Jonny Moore Latest News

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18.08.08

Im now in Shotley having had a fairly easy and uneventful passage down from lowestoft. However, due to another big depression moving in up the channel, I am now stuck again with strong southerly winds which are set to continue for another few days. Hopefully I should be able to get going again by wednesday but there will still be some strong winds left over, so I may have to wait until thursday before I can set off, but hopefully this is not to be the case. I'll update as soon as I get to Ramsgate, probably on wednesday night. I may get the chance to sail in the river a bit during some calmer spells, but i couldn't get anywhere because these are only lasting for a few hours at a time.

All for now,

Jonny

14.08.08

Hi all,

I am now in Lowestoft after a week stuck in Wells. It was good to get a rest and I can`t think of a friendiler place to be stuck but it was great to be back out at sea and moving again.

Today has been another long Day (60 miles) as I left this morning at 0600hrs. As I headed down the channel I knew I had enough depth to get over the bar but I couldn`t see any gap in the breakers which looked quite rough from a distance. I had an offshore wind and an ebbing tide but the bar still didn`t look at all inviting. Eventually I saw a gap of about 20` which a fishing boat was heading for - comming towards me - and I made for the same gap. We passed each other on the bar, both crashing through waves and sending spray everywhere. It was an interesting experience to say the least, especially as my engine (which hadn`t been run for a week) chose that moment to cut out. The next half hour was choppy and unpleasent but then everything settled down and I was able to enjoy sailing under full sail in Mediterrainian sunshine and blue, blue skies.

I made good progress although as the day progressed it cooled and clouds rolled in bringing threatening weather. By 1800hrs I was just off Great Yarmouth when I was faced with a choice - the land to the right, a wind farm to the left or a massive electrical storm straight ahead! I felt a bit like a sitting duck as I watched the flashes of forked lightening. I think something was struck in Great Yarmouth as I could see lots of blue flashing lights in the town. Luckily it passed me by and I could relax once more. I arrived in Lowestoft at 2010hrs to applause from a small crowd who where enjoying a party on another boat. Anyway time for some sleep ready for my passage down to Harwich tomorrow.

Once again thanks to all at Wells for their hospitality and the free berth.

Jonny

13.08.08

Well, I`m still here in Wells-next-the-sea! When I put into here nearly a week ago I didn`t think  that I would be staying this long! I had originally intended to just have one days rest here after the long passage down from Grimsby but on the friday it proved imposible for Casulen and I to get out over the bar due to the northerly wind. Although this was forcast to ease later, which it did, it was by then too late to get over the bar due to the tide! My next passage is along the Norfolk coast and down to Lowestoft, a total of 52 miles and for this I need a favorable forecast of at least 15 hours that also fits in with the tide to allow me to exit Wells. This has just not happened due to the south westerly winds which have been forecast to be blowing force 5 or force 6 parrellel to the coast when I am likely to be trying to head south west towards Lowestoft.

Still, if you have to be stuck Wells is a great place to be and all the people couldn`t have been more helpful or friendly. I`ve had a great time here and it has given me time to rest up. It has been the first time on this trip that I`ve had a long period when I`ve had to hole up so I can`t really complain.

Tomorrows forecast is looking very hopeful, so with luck I should be on my way again.

All for now

Jonny 

06.08.08

Well I`m now in Wells-next -the-sea having completed the longest passage so far. I`ve sailed 68.7 miles over the last 16 hours having started at 0600 and I`m absolutely shattered. Yesterday I spent the day in Grimsby catching up on sleep as I knew this was to be a long day. Thanks to all at Grimsby for their help and Grimsby Marina for the free berth.

Most of the passage to Wells was pretty uneventful but I did pass loads of wind farms earlier in the day, at one point it looked like I might be passing right by them but in the end I was about a mile off.

There`s been a steady SW wind of about force 2-3 and it`s been overcast all day but dry. I met the harbour master at about 2100 at the outer marker bouy where another yacht was waiting and we both followed him up the channel. It`s a very interesting entrance and well worth experencing it! It was pitch dark and I asked the yacht in front to hang a light off the stern so I could keep about 3 meters off. The depth went down to 0.3mtrs at one stage and we seemed to be going round in circles. As I said an interesting entrance. ( I think the yacht in front of me touched down once or twice)

On arrival in the harbour I was met by a whole crowd of people, it felt like half the town had turned out to see me in, fantastic fish and chips and a great welcome. Many, many thanks to you all.

