It had been a busy day at Kilmore, we had bought some essential supplies, I had done the washing and Beverley had bought a new gas regulator along with a spare. The only thing that we failed to do was buy fuel. The reason for this was because there was a communications error, between the pump and the payment service. We asked if we could buy with cash, but there was no over ride switch that the harbour master could use. He did switch the system off and on again, but still the pump refused to talk to the payment server. We however could not wait. If we waited we would be in Kilmore for another day and we already felt that we had been there long enough and we needed to get out.

So that is what we did and we were soon sailing. I felt like we were starting our southern adventure again as we sailed along with full sails. We had not sailed long before wonder of wonder, a cup of tea had arrived. It is clear that Beverley and I are British as we are lost with out a cup of tea.

While we were sailing I talked about Why I like sailing and it is because, I like variety, so although I have done the sail between Kilmore Quay and Dunmore East a few times now. This year alone I have sailed in that stretch of waters three times, but each time is different. Each time there is something new to do and as someone who likes variety that is good for me.

There was certainly a lot to do on this particular passage as we had a lot of tacking to do. Our starboard tack was getting us in the right direction but was slow because we were going against a foul tide, while our port tack was fast but the foul tide was pushing us Eastwards. The push Eastwards did diminish as our passage continued, so that was good.

One of the things that Beverley and I discussed while sailing was old sailing terms. In particular “Sinking the land” and “Raising the land”. What they mean are

“Raising the land” - As you get nearer to something, then you initially see the tops of light houses followed by the land. This is because you are seeing over the curvature of the Earth and as you get nearer, there is less curvature between you and headland, so you are effectively “Rising the land”

Sinking the land” - Similarly with objects that are behind you. They disappear below the horizon. Where we were we could see the sea half way us the church at Kilmore Quay, this was not because the church was flooded, but was because the church was sinking below the horizon.

In the course of the sail we tacked a fair few times, so there was lots to do, we capture quite a few of them on camera so watch the video to see us in action.

As we sailed along I remarked that patience is the hardest lesson to learn and we are still learning that one.

As our journey ended we sailed into the sunset.

"For my purpose holds,
to sail beyond the sunset
and the baths of all
the western stars..."

Ulysses, by Alfred Lord Tenyson