Perfect Day at Sea
Ardglass to Ballygalley - Wednesday 26th July
The journey out of Ardglass and up the coast was one of the prettiest days yet. The Antrim coast does not figure on most people's travel wishes, but I'd like to suggest it as a rugged alternative to the West coast of Scotland with fewer midges. There are layers of interestingly shaped hills and when the sun shines on the grass, their intense green is almost luminous. A typical peaceful day at sea progresses, there seems to be something to do every minute.
After leaving the harbour we check our position using the GPS and the charts and plot a course for our next waypoint. That involves drawing a pencil line on the chart and checking for obstacles, such as rocks and islands and then turning the boat onto that compass heading. Because our computerised chart system does not work reliably, we spend time re-booting the PC and then re-checking the paper position every ten minutes or so.
In between, we check the bilges and the engine oil pressure down in the engine room, keep a watch for other boats and large stuff especially lobster-pot buoys and fishing nets which always seem to be strung across our path, keep a watch for other ships and boats on the radar and we also steer the boat.
There is tea-making, hand washing of clothes, filling of solar showers, writing of web diary, cooking and washing up, reading of pilot guides for the area we are about to enter and general house-keeping. Not to mention continual hand washing; we have used a whole big bar of soap in a week.
The journey out of Ardglass and up the coast was one of the prettiest days yet. The Antrim coast does not figure on most people's travel wishes, but I'd like to suggest it as a rugged alternative to the West coast of Scotland with fewer midges. There are layers of interestingly shaped hills and when the sun shines on the grass, their intense green is almost luminous. A typical peaceful day at sea progresses, there seems to be something to do every minute.
After leaving the harbour we check our position using the GPS and the charts and plot a course for our next waypoint. That involves drawing a pencil line on the chart and checking for obstacles, such as rocks and islands and then turning the boat onto that compass heading. Because our computerised chart system does not work reliably, we spend time re-booting the PC and then re-checking the paper position every ten minutes or so.
In between, we check the bilges and the engine oil pressure down in the engine room, keep a watch for other boats and large stuff especially lobster-pot buoys and fishing nets which always seem to be strung across our path, keep a watch for other ships and boats on the radar and we also steer the boat.
There is tea-making, hand washing of clothes, filling of solar showers, writing of web diary, cooking and washing up, reading of pilot guides for the area we are about to enter and general house-keeping. Not to mention continual hand washing; we have used a whole big bar of soap in a week.
posted by Pomme at 9:02 pm
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