David: An excellent sail across Biscay. Mary was back in UK, as planned, to see friends etc while it was easy to get back. David Lunt, Tony Owens and Stuart Conway joined me in Kinsale. [Read more →]

David: Here in the Ria just to the west of La Coruna in Sada Marina and enjoying their Wi-Fi in the sunshine in the cockpit. Still got technical problems with the posting from the boat. Sent two from the high seas that vanished into the ether!

Photos of the the crossing will be on the blog in a minute. I will update Mary’s recent bits by imbedding the relevant photos from the gallery.

Story of the excellent crossing will also appear today.

The low GI diet rules out nearly all pickles and chutneys. One that is OK is Lime Pickle. Tesco does a version called Spicy Lime Pickle (ask in store as it isn’t with the other pickles) and you can also get a version from Asian food shops.

I did the dish below as we crossed Biscay and it was well received. Can also use the pickle in other dishes eg omelettes. [Read more →]

Mary: Monday wash day and I drop the laundry at the laundrette, fill the lockers with food, and generally make things ship shape again. The lady from the laundrette helps me carry the bags back to the dinghy, but not make up the bunks with the clean sheets or pack the rest away, great service nevertheless, all bone dry and folded. And for those who sew, my unusual shaped fitted sheets fitted. [Read more →]

Another taste from Ireland from John Welsh

Apparently a tradition in Courtmacsherry is to have cabbage, potato and bacon for lunch. I guess all cooked separately.

Mary: We left Westport for Inishbofin, a distance of thirty two miles, leisurely sail with time to catch up on Rebecca’s news. Camy and Peden again closely watching their speed when helming, and yes you can go faster if you sail off course and more down wind!

We’ve been to Inishbofin before (day sailing to Commemara) and I remember it as a tricky entrance, I don’t know why because it is pretty straight forward, although the leading line takes you close to the rocks, better that than over the rock lurking just under the water in the central channel. Great to have charts!

[Read more →]

All day breakfast was available until 5pm on the Aran Islands. Could be ordered at many of the cafes and always included White and Black pudding. I’m afraid the picture this congers up is about right. The tourists have taken over on the largest island! If you are eating at home suggest fried mashed potatoes, sausages, bacon, eggs and tomatoes! We resisted this one with ease!

First in a series of “Food to Try at Home” to give you a taste of where we are.

Mussel farms can be a pest when sailing, they do tend to be fairly well tucked into the shore, but that can often be where you want to tack. All is however forgiven when you have a large plate of steaming mussels in front of you. Now that was the case in the Dolphin Restaurant rather than the usual but very nice white wine we had them cooked in coconut milk, chilli, lime, and ginger. Well worth trying at home or indeed on board. The funny thing is that we didn’t see any mussel beds around Inishbofin, lots in Loch Spelve Mull and since we have seen a huge amount in Bantry Bay . I would suggest use powdered spices; throw everything in at once; bring to the boil and when the mussels open, serve with “sprig of parsley” or not.

New photos in the Gallery – “off to Ireland” and I have updated the “A True Irish Welcome”

David 

Post from Giselle have a techical hitch at present Here is what you would have got last Friday:

David…. Sailing in Sunshine off the west coast of Ireland with the huge pink spinnaker up. Rebecca insisted I put it up. Would I have put it up without this insistence? Just had a good look at Great Skellig. Steep rocky island about 10 miles west of the coast of county Kerry. For 600 years the island was an important centre for monastic life for Irish Christian monks. An Irish Celtic monastery, which is situated almost at the summit of the 230 meter high rock was built in 566 and became a UNESCO world heritage site in 1996. It is one of Europe’s better known but least accessible monasteries.
The Viking sacked the island in the ninth century, inspiring a Skellig monk to write –

Bitter and wild in the wind tonight
Tossing the tresses of the sea to white
On such a night as this I feel the ease
Fierce Northmen only course the quiet seas

Off to Castletown bearhaven tonight and then Bantry ready for Rebecca, Camy and Peden’s return to London on Sunday.