The second day of sailing towards Ireland was even more quiet than the first. We didn't think it was possible in these parts! The sea is a sparkling mirror, wrinkled at times by a vague reef. A blinding sun warms the cockpit deliciously.
Alone on the ocean?
Not a sailboat nor a fishing boat crosses our road within sight. Only a few buoys of traps are scattered on our horizon. From time to time, the head of a seal bursting through the clear water surprises us. What are they doing so far from land?
The birds, them, accompany us permanently. Laid down here and there on the sea, gently rocked by its lazy undulations, they chatter in small groups. When Arthur approaches them slowly, they dive to reappear a few meters further. Others fly away with strong cries of indignation for the disturbance.
A moment to take the time to live
Arthur's average speed is less than 3 knots. Fortunately, we have time! We could turn on the engine, couldn't we? Yet is it so terrible to glide quietly on a shimmering water, in the heat of the day and the calm of the night? Everyone, on board, takes advantage of this peaceful parenthesis to read, play, cook, knit, sleep, fish, listen to music, chatâeuros¦ The children live, quite simply, and so do we.
When our second night of vigil ends, we are not even tired. A third day begins like the previous ones, in a soft and bright calm. We are far from the howling Scottish winds, which forced us to stay in anchorages for days in heavy weather.
The wind finally arrives
We are nevertheless happy to see 10 knots of wind, and their little sheep. The Irish coast is beautiful from far under the sun, but it must be also beautiful from close. We would like to arrive one day and taste the charms of the island and its nice anchorages.
At the end of the day, we reached a more decent speed of 4 to 5 knots. In scissors, genoa pitched, Arthur wiggles nicely on the wind waves. Now we feel the boat moving forward! The trickle of water against the hull sings its little music inside. We are getting ready for a third night of watch.
The sun finishes its course on the horizon, while a brilliant crescent moon rises. This time, the sailboat, propelled by the wind, attacks the miles with gusto. The first hours under the stars are pleasant.
A splendid anchorage at the arrival
Unfortunately, the wind weakens throughout the night and leaves us alone with the swell. The boat rolls. At the first light of dawn, the engine was on for two hours, for the end of the trip. The sailboat brings us to a wonderful beach of Inishkea North.
It's the first day of school. But for us, it is the discovery of the history of these tragic islands. We leave to visit the deserted ruins. Far from the storms that caused the ruin of these places, the sun shines, radiant.
