Generalities

AvRM organised a rally in Ireland from June 3rd to 13th, 2023.

Participants

11 RM boats were initially registered. 2 boats were unable to participate due to the weather and turned back.

9 RM therefore met up in Ireland on June 2nd.

• 1 RM 1200: 2 CATS
• 1 RM 1070: BLACKBIRD
• 2 RM 1060: NORAMAX and TADEC
• 4 RM 1050: SUZANNE 2, PIKOUROUS, BASELI and MEZZO PIANO
• 1 RM 890: THE ELIOBRIGUS

Course

Chronology

On the way to Ireland

7 RM (NORAMAX, MEZZO PIANO, TADEC, L'ELIOBRIGUS, SUZANNE 2, BASELI and BLACKBIRD) meet at the end of May in Scilly for 2 days, thus recalling for some the 2022 Scilly rally.

Wednesday, May 31

These seven RM boats are sailing together to reach the port of Schull in Ireland on June 1st, where they will meet up with PIKOUROUS, who has been there since May 27th. This rather dynamic passage is being made in an East-Northeast wind of 20 to 25 knots, therefore on a beam reach.

Thursday, June 1st, Schull

The entire formation is now in front of the village of Schull. Pierre Dollié's RM 1200 2CATS, which left Cherbourg later, is still on the way.

We stayed there for one day and met up at the pub in the evening.

Friday, June 2nd

On the way to the Fastnet rock

We leave our moorings and Schull Bay in a good 15-20 knot easterly wind. Most of the RM boats reef their mainsails. We pass between Long Island and the mainland and head towards the Fastnet Rock, about ten nautical miles to the south. A few daring sailors attempt to hoist the spinnaker but ultimately decide to do as the others do…*

Jibe around the Fastnet rock and sail towards Crookhaven.

* translation: NORAMAX stows its spinnaker….

Saturday, June 3rd, Crookhaven

The fleet is gathered at Crookhaven on the visitor buoys. The RM 1200 2CATS joined us after a rest stop in Baltimore. It's superb, and the RMs add a very noticeable splash of color.

In the evening, the crews meet for a drink at O'Sullivan's pub* and an (excellent) dinner at the "Nottage" restaurant which is right next door.

*Ó Súilleabháin in Irish

The owner of the O'Sullivan collects the mooring fees, but since "it's not yet the season," he doesn't charge us...

Sunday, June 4th, Adrigole

After discussing with the crews, our "coach" Thierry decided that our next stop would be in Bantry Bay at Adrigole. We weighed anchor around 10 a.m. and motored along the coast to Mizen Head. It was a riot of colorful spinnakers and all sorts of rigging, some poled out, some not, all the way to Bantry Bay.

We arrive at the engine in Adrigole around 3 pm where we meet up around 6 pm at Murphy's bar for a drink.

Monday, June 5th, Glengarriff

We weigh anchor and head to the back of the bay at Glengarriff Harbour. The wind is light and the sea is flat. This sail provides an opportunity to test our strategies in light and shifting winds.

Anchored north of Garinish Island, which closes off Glengarriff Bay. We take the opportunity to visit the "Italian garden".

Tuesday, June 6th, Lawrence Cove

Operation Bread. The fleet moves one nautical mile to another anchorage further north for a shopping and garbage operation. We easily find shops and pubs, but the garbage bins are still nowhere to be found.

At 2 p.m., we weigh anchor to reach the small marina of Lawrence Cove on Bear Island.

The crews on the pontoon at Lawrence Cove Marina

Seafood pot on the pontoon: the mood is joyful.

Wednesday, June 7th Kilmakiloge

We decided to change bays today and head for the Kenmare River. The journey, approximately 40 nautical miles, will be made with an easterly wind of 15 to 20 knots and a flat sea. We'll be sailing through Dursey Sound, a narrow passage between Dursey Island and the Beara Peninsula. We'll pass under the cable car that transports tourists in the summer and has a clearance of 21 meters. A tidal current calculation is necessary because the current can reach over 4 knots.

Spinnakers and spinnaker poles are back.

We decided to anchor in Kilmakiloge Bay on the south bank of the river. It's superb and magnificent: "Dramatic, Peaceful and Remote" as the English say!

Our teenagers would translate that as "it's far away and we have no business being there!"

We dock in the dinghy at Derreen Garden, which is absolutely beautiful, particularly its collection of tree ferns.

Undoubtedly the most beautiful and secluded anchorage on this coast.

Thursday, June 8th

An easterly gale is forecast, so we decide to stay warm in our anchorage for the night. A hike in the mountains is on the agenda.

We meet for a visit to Derreen Garden and a crew meal at the pub in Bunaw (3 km north).