I`ve now passed two milestones in my own mind as I am futher south than my starting point and I`m also east of Grewich for the first time and it feels really odd! Today will be a rest day as it was gone midnight last night before I got to bed. Thanks to you all at Wells for such a great welcome.

03.08.08

Hi all,

Firstly thanks to everyone who has sent me emails, good wishes, chocolate brownies and other well wishes. Sorry I can't reply individually to them all.

Today I set off from Whitby at 0700 and sailed south with two reefs and a working jib as far as Robin Hoods bay. I was going really fast, recording winds of 23 knots. once in the bay, I put up full sail and settled in to the sailing. I was still recording 20 knots and was heeled right over making great headway through a flat sea. I headed down towards Flamborough head and felt that I could really just enjoy the sailing. It was over cast but dry and I was having a great day. Just off Scarborough I met some members of Bridlington Yacht Club who were out racing. We exchanged greetings and I was even able to pass over my camera to them. Although they were racing , I did my best to keep up with them and as we rounded Flamborough head I followed them in going much closer in to the cliffs than I would have done otherwise but I took full advantage of their local knowledge and it was a good passage round the head. At about 1515 I started to tack up into the bay and I was moored against Bridlington harbour wall by 1800 - thanks to the Yatch Club for the support and the Harbour for the free mooring. Overall it was a great day -- a really, really good sail.

I intend to leave at about 0700 again tomorrow for Grimsby.

Jonny.    

02.08.08

I`m now in Whitby having had two good days down from Royal Quays. Many thanks to all at Royal Quay`s Marina for their help and the free berth.

The passage to Hartlepool was quite fast but also quite choppy particually the last 3 miles when I had got myself too far offshore and was running out of time to make the lock gates. I ended up having to motorsail directly towards the harbour in order to get there in time. Hartlepool marina and waterfront is a really lively place particually as it was a friday night. Thanks for Hartlepool Marina staff for their help and the free berth.

I left for Whitby on the afternoon tide and in hindsight I should have gone in the morning against the tide as the people who did had a great sail down. By the afternoon the wind had died down so it was 1930hrs before I got past the swing bridge and in.

Tomorrow I`ll be heading down to Bridlington and the weather looks set for a great sail. I`ll let you know how it goes.

01.08.08

I have solved the problem with my "Spot" whilst in North Shields by reinstalling the link to my website. I don`t know why this stopped working but the new link seems to be up and running. My plan for today is to leave on the tide about 1300hrs and head down to Hartlepool, a fairly short passage of 23miles which is looking likely to be fog free!!! I`m hoping to arrive here early evening as there is a  good south westerly wind blowing which should make for a fast passage.

30.07.08

Jonny is currently in Blyth having got away from Amble yesterday afternoon when the fog finally lifted. He is intending to make just a short hop to Royal Quay`s Tynemouth today as he has a local reporter to meet later on.

Jonny`s "Spot" locater has been offline for the last couple of days due to a glitch with the link. We are trying to resolve this so please keep checking.

27.07.08

Aargh!! I hate fog! I left Eyemouth this morning in reasonable visibility and a good breeze. However, having gone only about 1/4 of a mile, I found myself becalmed and in less than 50mtr vis. I started the engine and set about putting in waypoints on the GPS to get me to Amble safely. Once this was done, I spent a frustrating day peering into nothingness and trying to see any sign of land. At one point, passing through the Farne Isles, I breifly glimpsed a sight of land, but this soon faded from sight. I felt like the world had shrunk to a 1/2 mile space and that I was the only one in it. I continued on blindly, heading for a waypoint that I had put just between the breakwaters off Amble. Once there, however, I could see no sign of the harbour at all! I guessed that i was just off to the north-east so headed southwest and fortunately soon could just about make out the North Breakwater. As it was nearly low water, I headed slowly up the channel with only 0.3mtrs under the keel at times. The tide guage over the marina cill showed 1 metre, so I headed confidently in, thinking I would be just about OK. Not a chance!! I stuck fast on the cill, and had no option but to wait for the tide to float me off! I was very embarassed, namely because my name is written on the side of the boat in big letters!! Once alongside, I had a meal and then crashed out. It had been a tiring day!! 

