Galway to Tralee

GBSC Kilronan 25 NM. Kilronan Fenit 70NM, Fenit GBSC 84 NM.

We had a long run down to Fenit. Firstly a beat into a westerly sea as far as Kilronan, on Inishmore where we overnighted on the convenient visitor moorings.

Early start the next morning through the lumpy Gregory sound – worst part of the trip and unsettling for the kids. Once we were three miles south of the sound the sea settled and we had a great sail along the Clare coast. Highlight of the trip had to be our meeting with a huge family of dolphins off the mouth of the Shannon….. Walt Disney could not have put on a more enchanting, mind boggling show as possibly a hundred or so dolphins danced with joy and total exhilaration all around us. Kids and adults alike were completely gobsmacked.

After a long days sail from Kilronan, (70 NM 14.5 hours) we tied up in Fenit much to the relief of Grandma and Grandad who were looking over the Harbour wall at our approach. Of course now that we were down in Fenit with a convenient walk on marina berth, everyone wanted to come out for a sail – we didn’t mind lovely to share the pleasure we get from ND.

Aonghus and I did the return trip in a wind which built to a F7 northwesterly – that was what we would call a challenging sail – we bombed along under reefed genny until we turned the corner at Black Head and were able to free off sail some more. We decided against a beat into Kilronan and went with the fair wind directly home. Same day a hooker went down at the mouth of Kinvara Bay. We were well impressed with ND’s ability to handle the rough stuff – great boat.