Friday, June 9th, Sneem

A 3-4 nautical mile sail to reach Sneem Bay to the north. Some crews decide to finish at the pub in Kilmakiloge.

Saturday, June 10th, Valentia

The formation reassembles in the middle of the Kenmare River (those of Kilmakiloge and those of Sneem) for a stage towards Dingle Bay.

After deliberation and studying the weather forecast for the coming days (including the possibilities of returning to France), we decided to head to the docks of Valentia Island, which would mark the end of our rally.

The Rally ends with a meal for the crews at the Royal Valentia Hotel.

Sunday, June 11

Most of the boats are on their way back to France. NORAMAX, BASELI, PIKOUROUS and L'ELIOBRIGUS are crossing Dingle Bay to reach Dingle Marina.

Supplies

The two tricky points to consider for this sailing trip in Ireland were water and waste management. In this area, there are no provisions for collecting waste bags left by visiting boaters…

Weather report

The deployment of the boats from Brittany was arduous due to strong winds and rough seas in the Iroise Sea. The two RMs were unable to reach the assembly point at Crookhaven, north of the Fastnet Rock, and abandoned the operation.

In Ireland, the rally benefited from exceptional weather (for the area) with east-southeast winds and a flat sea. It was decided to continue sailing along the west coast from Crookhaven, heading up towards Dingle.

4G coverage is generally satisfactory and it is not difficult to download weather files from the Internet.

Formalities

Administrative and customs formalities with Ireland do not require any particular remarks as we are in the EU. However, we would like to point out the mandatory formalities when a stopover in the Isles of Scilly is planned on the way to and from Ireland.

To travel to the United Kingdom by pleasure boat, it is necessary to notify the authorities.

A system has been set up using a dedicated website and telephone numbers.

SPCR: Sailing Pleasure Craft Report

You need to create an account on the SPCR website: https://www.spcr.homeoffice.gov.uk/voyage-plans

You declare your trip, your crew, and your boat's specifications. You then receive a message informing you that the authorities (customs, immigration) have been notified of your arrival. Unless otherwise indicated, you can then travel to the United Kingdom without any problems. No need to display the yellow flag…

This procedure works well and was satisfactory during the rally.

Nautical coordinates and information

Schull Harbor : N 051°31.669′ W 009°32.133′

8 visitor buoys. A few showers on the quay but no one to collect fees. Shops and restaurants in town. Beautiful walks in the surrounding area.

Schull Bay is poorly sheltered from southerly winds and south-easter winds have sometimes made dinghy journeys "Rock 'n Roll".

Crookhaven : N 051°28.260′ W 009°43.588′

The site is enchanting and very well protected as it is completely enclosed. However, the west wind can blow strongly, so it's best to double your mooring lines. There are a few visitor buoys, but they are often occupied during the season.

Beautiful walks in the surrounding area, all the way to Mizen Head in the west. Water available on the quayside near the pubs.

Adrigole : N 051°41.072′ W 009°43.39′

A pretty bay with opportunities for walks. Offers no protection from southerly winds. A few visitor buoys. However, the road to the village to the north can be treacherous.

Glengarriff Garinish : N 051°44.393′ W 009°32.344′

A very nice anchorage on a deep black mudflat, perfectly protected from southerly winds.

Glengarriff : N 051°44.904′ W 009°32.351′

A very beautiful spot, a bit crowded with numerous local moorings but very sheltered. A few visitor buoys. Nautical instructions recommend using a tripping line for anchoring.

Lawrence Cove : N 051°38.056′ W 009°49.563′

A very pleasant and inexpensive little marina. Well sheltered from all winds except those from the NE. Pub and small shops on the island. A small ferry runs between the island and the mainland.

Sneem Harbour : N 051°48.752′ W 009°53.557′

Four visitor buoys and space to anchor. The road to Sneem is dangerous for pedestrians. What a shame.

Kilmakilloge : N 051°46.117′ W 009°47.408′

The site is enchanting and perfectly sheltered from southerly winds. The bottom is soft mud in 5 meters of water. Beware of the mussel farms at the entrance, which leave little room to maneuver. Pub and botanical garden nearby.

Valentia Harbor : N 051°55.584′ W 010°17.042′

The marina was never finished but is perfectly protected from all winds and swells. There's no one to collect port fees, but no rubbish bins either. No electricity on the pontoons. Shops and pubs are located on the port.

Balance sheet

A truly beautiful course, meticulously prepared by Thierry. AvRM benefited from considerable luck with moderate easterly winds and a flat sea, which is unusual in Ireland. Heavy westerly winds and the associated swell would certainly have spoiled this wonderful sailing event. But sometimes you need a bit of luck.