Wednesday 11th June. Well we gave up in Port Ellen as it was too lumpy siting on the mooring and made a dash across the North Channel to Rathlin Island. It was a really pleasant beam reach with 15 to 20 knts but quite a lively swell coming from the west. Our preference was to go down the west coast but the wind from the west and the swell made the decision easy. Here's Alan helming over to Rathlin with Islay in the background.
By the time we got to Rathlin the wind dropped a bit and it was actually warm. I got a photo of the only upside down lighthouse with a red light in Ireland! Maybe I will try and get a photo up here if I can get access! - actually it didnt turn out too good so not worth showing!
The entrance to Rathlin harbour was easy but rather shallow in the harbour – methinks our depth gauge is a bit optimistic. We came in at slack water which helped. The pilot book said it could be difficult in strong W-NW winds but no sign of that.
Rathlin harbour was empty apart from one yacht. Parked the boat for the night although we did do a hair-raising maneuver to turn the boat into the wind because it built back again to over 20 knts and the slapping at the back of the boat would have driven Murray mad.
David, the harbourmaster gave us all the gen on the island. After showers (the showers were good – not listed in the pilot book!) and an hour of boat repairs (ie finishing the job Sam had not finished) Murray and Alan went off for a walk and Pam and I decamped to the Auld Kitchen. Two Guinness later we had even more info on the Island. Definitely a good stop over. Pam reckons it was more than two as I drank her's.
We booked a table for the restaurant tonight in the Auld Kitchen. It's the chef's first night and the first it's been opened up in the evening for tourists like us. I'll let you know how how the meal goes (it was very good and good value - worth a trip).
Overall 10 out of 10 so far for Rathlin Island – worth a visit and the Guinness in the Auld Kitchen was great.
The man who has made up his mind to win will never say "impossible ".Do you think so?
Posted by: air jordans | 18/07/2010 at 08:40 AM