Rossaveal to Inishbofin 31 May 2023

 

Our views today have been dominated by the Mweelrea Mountains
 to the north (and then the east) of us.  It has been a wonderfully scenic day.

The morning brought with it a Met Eireann yellow Small Craft Warning for Slyne Head northwards - on route to our destination.  We looked at various forecasts and decided that the force 6 winds wouldn’t arrive until about 16.00, so we set off with an ETA of 13.45 - a couple of hours to spare.  No problem.

We motored west in calm seas, visited by Common Dolphins, in stunning weather, not a cloud in the sky, and the Mweelrea Mountains to our north.  Gorgeous.

Slyne Head, with its all black lighthouse, is known for its rough waters and
is key headland to get round.

Shortly before we got to Slyne Head we got an updated weather forecast that had brought forward the Small Craft Warning to “imminent “, and indeed as we rounded the headland the wind picked up and the sea got rougher.  Fortunately we were motoring directly into it what meant it wasn’t uncomfortable.  There was 1.5hours motoring to Inishbofin and the wind got steadily stronger as we went.  

By the time we pulled into the harbour it was blowing a force 5 and maybe more.  We had been assigned a mooring which is a commercial mooring (there are no visitor moorings), thank goodness because it is bigger than normal - much better in the strong wind.  Having said that it made the pickup of the strop a challenge.  It took several goes, but we got it in the end.

Lazaway at its mooring in Inishbofin harbour 
with Cromwell’s Barracks to the right and the
harbour entrance marker to the right of that.

Inishbofin is lovely (the sun and heat may be helping!).

The Saltbox  “From our boat to your plate”
A great seafood cafe near the pier head with great music playing and tactile staff.

We’ve arranged to have dinner at the Inishbofin House Hotel, so it’s into the tender and head for the pier.  Coming back out is always a bit exciting!

Heading back to Lazaway in the tender
after our afternoon walk ashore



The boat bird list has just 23 species.

Our route

















































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