Gola to Rathlin round the top 05 June 2023 updated at 19.10hrs

June 05, 2023

As we left Gola at 06.00 this morning

As we start the day, the weather could not be better. Almost dead calm, sun coming up, no rain and cool but not cold. Of course, what’s important on today’s trip is the sea state. Rounding the west and north coasts of Donegal has always been one of our main challenges - it can be pretty rough up here. However, as we start the day it couldn’t be calmer. Fantastic. The forecast is for the wind to pick up, but we hope we can get round Malin Head before it does.

In the meantime, we’ve just passed Bloody Foreland on our right with Errigal just a bit inland, and we have Tory Island on our left. We’re also passing a wee group of islands: (another) Inishbofin, Inishdooey and Inish Beg. Wonderful.

Tory Island looking very close

08.00 Horn Head on our right looking splendid in the morning sun, with Dunfanaghy tucked in behind it. Lots of Puffins. It’s got a bit colder (I suppose we are in the north now) with a gentle easterly breeze and a swell from the northwest making the journey lively. It’s still remarkably calm for this part of the world.

09.00 We’re just coming up to Fanad Head with its lighthouse. During the past hour we’ve passed so many glorious beaches starting at the Dunfanaghy beach (I’m sure I could see breakfast being served in Rockhaven B&B). The sea has calmed a little, though the swell is still with us, and the day is slightly warmer. Troops of Gannets and auks are passing us on their way to feeding waters, or back to their colonies.

10.00 Lough Swilly is now behind us as we head up the west side of the Inishowen Peninsula. Fulmars skim the waves and we have been escorted by the occasional Lesser Black-backed Gull. It is remarkably calm as we approach Malin Head, and with the island of Inishtrahull on the horizon ahead.

10.14 Malin Head - the most northerly point of the Irish mainland
(and of course it’s in the South) - this is a big milestone for us.
Getting round Malin has always felt like a pipe dream, not realistic,
but here we are, we’re round!

11.00 What a difference! We are now cruising along the north coast of the Inishowen Peninsula, we’re past Malin Head and the sea has gone dead calm, not even a swell. No wind, all sun, it’s warm, and we have 3 knots of tide with us. What could be better? Nothing! Absolutely fantastic. And we’ve just had coffee.😊

12.00 It’s been a busy hour. A couple of Storm Petrels have been entertaining us by dancing over the waves (though still they are incredibly difficult to spot even in these very calm conditions), and a Harbour Porpoise was off to starboard briefly. However, the highlight of the hour has been arriving off the mouth of the Foyle and passing from Irish waters into UK waters. Another milestone.

Gordon conducts the courtesy flag takedown ceremony.

13.00 Bushmills is off to our starboard and we have acquired a short sharp sea that’s making the boat pitch and plunge - it has made having a light lunch on the flybridge very interesting (as in tricky, difficult, sloppy). We’ve seen a couple more Harbour Porpoises and Gordon has finally done today’s Wordle - we are all a bit relieved. Rathlin is clearly visible ahead. We’re getting there.

14.00 We’ve arrived at the west end of Rathlin. It’s teaming with birds - Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes and other gulls, all feeding in the tidal currents that are now against us. Nevertheless we will soon be there.