Achill Island

Today the weather has been settled with gentle winds.We moored up against the pier using my hand made fender board for the first time!
This evening we hope to climb Slievemore Peak  - 668 metres high. Never a dull moment for the crew of Raven!

Leg 4 - Unexpected Visitors

Apart from the seasickness, the leg four crew are having a great week. We have been relaxing on board with clear skies overhead.

We also had four unexpected visitors accompanying us for over an hour from Dingle to Fenit Harbour. We were sorry to see them go!

  

The Unsuccessful Seasickness Prevention Programme

Pete had heard that an eye-patch helps prevent sickness...

It worked wonders!

End of Leg 3

We've had a great week with Minnie, Louise, Tom and Salim. Goodbye to the leg three crew!

A Week of Wildlife!

We were lucky enough to see hundreds of gannets when visited Bull Island on Thursday.

A rare specie: The Bearded Skipper-Bird

Whales, Dolphins and Seals!

Despite no wind and a rainy start, we had a fantastic day on Monday. We were lucky enough to see whales, dolphins and seals along the coast! After anchoring in Banlodge Creek, we took the dinghy into a lovely deep sea cave. 

Later in the day we went ashore to Crookhaven where we picked up Minnie and had a great meal. 

Dunnycove Bay

Exploring the caves at Dunnycove Bay near Cork, Ireland. 

Leg 3 Begins!

So we say goodbye to the crew of leg 2....

...and hello to the new crew - Tom, Louise, Minnie and Salim. 

End of Week 2

After sailing around Cork in the morning with our new spray hood fitted, we headed for our final stop of the week - Kinsale. Tom tried his skills out at tasting the difference between Murphy's and Guinness blindfolded - needless to say, he passed first time...

New spray hood being fitted

Murphy's or Guinness? Hmm...

Exploring Cork

We have stayed in Cork all day today. When taking a short sail around the harbour, we saw a boat race with spinnaker sails put to good use. Cork has the oldest yacht club in the world and a beautiful cathedral. Picture perfect!

We're off to Kinsale tomorrow after the new spray hood gets fitted. 

Spray hood being measured

Vital Repairs

Today we were bound for Yougal but decided we needed to get to Cork ASAP as Raven needs some vital repairs! This makes us a day ahead of schedule.
Unfortunately the domestic water pump packed up first thing this morning and the spray hood has several tears appearing. We will be buying a new pressure switch for the water pump, and getting a new spray hood measured and  fitted over the next few days.

The sail to Cork was not the best as the wind dropped considerably. Therefore we had to motor for a eight hours today. We're currently tied up in the new 'Monkstown Marina' having a well-deserved rest after a busy two days.

Welcome to Ireland!

We had a great sail across the Irish Sea yesterday, setting off at 5.30am. Fourteen sunny hours, and seventy-four miles later, we moored in Dunmore East. It was a beautiful day, with force 5/6 winds and a wind between nineteen and twenty-six knots.

A great evening was had by all when we met with one of Richard's cousins, followed by listening to authentic Irish music in a local pub!

Dinghy Disaster!

It was a pretty windy weekend with 35 knots on Saturday and then a force 8 wind on Sunday - wow! We left for Skomer Island at 7am and two hours into the sail, realised we had lost our dinghy we had been towing.
The seas were so rough, we could not possibly stop to find it... Slightly panicking, Richard rang the coastguard and...it had been reported and found. Phew! Unfortunately, we still had to go back and get it so had to make a change to the passage plan. That meant a lazy day today as we prepared for our big sail to Ireland tomorrow.

The 'Pilot' delivering us the tender today!

Another close one! We all need a little adventure....don't we?!

Leg 2 - New week, new crew

On our first 'Switch-over Saturday' we say goodbye to Paul, Doug and Martin and say hello to the new crew: Tom, Richard and Tim. Welcome aboard!

End of Leg One

The end of day six ended in hilarity and then disaster as I got knocked over by a wave when taking the dinghy back to Raven from Skomer Island!! After a few laughs all round, I realised it was less funny when I discovered my Iphone in my back pocket...

Luckily, after a day to dry out it is now fully functioning - phew!

We had a good sail today from Skomer to Milford Haven. A great week had by all! On to leg 2...

Day 6 at Skomer Island

We moored up at Skomer yesterday and were greeted by Ed and Bee, the wardens. 

We were also greeted by some other friendly locals!

More from Lundy

Seals say goodbye as we leave Lundy

No sooner had we left Lundy and force 7 winds flip over the dinghy! A very challenging crossing indeed with several waves breaking over the cockpit (thank goodness for wellies!)

Braced for the weather ahead!

Pitched against the seas from Lundy, still with a mars bar in hand!

Day 5 - Crossing the Channel and Lundy Island

Yesterday we had another early start and arrived at Lundy Island for lunch. Lundy looked beautiful in the sunshine.

Arriving at Lundy - a big walk up the hill and a well deserved pint!

Unfortunately, the weather had changed dramatically by the time we were back for the second sail of the day. It was a very challenging 6+ hour sail in the afternoon and well into the evening. We finally arrived in Dale, Wales at 9.30pm.

Returning to Raven!

Yesterday (Day 4) - Penzance to Padstow

We travelled from Penzance to Padstow yesterday, stopping off in St Ives for breakfast. A meant we were in for a long day ahead! A force 6 wind woke us up but it was worth it when we headed round Land's End with the sun in our faces. Travelled 60 nautical miles today. 

Longships Lighthouse

Great start to the day

Day 3

We sailed from St Mawes to Newlyn today (near Penzance). It was around force 4 most of the day with big swells at times. All ready to get up at 4.15am tomorrow for a long trip round the Cornwall coast to Padstow. Sleep tight!

View from the Dartmouth Office

We were excited to learn that we were photographed by the 'View from the Dartmouth Office' when we left Dartmouth on Saturday. Fantastic! See photos of Raven here

Find us!

Don't forget that you can track our progress online... The website gives details of our speed, location and route. Click here

Day 2 - Paul at the Helm

Paul almost looking quite cool at the helm... shame about the hat!

Day 2

A peaceful start to day two with sunshine and a light wind.

What a Catch!

Fishing for three minutes and caught two pollock and a mackerel to boot!

It begins!

Here we are - the crew for the first leg of the journey. Months of planning and we finally sailed out of the river Dart, heading for Newton Ferrers. It begins...