26.07.08

Having arrived in Eyemouth, I intended to sett off down the coast to Amble before continuing to Newcastle. However, due to the Easterly winds there has been a lot of fog still, and, although the wind remains light and ideal for a good passage to Amble, I have had to stay put as the visibility is down to under 50 metres at times!

I now intend to make a longer passage to Newcastle, weather dependant, in order to try and regain some of the days lost. However, I may still stop off in Amble to catch up on a bit of sleep before continuing. I'll update again when I'm in Newcastle, with a few more pictures.

Jonny 

25.07.08

Hi all, I’m now in Eyemouth after a long and tiring passage down from Arbroath. Having left at 0430, I encountered thick fog a few miles off the harbour. This was new to me as I had never really been in reduced visibility before and I found it very daunting. Although this lasted for most of the day, it cleared out later on, and the sun came out for a few hours. As I had been battling into large seas I had been heading towards Dunbar, but now I could turn more south eastwards to St Abbs Head, which I finally rounded before getting into Eyemouth at 1800hrs. I should be able to update more often now as I expect to be able to get a connection almost everywhere, but no promises!!

Jonny

24.07.08

Jonny left Peterhead and made an overnight passage down to Stonehaven. From here he moved on to Arbroth where he spent yesterday, moving out of the marina into the outer harbour in the afternoon ready for a early start today. This morning he departed at 0420hrs for Eyemouth but since then fog has formed at times very thick. He has deceided to press on as the Firth of Forth is not too busy with shipping and the thicker patches are lasting only 10 to 15 mins although visability is never more than about 1 mile. He is still having problems uploading to his site and even sending emails due to a poor signal but is hoping to post another update later today when he gets to Eyemouth.

23.07.08

I’m now in Arbroath, and its been an interesting time since Wick. Although I am now clear of the exposure of the north of Scotland, this coast is a different challenge in its own right. Due to having to so several long passages, I am feeling really tired, but this situation should improve as I get further south, where there are more harbours, and less of them are drying. I’m finding the sailing quite frustrating, doe to there being headwinds all the way since whitehills and unfortunately due to this my morale at the moment is not as good as it could be. However, I’m still smiling and I’m really looking forwards to getting futher south where I will be catching up with lots of people I know and several I haven’t met yet! I’m intending going to either Dunbar or Eyemouth tomorrow, depending on the wind direction when I get out there. Also, it will be a very early start, so a good night’s sleep is in order! I’ll try and do an update tomorrow, but can’t promise anything, as I don’t know whether there will be a signal or not!That’s all for now, Jonny

21.07.08 

Having been stuck in Peterhead for a couple of days, I'm hopeful that I can now get going again because the wind is due to die down by 1200 today. This would enable me to get to stonehaven later on tonight if the forecast is correct, otherwise i'll have to wait anoter day for it to die down properly. Also a quick thank you to the staff in peterhead marina who have been really helpful.

Jonny

18.07.08

I'm now in Fraserburgh due to the large swell I encountered once I was just past Fraserburgh. Although the winds were relatively light, the swell length was too short to enable me to make any headway and even with the engine on, the prop kept coming out if the water so I decided to go and wait until it had calmed down. I'm hoping to be able to leave at around first light in the morning in order to get to Peterhead before the wind gets up at around 1100hrs.

I'll update when I get to Peterhead with a few pics as well.

Jonny

18.07.08

Jonny left Wick yesterday at 0530hrs to make the long passage (55miles)accross the Moray Firth to Whitehills arriving at around 1730hrs. Today he is moving on to Peterhead around Rattray Head departing around 1030hrs. He will hopefully give a update from here as yesterdays long passage didn`t leave him with much time last night.

