Please Sir…can we stay?

20Aug13

'Nope.'

Kicked out for J24 World Champs we headed south for the new marina at Greystones just South of Dublin Bay.

It was a strange day: hot and sunny start; wind building from the south; awkward 2-3m swell; wind over tide; just 15 miles to travel; sails set well but little progress, the tide our only ally; CH16 then sparked into life. A container vessel ran aground in good conditions on the approach to Dublin and a yacht we had passed travelling north called for immediate assistance – the yacht managed to sort itself out, as for the container vessel 'MV Cielo di San Francisco'…it's now under investigation?

Greystones is still in development and very shiny and new without chart presence – do not be caught out by the short finger pontoons in a F6 approach [there's hindsight] and the current lack of Wi-Fi as promised. There's disquiet in the locals about the development as the previous traditional and picturesque harbour was much loved. Its replacement is pretty sterile and as yet unfinished – the locals are still awaiting their promised health centre and the final phase of completion is not looking imminent. However, it is a welcome port of call close to Dublin though a tad on the expensive side.