Sailing adventures on a Hallberg Rassy 40 in higher latitudes
Ballycastle is clearly a popular Summer tourist destination and as soon as we arrived here, we got the Spring feeling.
Coming into the harbour can be a little dramatic as the Atlantic swells easily get quite big. To get into the harbour you have to do a sharp turn around the break water, but as soon as you have turned the corner, the inner harbour is nice and calm.
In Belfast, we enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere and great restaurants. We continued to Glenarm, a small village with lots of historic points. We took a trip to the neighbouring marina where a scene from Game of Thrones had been filmed. the the wind was right to continue to Ballycastle and sailing around the dramatic cliffs Fair Head into its well-protected harbour.
Spending a few days in the lovely Belfast, we have been visiting art galleries and have had some very good food and entertainment, but also visited the Titanic museum, which was a touching experience. Belfast is a great mix of new quarters, traditional bars and lots of street art.
After returning from London, our plan for a smooth transition to Ireland faced unexpected delays due to persistent winds in Greenock. When the weather finally cooperated, we set sail, rediscovering the joys and challenges of life on the water. Anchoring near Belfast channel entrance before navigating the shipping channel to our marina in the vibrant Titanic Quarter.
13th-19th January 2024 After leaving James Watt marina we headed for Loch Goil and went castle hunting. This is quite easy in Scotland as they are everywhere! The reason for the castle hunting was that …
January 7th-12th 2024 On a sunny Sunday morning we finally Cast off the lines! It felt surreal and very unbelievable that we were finally leaving Portavadie harbour. We also learned that Danes and Brits have …
Sarah spent two months in Denmark organizing her life before embarking on an adventure with Steve. Upon arrival, both contracted COVID, causing delays and a reassessment of their quick decisions. Despite the setbacks, they enjoyed road trips in England and delayed their journey until January. New Year’s was celebrated in Glasgow, with excitement for the year’s adventures ahead.
Before Sarah returns to work in Copenhagen, we spent serene evenings at Hamarøy, savoring wine and whiskey, even catching the Northern Lights. At Herøya, we enjoyed cost-effective amenities and a spring clean. However, our boat’s seal leaked from intensive motoring and glacial silt, necessitating potential repairs in Norway.
9th August 2023 After our bumpy night in Tempelfjord we decided to play it safe an spend a night at an anchorage outside of Longyearbyen. It was a perfect way to get back on top …
We visited an abandoned Russian settlement called Pyramiden. It was strange seeing these left buildings and seeing the ghostly mines in the mountains