Frank Pastor

Breezy and shifting winds E an SE 6-8kts with gusts to 10kts. Relatively flat at the moorings but long 2m swell from the west out past the headland. We had a problem with chafe at the mooring where the line jambed under the main mooring ball shackle and nearly chafed through. So we cut our sail short and spent time rigging a temp mooring penants and a safety backup.

Wind 7knts with gusts to 10knts and a decent chop. We started with full main and genoa but 30minutes out and two squals approach so we hove to dropped the genoa and hoisted our 90% yankee. We left the full main knowing we could reef if needed. Luckily, the squalls passed either side and only brought gusts to 14knts. We sailed north side of Inishmurray being vigilant about the rocks and shoals and cautiously eyeing up another squall approaching from the north a potentially leaving us on a lee shore. It passed and its wind gave us a bit of a lift helping us stay clear of the rocks. After rounding the Island with sailed a reach with calm seas in the lee. We had a quick lunch, took some photos and then headed back to Mullaghmore in idealic conditions accompanied by dolphins and loads of sea birds.

Light wind, SW 5 knts, calm sees and the usual stunning landscape. We sailed off the mooring under genoa and mainsail heading north towards Slieve League. It was slow going and we had to make an effort to keep wind in the sails. 2km out and dolphins came out to play a bit. spotted threatening heavy cloud and showers 20km away and decided to head back. Ciara asked if there was a reason we couldn't sail in the rain. Sara and I said, no but we just don't feel like getting wet today. Two other sailboats and the Bundoran Star were all heading in. Seems like no-one wanted to get wet today.

Zephyr at N at 3knts, sailed off the mooring to port and did a quick jibe to head east through the moorings. Ran into dead wind so tacked while still gliding through glassy water. Found the breeze again heading west then tacked to the east after spotting dolphins jumping. The heavy cloud moved in with squals north and south so we abandoned the dolphins and headed back to our mooring with the distant sound of thunder. Heavy rain ensued and we took in an episode ER while drying out down below. A short day out by a day out nonetheless.

Wind NE at 5knts, later E then SE at 7knts. Overcast skies, relatively flat with a 1m gentle swell from the west. We planned to sail after nightfall so went with a full main and yankee jib for ease of handling. We hoisted both and sail off the mooring on a port tack through the moorings the after clearing the easterly mark tacked and sailed close hauled for the next hour, tacked and fell off a bit on a reciprocal course on a close reach ad the wind had shifted. We spotted numerous razer bills and some gulls but no dolphins or whales rhis evening. Sara took the helm while I went below and reinstalled the forward cabin door. The sun set and we continued to sail making sure to stay well off the headland , noting that the tide was falling and would tend to bring us into the reefs. It was acdark night and we couldn't make out boats un the moorings until we were within about 100m. Sara spotted our neighbouring boat and we guestimated our mooring position off their stern, spotting it at about 30metres. Still under mainsail with the motor idling in neutral, just in case, we approach on a broad reach and did a sharp turn to windward at one boatlength. Sara picked up the float with its neon yellow floating line and made fast to our mooring pendant. The new LED foredeck light was brilliant for tidying up the fordeck. Another beautiful sail.

12knts WSW, sunny skies, moored in the lee so calm water. We hoist the main, fell off to port and sailed downwind through the moorings, hoisted the genoa after clearing the last boat, tacked and headed North. Once out of the lee of Mullaghmore, the wind picked up to a steady 12knts gusting 15knts with small whitecaps and a decent 1m swell out of the west. We could have put a reef in and set the yankee jib but decided to push on doing tacks and jibes around the race marks. only two other boats out. We sailed back to the mooring under mainsail with the engine idling in neutral. I sailed up to the pick up bouy less one metre and had to put the engine in forward just a few seconds to avoid going around. Engine ran well after carburetor rebuild last week. We spotted lots of sea birds but no dolphins or whales today. The cabin was a mess owing to many items flying off the shelves and counters while heeled. No photos today as the sailing was too vigorous with lots of maneuvers.

Overcast, wind N, 12knts. Low tide with 1m waves at 3s so unsettled chop. We set the small jib and reefed mainsail which turned out to be a good choice. We beat northward for an hour through 1m waves, occasionally 2m smell from the west. We were the only sailboat out on Donegal bay. No dolphins or whales today. We tacked, fell off and did a broad reach back to the mooring. Anticipated difficulty picking up the mooring so had the outboard idling in neutral. While approaching on a reach, the wind shifted and headed us so I put the motor in forward. I bogged and died. With the breeze blowing us back I managed to restart and it died again. I adjusted the choke, restarted with a bit of throttle and managed to power back up to the mooring. Sara was great grabbing the float on the first pass. Need to sort out the motor before the next trip. I believe its fuel delivery problem as there was no back pressure in the primer bulb.

Low springs, 0.4m at the pontoon and tight squeeze getting the dingy out. Wind N at 12knots, 1m chop at the mooring with the fordeck pitching making setup difficult. We trying sailing off on a beam reach to the east but the waves and wind said "no", so the fell off to port and jibed the sailed east through the moorings to open water. The jib and reefed main were a good choice and we worked to windward, tacking NE and NW against the northerly and in 1m chop with the occasional 1.5m wave. A good day sailing, in breezy wavey conditions and giving us a good core workout. We saw a small pod of dolphins leaping over the waves on our last leg toward the moorings.

Very light breeze, ENE 4 knts, water like glass. We sailed off the mooring with main and genoa set and ghosted along at 2knts. After clearing the moorings we tacked and headed northwest in search of wildlife. The wind remained light at 4-6 knts but enough to sail along maintaining about 2.5-3 knts of boat speed. We spotted sea birds, porpoise and dolphins. We watched a brilliant sunset but no green flash. The track shows going through land but seems to have ignored several tacks, maybe due to poor GPS signal.

We had a lovely breeze, easterly at 9 knts. Slight chop and no swell. We sailed off the mooring and headed north on a close reach at 4.5knts with our dinghy in tow. 6nm out and we found a large pod of dolphins. With rare calm seas and gentle breeze we tacked west for a bit then south until being distracted by another large pod of dolphins so headed west on a dead run to watch them play at the bow and stern.