15.07.08

Whilst I was stuck in Wick for a couple of days, I  was fortunate enough to be invited along for a trip on board Geo Explorer, a local tour RIB (go to http://www.caithness-seacoast.co.uk/ for more info). This was a really great experience, and we explored around the coast, going into some caverns in the cliffs and seeing loads of wildlife.

The support from everyone in Wick has been brilliant, from the locals who have just stopped by for a chat, to Malcom the Harbourmaster, the team from Caithness Seacoast, who have been no end of help and advice, and the local lifeboat team who have also been really helpful towards me.

14.07.08

Once I had finally got away from Kinlochbervie, I managed to head northwards once more towards Cape Wrath. I was feeling really apprehensive about making this passage, as it seemed very daunting and there was still a huge swell left over from the Northerly winds of the past week. Once clear of Eilean an Roin Mor, I managed to sail up the coast to Am Balg, a small island about half way between Kinlochbervie and Cape Wrath. Due to the swell, I had to start the engine in order to keep any momentum; otherwise I just stopped on the top of each wave before falling heavily into the trough of the next. I was hopeful that, once around the cape, I would be able to get an angle on the wind, which was still blowing from the North, but was due to decrease and back later on. As I rounded the cape, I got caught up in some really heavy overfalls and was thrown around a lot, however, the tide pushed me through and I was soon clear of the worst and able to sail properly for the first time in days. Although this was great, I was suddenly overwhelmed by the realisation that I couldn’t now get back to Kinlochbervie and had to carry on. Although I had known this before I left, I was unprepared for the feeling of total isolation and commitment. What also didn’t help was the fact that I had just had a very large Killer Whale surface next to me!! Whilst this was amazing and a great experience in itself, it had scared me quite badly as it was the last thing I had expected and it was really close to the boat. I suddenly felt very small and even more isolated.

Throughout the night the wind continued to die, as forecast, and in the end I had to resort once more to motoring if I was to get to Scrabster before the following evening!! Once I had started the engine, the passage was quite uneventful and I arrived in Scrabster at about 0330hrs on Sunday morning. Many thanks to Scrabster Harbour office for the free berthing www.scrabster.co.uk

After a few hours sleep, I woke up and prepared to go around to Wick. Although I was still really very tired, the forecast was just too good to miss, and it was also only a day after neap tides, so I had the ideal opportunity to get through the Pentland Firth. It was looking like I’d have to do a lot of motoring again, so I filled up with petrol and, at 1230 set off to catch the tide through the firth.

Apart from some short and choppy overfalls off Duncansby Head, the passage was almost uneventful and I turned south into yet another headwind, sheeted the mainsail tight and motorsailed the remaining 12miles into Wick.

Well, I've done it and I'm now through the Pentland Firth and into Wick. The sense of releif is overwhelming and I feel as though I now just have to sail a "short distance" back to Holyhead. Although this is in no way true and I still have a long way to go, I feel that the most difficult part is now over and i can now reallly start to get going and settle properly into the trip.

Unfortunately, I think that I'll be in Wick for a couple more days because of some bad weather coming in, but, once this is clear, the forecast looks good for a few days at least!!

Many thanks to all the people at Wick for making me feel so welcome and the harbour for the free berth.  www.wickharbour.co.uk

I'll attempt to put in another update once I get to Whitehills,

Jonny

11.07.08

I've put a few more pics in the gallery under "North of Skye" 

11.07.08

At last, I've got a decent internet connection! Although I've been able to view all your emails, its been nigh impossible to do any updates at dial-up speed! Thanlks to everyone for their good wishes, sorry I can't reply to you all personally, as I'm sure you understand.

The last few days have been very hard work, with North Easterly winds of about force 4-5 and a big swell running, particuarly for a boat the size of Casulen II. Another aspect that dosen't help is the sense of total isolation up here-it' s a long, long way to anywhere that is more than just a couple of houses and possibly a small shop!! You also don't really see any other boats up here other than the local fishermen, and they tend to be just in the bays and not further out. I've only met two other boats who are heading north, both of them nearly twice the size of Casulen II! Winds that you'd be happy in in other waters seem a lot stronger up here, I'm sure its all in the mind but names like Cape Wrath don't help!! (apparently it means "turning" in Norse") Whatever!! It still sounds scary!!

