Good trip on rib today

two stroke mick · 10 October 2016, 19:10

Today I had a good day out on the rib. I went from rosmoney (Westport) to bills rock to achill l head to black rock lighthouse to iniskea south island. The chart plotter gave up the ghost at the start of the trip. Good job I had my homework done as it was old school nav with chart and compass as my friend drove the rib. Estimated distance Circe 80 nm. Estimated fuel burn 60 Lts spinning a 13 by19 prop with two adults ( total weight circa 25 stone) and 90 Lts of petrol. made good speed out varied from 22 to 26 kn. The way back was difficult from achill head to well into clew bay. If I went at less than 17 kn the rib would slam more than 20 kn the rib would slam. Active use of the loud stick was the order of the day ( Wind against tide)

I was nervous about going out as it has been a very poor year for me on the water and a very long time since I did a trip of this sort of distance. Only that I had my map work done I would have been in bother. I will post photos tomorrow.

Tsm

MustRib · 10 October 2016, 19:25

well done TSM
it does the confidence good challenging yourself when you have been off
the water for a while. 80 nm is a fair distance especially when the conditions for
half of it are testing

kerny · 10 October 2016, 19:34

Nice 1 TSM looking forward to the pics 👍

willk · 10 October 2016, 20:29

Good on yer! That brief account cheered me up no end - I can just picture it!

I'll be down to visit your stretch in 2017...

two stroke mick · 10 October 2016, 20:54

Wilk

If in mayo give me a shout if you needs anything

Tsm

two stroke mick · 11 October 2016, 11:46

As promised here are a few of the photos I took yesterday. There was a thick mist around all day and as a result the photos are not great. This mist also cased problems when navigating as it reduced vis to circa 3-4 nm. Thus it was compass and chart work without visual references.

The area I was cruising in in located off the West Coast of Ireland (in and around the teddy bears arm if looking at a map of Ireland). The Bills rocks are located about 6nm south of Achill and is located in circa 50m of water. This is probably one of the most famous dive spots in Ireland. Unfortunately the photos did not come out but this is just an excuse to go again. I am told that they are called the bills rock because the old police force in Ireland used the rocks as target practice for cannon and shot (thus they were used by the Old Bill and became the Bills rocks.)

Next waypoint was Achill head a wild and unforgiving place. big tides and big seas with no place of safety if things go wrong.

The Black rock light house was the next waypoint again no photos. This lump of rock is located circa 6 NM NNW of Achill head and has plenty of rocks around it to the West and the south of the rock. It has the reputation for stranding more lighthouse keepers (back in the day) than any other lighthouse in Ireland (weather bound)

From there we made it to Inishkea South. This is one of two Islands which is separated by a narrow stretch f water (circa 100m wide). A whaling station was established on Rusheen Island (almost attached to Inishkea south) in 1908. During the Civil War in Ireland the two islands took opposing positions. Local lore would have it that the islanders lined up one either side of the channel and threw stones at each other.

In 1927 there was a mass drowning of 10 of the men on the islands. As this represented the majority of the working men ( rowing fishing and recovery of boats) life on the islands became unsustainable as the labour of the Islands was lost. The islands were abandoned in 1939.

A good link to better photos of the Iniskeas and a short note on its history.

http://www.inyourfootsteps.com/saili...?pictureView=1

two stroke mick · 11 October 2016, 11:47

Photos of the village and Harbour at Inishkea South.

two stroke mick · 11 October 2016, 11:51

Photos of the houses at Inishkea South

two stroke mick · 11 October 2016, 11:53

These are two photos which show the gap between the North and South Island. The photos are taken from the south Island looking to the North Island. This is the gap that the stone throwing took place.