Norman Gray a resident of Cove Bay is setting off on early Thursday morning 14th June 2007, for a month long sail around Ireland in his "unsinkable" 30 ft yacht Bentim Buoys.
Norman and his crew John Campbell, William Skelly, and Adrian Watson are all retired, and see this trip as a great adventure. All on board are experienced sailors, and looking forward to sailing new horizons. Their route is clockwise around Ireland, taking full advantage of the tides. The seas around Ireland are not easy sailing, and the Atlantic weather will decide their speed.
We hope to keep in touch with the "Bentim Buoys" during the voyage, and report on their progress. Bon Voyage!
Leave your message here for the "Bentim Buoys"!
Norman and his crew John Campbell, William Skelly, and Adrian Watson are all retired, and see this trip as a great adventure. All on board are experienced sailors, and looking forward to sailing new horizons. Their route is clockwise around Ireland, taking full advantage of the tides. The seas around Ireland are not easy sailing, and the Atlantic weather will decide their speed.
We hope to keep in touch with the "Bentim Buoys" during the voyage, and report on their progress. Bon Voyage!
Leave your message here for the "Bentim Buoys"!
18 comments:
Ahoy there!
Greetings from the Caughey's - Have a great trip, watch out for the icebergs!!!
"The horrible weather last week delayed Bentim Buoys departure from Bangor. The intrepid sailors (Norman, William and Adrian) finally got away on Sunday morning (17 June) and had a fine trip along the County Down coast, passing close to South Rock lightship, before arriving in Ardglass where they spent Sunday night. On Monday morning they headed south again, passing St John's Point lighthouse and crossing Dundrum Bay; hoping to make it as far south as Arklow before making landfall again."
"The "buoys" arrived safely in Howth (just north of Dublin) on Monday evening around 5.00pm, after their passage from Ardglass. Unfortunately, the weather has played another bad hand on them. A depression off the south-west coast of Ireland is bringing strong south easterly winds right across the Irish Sea and on to the Irish coast; creating very uncomfortable seas. The "buoys" have therefore decided, wisely, to stay in Howth until conditions improve. On Wednesday 20th, the "buoys" were still in Howth, hoping for kinder weather." John Campbell
the unsinkable??? DOES NOT BODE WELL....SO WAS THE TITANIC
Hi Daddy (Billy Buoy!)
Hope its all going well. Was going to tell you all about the job application but quite sure the rest of cove bay woulndn't want to read about it :)Might just surprise you with a career move when you get back! Happy sailing. Love you Ros x
The horrible weather finally eased enough to allow the buoys to leave Howth and get to Wicklow. They left Wicklow on Friday and negotiated around the south-east corner of Ireland to arrive in KILMORE QUAY, which is just around the SE corner. They are at Kilmore Quay on Saturday morning and plan to go fishing - what a life! The plan now is to make passage along the south coast of Ireland and collect buoy 4 at KINSALE on Tuesday morning. The buoys will keep you updated as they go.
The weather continues to plague the buoys. Having turned the SE corner of Ireland and got to KILMORE QUAY late on Friday, they were still there on Monday morning - kept in port by strong north westerly winds. The forecast is not looking too clever for the next few days either, so we await further news from the buoys about their progress towards KINSALE.
The buoys made it to KINSALE on Tuesday night 26 June around 10pm. Kinsale is well along the south coast of Ireland; it is a medieval port and was a garrison port for over 300 years. It was the scene in 1601 of one of the most decisive battles in Irish history when the English army defeated an invading Spanish army, whose aim was to help expel the English from Ireland. Kinsale is now a popular tourism spot and said to be the gourmet capital of Ireland. Soon the buoys should be in position to turn around the south west corner of Ireland and start heading up the west coast - weather permitting!
The buoys left KInsale on Wednesday 27th heading for BALTIMORE (the Irish one!, near Skibbereen). This is at the end of the south coast and near to the famous FASTNET ROCK. This will position the yacht to go round the SW corner of Ireland and up past Bantry Bay and the Ring of Kerry,towards DINGLE. This is said to be a lovely cruising area, so let's hope the weather is kinder to the buoys in the week ahead.