Yesterday, I was very undecided as to whether to go or not, so I decided to go and poke my nose around the corner, the "corner" being 4 miles away. Once there, I found I was experiencing winds of over 20 knots, and there was a line of breaking waves as I left the relative shelter of the loch. This was all from the North East, so the thought of beating all the way to Cape Wrath in a force 5 headwind, to then deliberately put myself on a lee shore with little or no shelter and another 20 miles to go, was not a pleasant one!! At least it helped me to make the decision to stay put! So I'm still in Kinlochbervie!

I'm hoping to be able to get round to Talmine bay on Saturday, then follow some lighter winds across to Scrabster, before the next lot of strong winds come in!

I hope I'll be able to update again in Scrabster or Wick, otherwise I'll update in Whitehills, as I know there's a connection there.

That's all for now then,

Jonny

09.07.08

Jonny is now in Kinlochbervie, just down from Cape Wrath. He reports that the weather has been "OK" but it's been head into the wind all the way! He is very tired but feeling OK and is hoping for better weather soon to tackle the North coast. 

06.07.08

This morning I left the pontoons at the Kyles of Lochalsh and headed out under the Skye bridge. Once I was out in the open I got some sail up and headed towards the Crowlin Islands. The winds which had been reasonably light started to get up and soon I was experiencing winds of over 28 knots and gusting. Unsure of the forecast, and therefore whether this would continue for the rest of the day, I decided to go into Loch Toscaig to await better weather. Once I was there however, the wind seemed to ease and I set off again to continue round to Gairloch. Although to start off with, the wind remained light, it soon started to rise once more and, as I approached the mouth of Loch Torridon, I put in a third reef and hanked on the storm jib preparing for a lot of wind as I left the relative shelter of the coast. However, the wind died away almost instantly and I had to start the engine to keep moving. Almost as soon as I had done this the wind moved to the north and started to build again. I put up the storm jib, took down the mainsail and fought into it with the engine running to help me through the waves for the remaining few miles into Loch Gairloch. Once there I picked up a mooring in Badachro and went ashore for some food!!

06.07.08

Having woken up at 0230hrs I slipped the mooring in Armadale Bay at 0300 and set off to go through the Kyle Rhea and into the Kyles of Lochalsh. Again due to frustratingly light winds, this time from the north, I had to motor again but for nowhere near as long as I had the previous day. Kyle Rhea is a really wonderful place and there were loads of seals and sea birds around the boat as I went through on the tide. Once clear, having been spat out of the sound like the proverbial cork out of the bottle, I turned for the visitors pontoons on the North side of the Kyles where I tied up along side ready to go up to Loch Gairloch tommorrow. That's it for today, I'll update as soon as I can.

Jonny.

05.07.08

Hi all!!

Just a bit of an update of what I have done over the past two days. I left Tobermory at around 1000hrs having had a brilliant send off and a great breakfast on board the yacht next to me. Once I had cleared the bay, I put up the spinnaker and headed towards Ardnamurchan point in absolutely idyllic conditions. However, as I approached the headland the wind headed me off until I was closehauled trying to make enough windward to clear the rocks. However with the change in direction, the wind also died away completely and I had to resort to motoring. For the rest of the day, it rained on and off, and the sea remained frustratingly calm. This paid off as I was able to make a good course and at a good speed albeit under power, and I finally arrived in Armadale Bay at 1900hrs and picked up a visitors mooring.

03.07.08

Hi all!!

I'm now in Tobermory, and have had a really great day-probably the best of the whole trip so far!!

I set off at about midday today, and had a wonderful sail across the sound to Duart Castle, where the wind unfortunately died, but the sun was out and I motorsailed most of the way up the sound. When I was within about 4 miles of Tobermory, the wind suddenly increased enough for me to tack the final stretch into the harbour, where I received a brilliant welcome from some of the other yachts on the pontoons! Thanks very much!!

