No Waterloo

Following some gymnastics to exit from our mooring position we started our passage south to Glenarm. Weaving our way out past the fishing boats and through the narrow entrance we buried the throttle on the engine to avoid an errant ferry and were met with another version of slack water which included an Atlantic swell forcing its way through the bay followed by the delights of 'Fair Head' with its swirling currents. Two other yachts followed us out and used us as guinea pigs for their sail plan and best course to steer. Now readers, this is confession time. It pains us to say this, but, we were overtaken by the French – our only excuse they were a lot lighter than our 10 tonnes. We managed to stay with them for a while and almost threatened a comeback but to no avail despite travelling at over 10kts (SOG); the tidal stream greatly aiding our challenge; we tried but at least we won the cricket.

It was an excellent downwind sail, quite rare for us, F5-F6 under genoa alone we were flying along. Eating up the miles we decided to pass on Glenarm, arrgh smell them cows, and make use of the following wind and the rest of the tidal stream before it turned heading for Carrickfergus on the northshore of Belfast Lough. A couple of brief rain showers later; a quick change of course to avoid a huge P&O FastCat ferry – we didn't have to but thought it wise as he was doing over 30kts and may not have seen us – we were soon tied up at the marina, kettle on, another fine day.