So as you know – if you read the previous post – we got over from Milford Haven to Dublin and all was well with the world. In fact – it was an exhilarating sail with speeds over over 11 knots at times (current right behind us). We had pretty good winds and weather all the way over and got here just after sunrise. It was “grand”. Just after 10.30pm past night, Paul and I (my watch help) spotted the outline of the Irish Coast and it stayed with us all night. Of course, when we got here the Marina office wasn’t open (it was advertised to be open and nor was there any answer from the Harbor master on channel 12). But, we tied up on the end of a pontoon inside the Marina, made breakfast and then visited the office later to check in. I had a lovely conversaiton with a French guy in a small vintage boat next to us. On a sample of one, he didn’t care whether the UK was in or out of Europe, but he did care that France thought about its own future carefully (I see more separatism on the horizon).

Snooty Sailing Clubs would ask you yo move from where you sneakily tied up for convenience (on a pontoon end) and they would move you to the back waters, but not this one. This is one of the largest and certainly most competitive sailing clubs in Ireland – and they are massively accommodating. Ah well – why not be accommodating (listen up Jobsworth of Exeter).
A couple of lunch times Guinness’s at the Abbey Tavern (and full marks Gerry Lynch for knowing where we were from just the photo of the glass of Guinness) and a little lunch on the boat and once again all was well with the world.
En route back from bar to the Marina – I visited a very nice, up market – food and Sea food market! Beshoff’s serves Oysters, fine wine and a whole variety of very nice cheeses, fish, bread and the like. Says I, to the pretty, very young, demure red head busily making coffee to order (not your average STARBUCKS here – although that is further along the road and owned by my good friends, the Butler Brothers)- says I “Do you know where I can buy eggs please”? Slightly tilting her eyes down like a shy girl, she says “They’re right over there by the X and the X”. With a little more guidance (for stupid here) I found them. Once again I had to go back to the knowledge well and ask her “I don’t suppose you have bread too, do you”. This time with a sideways flick of the eyes she directed me 1 pace to the right to a very obvious bread display and then with a flick of the eyes up she clearly said “are you a Feckin eegit or wha”. She was, of course right, I am an idiot for not being able to spot this. Of course she went on to talk me through the entire display and made sure I knew who the baker was and what the origin of each loaf on display were. Where else?
There is a real feeling of home to me, whenever I visit Ireland. Not because it’s my home, because it clearly isn’t. BUT – whether it’s through the influence on my own family (some from my grandparents generation and some through my sister and brother-in-law, Gill and Gerry Lynch, 4 kids, all born in Ireland, all with Irish Passports, all with Irishish names and all with a geart heritage) – or whether it’s through Bernadette’s family (Bernadette Kathleen Riley might be a bit of a giveaway), Being in Ireland always feels like coming back to home. There is something completely unique about Irish hospitality and it fits well within our family. Without causing offense or upset, they manage to take the piss and do so respectfully. At its heart, the Irish don’t take themselves too seriously and they certainly don’t take others too seriously, and at the same time they are respectful of the right things, which have changed significantly over the last 20 years. It;s not a perfect society, just better than most. The recent vote for the legalization of some sex marriages underscored the sensitivity and sensibility of modern Irish life, while still blending sufficient heritage to make it count. I would absolutely be at home here. 
Tomorrow I get to meet 2 of my Great Nieces (my nephew Ian’s “wee” girls). I couldn’t be more excited. One of life’s true delights- seeing the next generation grow and take control of life and create yet the next generation!

Then tomorrow night we’re off to the Isle of Man (see map later on) – a place I have never been and most famous for its Motorcycle racing . It wasn’t our original plan to leave tomorrow night – but with a change in training skipper, he thinks we need to do it if we’re to leave sufficient time to visit a distillery further up the coast. You can’ argue with that logic, can you.

So, it not only can, but it did come together last night. We used wind and wind alone to get from South Wales over the Irish Sea to Dublin, sailing right up to the harbour entrance here in Howth. I think that is awesome. Not a drop of fossil fuel was used and the wind and the tide carried us here. When it comes together it really is “grand”!
Pip pip,
N