03.07.08

Jonny is halfway up the Sound of Mull heading for Tobermory(1515hrs). Today he has had very light winds all day for the first time on the trip but is hoping to get there by around 1800hrs tonight. Yesterday after leaving Craobh Haven (many thanks for the berth) he had another rough passage through Cuan Sound and around Easedale with winds of force 5/6  After taking many waves over the deck and a few over the sprayhood he deceided to head for Oban and give the sea longer to calm down. Thanks to all of you sending him emails and to all the people on route who are offering encouragement, this support means alot to him. His current plan is to round Ardnamurchan Point tomorrow heading for Armadale Bay on Sleat (Skye). With luck Saturday at dawn should see him catching the tide through Kyle Rhea to the Kyle of Lochalsh.

1.07.08 - Craobh Haven

As it's now been 10 days since I set off, I thought I'd give you a bit of an account of how the trip has gone so far. As many of you are aware the weather has certainly not been kind to me and as a result I have found this first period really wearing and hard going. I'd be lying to say that I have enjoyed it all, in fact there have been times when I've really wondered what I've been doing out there, however I am beginning to settle into it and now have some of the major passages behind me. I think that the most stressful period was after I had gone up the east coast of Ireland, and had experienced some really strong winds, then being faced with a more exposed passage across the North Channel. This was a bit daunting to say the least, as the forecast was for force 9 south westerlies in Malin!!

However, I am now in much more familiar waters and am on mailand Scotland, which means that people can come and visit me. My mum and Dad came to visit me last night, and we had a good meal, and today, whilst sheltering from yet another storm, I have been able to catch up with the inevitable maintainance. I think that now I will be able to settle into the trip, and enjoy the sailing, which is, after all what I set out for!! Using my new sails from Kemp has made a big difference to the overall speed of the passages, and I have been seeing sustained speeds of over 6.5 knots, even if I was probably overcanvassed at times. At one point, I have seen nearly twice the hull speed, which, although it was scary, was really amazing!!

I'll try and update in the next couple of days, but can't promise anything because of the poor signal strengths.

That's all for now,

Jonny

30.06.08

Sunday was spent in Craighouse on Jura having a bit of a rest after yesterday`s long passage up from Ballycastle in Northern Ireland. The decision to push on to here had been taken just before I had entered Port Ellen on Jura, in fact I could see the pontoons and it was pretty hard thing to do as I really didn`t want to do another 20 miles that day. It was all based on the weather forecast that I got for force 6 winds from the SW on sunday. This is the one direction to which Port Ellen is fairly open and I would of had to head out into the wind to get clear of the offlying rocks. On sunday I was thankful I had done this as at one point I recorded 35knots wind speed and this was in the relative shelter of the bay in which Craighouse lies. One yacht comming in said he had experienced in excess of 40knots wind! Today I am heading up to Craobh Marina leaving soon and will spend tomorrow there as another blow of force 6 and above is forecast. Here I hope internet access will be at more than dial up speed so I can put up a few photo`s.

Must go, got a tide to catch,

Jonny

28.06.08

Jonny is still struggling with internet access so just a quick update. He left Ballycastle at 0545hrs today and had a good sail past the west end of Rathlin Island accross to Islay by around noon. At this point he deceided to continue on to Craighouses on Jura arriving at around 1800hrs. He will probabaly spend tomorrow here as the forecast is for force 6 winds before continuing on to Craobh on Monday.

27.06.08

At 0530hrs this morning Jonny left Glenarm Bay and has been making good progress on the tide. He is currently (0920) off Fair Head about 5miles from Ballycastle so with luck should be moored up within 2 hrs.

Jonny arrived at Ballycastle at 1015hrs, hopefully he will be able to post an update later today.

26.06.08 

Hi all. Just a quick update to let you know that I safely arrived in Glenarm marina at 1230 today. Although it was really windy today, I managed to avoid the worst of it by hugging the coast, and only got really hammered as I approached Glenarm Bay. This was a bit scary as Casulen was doing between 8 and 9 knots.  I had put the autopilot away and lifted the steering oar on the windvane, so was helming and I had to continue until the wind eased sufficiently for me to be able to sort everything out.

Hopefully, I will be able to get up to Ballycastle tomorrow, and then up across the north Channel to Port Ellen the day after. I'm a little bit apprehensive about this passage, as it will be across open water, and if this weather continues, it could be eventful to say the least!! Here`s hoping for a slight drop in the wind.

