Circumnavigation of Ireland Summer 2018 Introduction
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‘Arthur’ and Crew - Circumnavigation of Ireland Summer 2018 Introduction • In Summer 2018, ‘Arthur’ completed a circumnavigation of Ireland • covering 907M • over 19 passages • spanning 90 days • This presentation focuses on the Research and Planning that preceded the trip with particular reference to how we coped with the weather 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 2 / 52 Meet ‘Arthur’ “Arthur” a Broom Ocean 37 - Commissioned 1977 • Semi-displacement • 2 x 145hp Perkins 6354Ht • Max speed 12kts (governed). Typical cruising speed 7kts/8kts • Spacious saloon, 2 x cabins, Galley, 2 x heads (1 w/shower) • Garmin 750s chart-plotter and Garmin GMR 18 xHD radar) • Seago Liferaft (4 berth); McMurdo FastFind 210 PLB • Garmin Depth Sounder; Cobra VHF with DSC • Dinghy (3metre) with Suzuki 6hp outboard • Home berth - Portumna • Primarily used on Inland Waters • Coastal Cruising each summer • Up to summer 2018 furthest afield was Kinsale 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 3 / 52 Research and Planning – Our 3 Stage approach 1. Identify ‘ports of call’, ‘passages’, and then plan ‘routes’ 2. Generate weather forecasts for ‘location specific spots’ for each passage 3. Select ‘window of opportunity’ and plan passage using weather forecasts, tidal streams and local tides 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 4 / 52 Arthur on the Shannon Estuary 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 5 / 52 “Arthur” and Crew – the comfort zone Sea State • Winds – F1 to F3 …0 Knots to 11 Knots • Swell – <=1.5m … circa 4.5ft We pay attention to • Wind direction • Tide direction We try to avoid • Wind against tide 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 6 / 52 Arthur approaching Dursey Sound 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 7 / 52 Stage 1 Selecting ‘Ports of Call’, Identifying Passages and Planning Routes 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 8 / 52 Arthur in Lawrence Cove Marina 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 9 / 52 The Research – Primary Resources - A Printed: • Irish Cruising Club Sailing Directions: • South & West Coasts of Ireland • North & East Coasts of Ireland • UK & Ireland - Circumnavigator’s Guide (2nd edition) – Sam Steele • Sailing Around the UK & Ireland (2nd edition) – Roger Oliver • Cruising The Wild Atlantic Way – Daria & Alex Blackwell • Papers charts – Imray • Moorings List – Irish Sailing 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 10 / 34 Arthur passing Mizen Head 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 11 / 52 The Research – Primary Resources - B Internet: • eOceanic.com (formerly inyourfootsteps.com) • MalinWaters.com • Marinas.com 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 12 / 52 Arthur berthed at Sherkin Island 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 13 / 52 Selecting ‘Ports of Call’ Criteria • Passage length not exceeding 70nm. • Ease of access • Marinas, (where possible) …managed/supervised, with range of services and facilities, e.g. • shore-power • water • diesel (occasionally) • laundry facilities • shops • restaurants 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 14 / 52 Arthur rounding Old Head of Kinsale 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 15 / 52 19 selected ‘Ports of Call’ and projected Passages 1. Kilrush 2. Dingle 3. Lawrence Cove (Bere Island) 4. Sherkin Island 5. Kinsale 6. Crosshaven 7. Kilmore Quay 8. Arklow 9. Howth 10. Ardglass 11. Bangor 12. Ballycastle 13. Portrush 14. Fahan (Lough Swilly 15. Bunbeg 16. Killybegs 17. Broadhaven 18. Inishbofin 19. Rossaveal 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 16 / 52 Arthur arriving in Crosshaven 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 17 / 52 19 Passages – Distance and Projected Duration 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 18 / 52 Arthur passing Hook Head 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 19 / 52 Route planning Chartplotter - Garmin 750s • Routes planned on PC with HomePort app with reference to Sailing Directions and other resources • Routes uploaded to Garmin 750s via SD (Secure Digital) card 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 20 / 52 Arthur on the Long Pontoon at Arklow 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 21 / 52 Stage 2 Organising Weather Forecasting and Noting Local Tides and Tidal Streams 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 22 / 52 Arthur approaching Dalkey Sound 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 23 / 52 The Research – Resources re Weather Forecasting Primary Apps - PC and Android: • Windguru.com – Free or Paid. Using since 2007 • Windfinder.com – PC version – FREE • Windfinder Pro (Android) – a one- off payment €5.49 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 24 / 52 Arthur approaching Howth Head & Baily Lighthouse 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 25 / 52 The Research – Identifying Weather Forecast Spots Both Windguru and Windfinder offer ‘Maps’ with ‘Forecast Spots’ easily identified and selectable. 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 26 / 52 Arthur passing Rockabill Islands & Lighthouse 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 27 / 52 The Research – Forecast Spots for Selected Passages 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 28 / 52 Sunrise at Phennick Cove Marina, Ardglass 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 29 / 52 The Research – Word Weather Spot Forecast Documents InishbofinList of Wordforecasts documents, x 4 for 6oneth September per Weather Spot, stored on Laptop 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 30 / 52 Arthur approaching Belfast Lough 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 31 / 52 The Research – Tides: Local Tide Tables and Tidal Stream resources Local Tide Tables: • Tide Tables 2018 – Official All-Ireland • Local Tide Tables, e.g. • Shannon Foynes Port Company – Limerick, Foynes, Tarbert • Fenit Sailing Club • Tide 7 – (Android) – one-off payment €1.69 Tidal Streams – Tables/Charts and Atlas • Tidal Stream Maps – ICC Sailing Directions (S&W) • Admiralty (UK) Tidal Stream Atlas 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 32 / 52 Arthur approaching Fair Head and Rathlin Island 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 33 / 52 Stage 3 Deciding when to undertake a passage 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 34 / 52 Arthur in Portrush Marina 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 35 / 52 Passage planning – choosing departure day and time Choosing the day • Weather forecast is the primary factor – match Arthur’s ‘Comfort Zone’ Choosing the departure time • Check Tidal Streams… where possible take advantage of same • Check Local Tides…where possible benefit from local ebb tide at time of departure and rising tide at point of arrival 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 36 / 52 Arthur passing Dunree Head, Lough Swilly 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 37 / 52 A snapshot reminder of the weather. Bolus Head, 3rd-13th July N.B. We passaged from Dingle to Lawrence Cove on 3rd July. Departure 08:30. Arrival: 15:30 • Wind mostly F1/F2 • Wave < 1.3m N.B. We undertook passages on: Tues 3/7 Wed 4/7, Thurs 5/7, Sat 7/7, Sun 8/7 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 38 / 52 Arthur at Gola Island 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 39 / 52 A snapshot reminder of the weather. Howth, 16th-25th July N.B. We passaged from Arklow to Howth on 16th July and from Howth to Ardglass on 18th July ▪ Wind mostly F2/F3 ▪ Wave height < 0.4m 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 40 / 52 Arthur departing Killybegs Harbour 16th February 2019 Arthur’s 2018 Circumnavigation of Ireland – IS Cruising Conference 2019 Slide 41 / 52 A snapshot