Cruise to The Skerries

Mark Rosenthal

The conditions were almost flat calm as I arrived at the launch to get out to FlairIV. This gave me an opportunity to reconnect the flexible solar panel ontop of the ply and hardwood support. The crew, Becca, Richie and Sean arrived on two separate trips with launch driver Kim due to the requirements of the Squibs for their regatta racing. After a briefing we hoisted the main and left the mooring with Becca at the helm. After checking with Port Control for clearance to leave the New Harbour we got approached by Cogger on a rib warning us of the Squibs course from Spit, the mark just off the end of the breakwater, back into the New Harbour. The winds had now increased from the south so our passage to The Skerries was downwind with us sailing goose winged for much of the way. The entrance to the lagoon in The Skerries is not that easy to see as the leading line paintwork has faded. We furled the jib in the wind shadow of the main and then headed into wind to drop the main sail. I took over the helm to navigate with Becca’s visual assistance into the narrow entrance. There were two ribs, one just left straight away and the other, already on the mooring, very kindly moved off. We tied up to the buoy and thanked them as they motored away to navigate further round the island. Please don’t tell anyone but it is a beautiful place to anchor for lunch watching the birds and the seals!