I'll try and update tomorrow, but can't promise anything, as i'm not sure of the coverage up there.

Jonny

26.06.08

Jonny left Bangor at 0630hrs this morning and is heading north to Glenarm Bay. He is currently (0930) just level with Larne and is experiencing mixed weather, from heavy downpours with strong gusting winds one minute to sunshine and little wind the next. The tide is due to turn in about 1hr so his progress will slow but he is hopeful he will be at Glenarm marina for lunchtime.

25.06.08

Hi all. Sorry I've not been able to update sooner, the Isle of Man has a different network that I can't use online!
It's been a really tiring few days since the start of my trip, and I am now feeling very worn out and a little bit lonely, as I am in "foreign lands"!
I am hopeful, however, that, once I am in scottish (and more familiar waters), that I will settle down into the trip, and be able to get going properly.
However, whilst the weather continues like this, I am going to have to take short steps up the Irish coast, avoiding the worst of it, before going across the north channel to Port Ellen on Islay.

The weather in Port St Mary was "building" when I arrived and the following day was actually quite scary, see photo, it makes you feel quite small and insignificant particulally when you are in a 21` boat. Going across to Ireland had never featured in my plans but due to the weather systems comming in seems to me to be the only option if I am to keep moving. Today I am having a rest day as the crossing from Peel was again a bit "full on" and overall I probably haven`t had much sleep since Holyhead.
Bye for now!!
Jonny

24.06.08

Jonny has arrived in Bangor Northen Ireland after another long passage. He is looking forward to some shorter hops up the coast now to give him time to settle down into the trip. Both the passage over to IOM and this one to Bangor have been quite hard as both have been well over 12hrs in length and around the 50 nautical mile distance (all of you small boat owners will relate to this no doubt) He is hoping to put some news up later as he thinks Bangor marina have WiFi, but first its big mugs of tea and food.

23.06.08

Jonny has arrived in Peel having left Port St Mary at 1140hrs and passed through Calf Sound at the Southen tip of IOM. He arrived at Peel at 1625hrs after a uneventful leg. The winds had died right back and he had to motor for the last 2 hours in order to get in as access is only 2 hrs either side of high water. He plans to spend the night here before a early start tomorrow (0330hrs) for the crossing to Bangor, Northen Ireland. Jonny is hoping that when he reaches Ireland he will be able to link in to the internet to update this himself and also add some photo`s.

23.06.08

Jonny has spent the last 2 days in Port St Mary sheltering from the gales that have swept through the Irish Sea. IOM have been experiencing winds of over 50 mph (gale force 9) with huge waves and swell. Due to this and the sea state it has left behind Jonny has deceided to change his route. He is planning to leave today around 1130am and head to Bangor in Northen Ireland. From here he will make his way north to Ballycastle in Rathlin Sound on the northen tip of Ireland, planning with luck to cross to Port Ellen on Islay on friday of this week. Further high winds are forecast for the Irish sea on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday but Jonny is hopeful that by going to Ireland he will have a weather shore and so be able to work his way northwards.

21.06.08

Jonny departed from Holyhead marina at 0915hrs yesterday and arrived at Port St Mary on the Isle of Man at 2130hrs after a lively passage, surfing into the harbour at over 7knots with 2 reefs in the main. The forecast is not good for the next couple of days (see below) so he will be holeing up and waiting for it to blow through. Many thanks to all of you who turned out to see him off and to everyone who has sent good luck messages. At the moment he has no internet coverage so is unable to post himself, but will be updating as soon as he reaches Scotland.

Isle of Man

Issued by the Met Office at 0500 UTC on Saturday 21 June 2008
24 hour forecast:
Wind - East or southeast 3 or 4 increasing 5 or 6, veering south 6 to gale 8 later.
Weather - Fair then rain at times.
Visibility - Good becoming moderate or poor.
Sea State - Slight becoming rough.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
Wind - South veering west 7 or gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, veering northwest 5 later.
Weather - Occasional rain then fair.
Visibility - Moderate or poor becoming good.
Sea State - Rough or very rough, becoming moderate later.