We slipped Glenarm at 07.05, only five minutes after the plan, and motorsailed South with the tide giving us a cuple of knots and more at times. I made tea and toast for me and Darren while Catherine snoozed on in the forepeak. We passed Hunters Rock at 08.30 making 7kts over the ground, and were soon sailing across the mouth of Belfast Lough. It would have been nice to go into Bangor and see our friends Eilish and Ric, but we had a tide to carry and places to be.
As expected, we lost the tide as we came out of the bottom of Donaghadee Sound at 10.45, but it was neaps and we stayed close inshore to the Ards peninsula and made better time than expected. Very lumpy going across the mouth of Strangford Lough, then it was the familiar sight of the water tower and so into this wonderfully sheltered little marina, mooring up just before seven o’clock.
The forecast is showing strong Southerlies, so we are likely to be here for a few days.