leading and setting a fair old pace!! The flood tide had begun and could be felt at the headland off of Toe Head, the wind was blowing offshore with a few strong gusts. At 1pm we took a lunch break and shortly after found a camp spot, super small but grassy and flat. 12nm and 4 hours on the water.

Is it a boat, is it SOT, is it a kayak...? NO its a bath!!!

And a fantastic one too courtesy of the West Cork Hotel

Sonja

www.coastalspirit.com

Day 3 Ireland

Woke to a sore back and on closer inspection I realised it was bruised! Probably due to the extra rotation I was throwing in! I decided to cut the waist band of my fleece trousers which I thought was the likely culprit! It worked! Fun and games continued though with me further snapping a tent pole as I shook the sand out of it whilst breaking camp! Fortunately had a repair sleeve so could fix it straight away! Lovely bright morning with the day bringing much better weather and lighter winds than forecast. About 25 nautical miles covered today.

Sonja
www.coastalspirit.com

Coastal Spirit Rapid Development Expedition Skye Day 4

32km today, through one of our cruxes and across silky seas with winds less than expected across to Waternish Point. Camping tonight on a lovely island.

Sonja
www.coastalspirit.com

Crossing the English Channel ... hopefully on Thursday!!

First of all BIG thanks to Barry Shaw and Phil Clegg for working for me on Sunday, as earlier in the week Monday looked possible to cross to France, but our unsettled British weather changed that ... but the additional time has been useful in completing those never ending small tasks ...


Today we drove to Rye Harbour on the South coast and spoke with Will, the safety boat driver (a legal requirement with it being the busiest shipping lane in the world, so it makes very good sense!) We discussed thoughts and plans ... he suggested Dungness as it keeps us away from the ferry's and allows us to use some of the 3 knot Spring tide.  So Thursday looking good with on the water for 1030.  Means up at 0600 to get to Dungeness (not the most idyllic of settings, with a nuclear power station which we will see behind us for the fist 4 hours!!!).  Swell will have dropped to a more workable 0.6 and improved from a 5 second frequency to  a 9 second. The distance is about 25 nm and we aim to make the most of slack water and the following 6 hours of tide, with a short 5 minute break on the hour.  To further assist with morale, Erin, Alice and Mark will take it turns to set the pace, so each will have an hour up front. (this way no one is at the back for the whole journey) GPS will be used to assist us in maintaining a consistent speed.

United Kingdom - Dungeness  (wave: NWW3 2.7. 2012 06 UTC) [Options]

Forecast      2D  Map   Webcams   Wind reports   Accommodation   Schools/Rentals   Shops   Other...

GFS 02.07.2012 06 UTC Mo 02. Mo 02. Mo 02. Mo 02. Mo 02. Mo 02. Tu 03. Tu 03. Tu 03. Tu 03. Tu 03. Tu 03. Tu 03. We 04. We 04. We 04. We 04. We 04. We 04. We 04. Th 05. Th 05. Th 05. Th 05. Th 05. Th 05. Th 05. 07h 10h 13h 16h 19h 22h 04h 07h 10h 13h 16h 19h 22h 04h 07h 10h 13h 16h 19h 22h 04h 07h 10h 13h 16h 19h 22h Wind speed (Bft) 4 4 4 4 3 3 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 2 2 3 2 3 3 3 3 2 3 Wind gusts (Bft) 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 3 2 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 4

Once across, the English Channel the three of them will continue up the coast towards Calais, and have the next three months to get to Helsinki.  While I get on the safety boat and get whisked back to our start.  

A few moments ago, working through maps, transferring chart info, updating their blog.  From left to right Alice, Erin and Mark .  You can see their route, make a donation on their charities page and follow them on www.paddlingchallenge.co.uk 

roger chandler

www.coastalspirit.com

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