Looking ahead; Rathlin then the Chentleman's Cruise perhaps?

[Telo]

So, it looks like Easter will be later this year, 22/25 April. I presume then, that the May Day holiday, if it hasn't been abolished by the ConDems in order to fix the sovereign debt, will be only one week later.

Now assuming that the CC will be on the May weekend as usual, we are thinking of sailing to McCuaig's Bar for Easter, and then north for the Cruise. Any other boats fancy Rathlin? Obviously this could be weather dependent. Last time we arranged to meet there with ljs, our prop shaft disconnected from the engine at Sanda and we had to sail back to Ardrossan for repairs.... Hopefully all will be well on this occasion.

This post was prompted by a New Year phone call from an NI friend who keeps a caravan and a 12 string guitar on the island. As he now constitutes the surviving 20% of his band, he's always on the lookout for others to sit in for a session in the bar, so if you strum or play folky stuff, bring your instrument and you'll be made very welcome. Silkie, of this Parish, can vouch for the McCuaig's experience. Fish'n' chips usually available at most hours from the van.

[claymore]

My Crew have relinquished me of all planning duties but it seems to me at least that that should fit with our northbound route and time

[Telo]

My Crew have relinquished me of all planning duties but it seems to me at least that that should fit with our northbound route and time

That possibility did occur to me, and would make rather fine start to the CC. I presume you will be guitared. What are tcm's plans? His fiddle playing is pretty good in the haund-knitted music sense.

[tcm]

My Crew have relinquished me of all planning duties but it seems to me at least that that should fit with our northbound route and time

I dont think you can "relinquish" another person, can you? Or not in this sense anyway. I think the word needed here is "relieved", altho relinquished is actually a nicer sound. Ok, bollox, consider yourself relinquished.

[claymore]

I did think particularly carefully about the wording of my post and felt that relieved was not the better word. Indeed I am saddened and do feel that a level of relinquishment has been arrived at.

I was speaking of you whilst taking fish with Scurrilous of Oxford last evening at Livebait, an emporium of which you are no doubt aware.

[Alan_D]

I did think particularly carefully about the wording of my post and felt that relieved was not the better word. Indeed I am saddened and do feel that a level of relinquishment has been arrived at.

Are you suggesting (in usage terms) that "the relinquished" are like "the disappeared"?

[Nick]

I did think particularly carefully about the wording of my post and felt that relieved was not the better word. Indeed I am saddened and do feel that a level of relinquishment has been arrived at.

Are you suggesting (in usage terms) that "the relinquished" are like "the disappeared"?

Gone into the West to the (Greeny) Grey Havens . . .

[marisca]

May I suggest that "relinquished" has the antonym "volunteered"? Both are acts that one would normally do for oneself but all too often they are done for/to us.

[claymore]

I much prefer these discussions to anything related to sailing - perhaps I should go and join a 'Written English" forum....

[Old_Glow_In_The_Deep]

Sounds just the job / muster/ port of call / social event for me!

Fish & Chips, live traditional music with good company & Beer….. it just doesn’t get any better.

Never been there to date... so just had a quick look:

http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/ ... land-P8209

[Old_Glow_In_The_Deep]

Oh-my!.... in a Bruce Roberts 34.

"This is less than ideal and it was with some trepidation that we scanned the horizon for the fearsome "slough na morra" as we entered Rathlin Sound. We saw the line of breakers soon enough and seamanlike precautions were taken aboard Shard. It seemed at first that the line was broken about a third of the way south of it's northern end and (since we had to make a large clockwise circuit of the bay to follow the eddy) that we would be able to slip throught the gap. But we reckoned without the speed of the current that carried us towards them and it quickly became obvious that they couldn't be avoided. We took them on the nose and although we seemed at times to be more nearly vertical than horizontal."

Can this be achieved in a 23ft bilge-keel sloop?

[Nick]

Can this be achieved in a 23ft bilge-keel sloop?

Yes. Just don't follow Shard

[Telo]

Can this be achieved in a 23ft bilge-keel sloop?

You need to, errrmm, get the timing right..... We have managed that that on occasion.

We can sometimes be a bit careless about the tides, which provides some interesting moments, but is probably just more exciting rather than dangerous. On one occasion, going west through the turbulence behind the second standing wave, with sails up and engine running, we were turned through 360˚ in about a couple of seconds. Yet about a hundred metres away there was flat water, which we reached under engine; the clockwise current then helped to bring us us quickly round into Church Bay. I don't have the tidal streams chart to hand, but, having tried it, there is no point in trying to beat the currents there.

PS: Although Shard is a bigger and heavier boat, which does make it easier, the waterline length is only about 27ft. I'm sure you'd manage fine if you get the tides right; under decent conditions, it's just a dawdle. Also, going north from from Rathlin to Islay gives a spectacular view of the cliffs at the west end of Rathlin. Recommended.