The buoys have made it to BALTIMORE; arriving there after 10pm on Wednesday night 27 June. They are now poised to turn the south west corner of Ireland and start heading up the west coast. The weather forecast for the weekend does not look favourable, however, and they may be delayed again. A "landmark" in the area is tha famous FASTNET ROCK which they will passs close to on their way.
The Fastnet Rock, and Lighthouse
( 51°23.′3″N, 9°36.′1″W) is the most southerly point of the Republic of Ireland, 6.5 km southwest of Clear Island in County Cork, which is itself 8 miles (13 km) from the mainland.
Fastnet also had the nickname 'Ireland's Teardrop' as it was the last part of the country seen by Irish emigrants to the United States in the 19th Century as they sailed past it.
The Fastnet Rock is used as the midpoint of one of the world's classic offshore yachting races, the Fastnet Race, a 608 mile round trip from Cowes, round the rock and back to Plymouth.
Bentim Buoy is today (3rd July)sheltering in Castletownbere, Bantry Bay after a rough but exciting voyage around the corner of South West Ireland, passing by Mizen Head, and with rolling seas and 2.5 metres (8 feet) high waves. Castletownbere is the principle town on the Beara peninsula. It is the largest whitefish port in Ireland. Berehaven being the second largest natural harbour in the world, it is a safe anchorage for yachts This message received from the "Buoys" in McCarthy's Bar!
When the storm passed, Bentim Buoy travelled further north, and reached Dingle Bay on 7th July, where they were greeted by "Fungie" the dolphin. They had fine weather sailing past Skellig Islands, and Valentia Island. A Minkie whale was seen near the boat.
Bentim Buoy made a 104 mile passage on 10th July, from Dingle, across Galway Bay to Clifden Connemara. Two seperate groups of Dolphins played with the boat along the way.
They are on the move again today, sailing to Broadhaven past Achill Island. This will put the "Buoys" on the south of Donegal bay, ready to cross.
Bentin Buoys arrived at Broadhaven on N.West coast of Mayo on 12th July, after another long passage of 60 nautical miles. They had great views of Achill Island and the cliffs of Connemara. Large numbers of sea birds in the water including Puffins, Petrals, and Sherewaters.
The "Buoys" have made it to Donegal! They arrived at Aran Island after a 65 mile passage from north west Mayo. On the way they enjoyed lovely views of the cliffs on the south coast of Donegal, Mount Errigal, and Muckish. Bentim Buoys will soon turn the north west corner of Ireland at Bloody Foreland, and head along the north coast.
Bentim Buoys sailed today from Portsalon in Donegal, around Malin Head a difficult area, and the most northerly point on mainland Ireland. Across the mouth of Loch Foyle, and they arrived late this evening Wed 18th at Coleraine Marina on the River Bann.
Beautiful scenary, and lovely views of the dramatic coastline along the way.
Yacht BENTIM BUOYS will be moored at Coleraine Marina until early next week. Skipper Norman is staying with his ship, while other crew members are having to take a few days out to deal with personal business (they expected to be home by now, but the weather held back progress). So far, Skipper Norman has been on his yacht for 5 continuous weeks! Weather permitting, all the "buoys" will be on the move again on Tuesday to bring the yacht back home to BANGOR and a well-earned break from the rolling seas.
The Last Lap
Norman Gray, a resident of Cove Bay Groomsport, sailing around Ireland in his "unsinkable" 30 ft yacht Bentim Buoys.
"Bentim Buoys" sailed to Ballycastle on Thursday 26th July, along the beautiful north coast of Antrim. They saw the Giants Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, and lovely headlands on the way. They were met at Ballycastle by the Mayor of Moyle, and had refreshments in the Mayor's parlour. Sailed today to Glenarm, past Fair Head, which was spectular.
The "Buoys" are now poised for their last lap into Bangor, leaving Glenarm Saturday 28th July at 6.00am to catch the tide, they hope to arrive back in Bangor Marina at 10.00am
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