The Trimaran Windwalker -- August, 2005

The "Windwalker"

The Daily Log -- August, 2005 -- Ireland

Date -
Position Heading
Made Good Daily Log Comments

Mon, Aug 1
40:39N, 29:46W
Noon,
40:49N, 29:34W Bound for Ireland
53°
111 nm 0600, wind SE force 1 abeam, clear, low 70s. Motored until sunrise. Set sails making 1-3 kts on course and heading. Made 100 miles from Lages in very light air, mostly motoring yesterday and last night. At least we are sailing now. Wind veering slowly south, and not much of it all afternoon, 1 kt, just enough for steerage. Bucketed myself about 1615 to wash the sweat of the day, cool and refreshing. Making 1.5 kts plus a half of current. Crossed 41N at 29:18W at 1830. Still just a breath of wind. Put the beans on the stove at 1900, with corned beef, onions, some salsa and a can of spaghetti sauce, spiced up. Meals for 2-3 days. Motored for an hour at sunset.

Tue, Aug 2
41:24N, 28:31W
Noon,
41:41N, 28:38W Bound for Ireland
55°
66 nm 0600, wind W force 1, clear, low 70s. Coming into the westerlies, a little more wind on the port quarter, still light, making 2 kts on course and heading. In the middle of the night as the wind veered I was able to sail wing and wing for an hour, making about 2 kts. It is a pretty sight with the sails on opposite sides. The wind died as the sun rose so I motored for 2 hours to charge batteries and to make more northing, hopefully to find better wind. There is a cumulus anvil cloud to the north, maybe an indicator. Stopped engine at 0930, wind SW force 0-1 astern, making 1-2 kt winged out. Cold beans for breakfast. Rigged a whisker pole to keep the genny winged out, gained a half kt on heading 040°. At 1445 returned to course and heading 053° on stbd tack making 3 kts. By 1730 the wind had veered dead astern so I winged the genny out stbd again making 2-3 kts. Crossed Lat 42N at 28:20W at 1955 hours making 3 kts on course and heading. It has been another slow day.

Wed, Aug 3
42:22N, 28:00W
Noon,
42:42N, 27:33W Bound for Ireland
55°
80 nm 0600, wind S force 1-2, clear, low 70s. Light air all night, backing south about 0100. Reset genoa on stbd tack. Slept off and on through the night, woke dreaming of Judy and Spyder and other friends and family. Motored for an hour at sunrise, then set sails on stbd broad reach running 4+ kts in a bare force 3 wind. Rice and cinnamon for breakfast. Slept a couple more hours until 1115. The boat and Otto are happier, still on a run doing 5+ kts. The wind died to force 2 in mid afternoon. Crossed Lat 43N at 27:11W at 1710 hours making 3 kts on course and heading. At 1800 I winged the genoa stbd to gain a half knot to 3.5. The 12' boat hook makes a good whisker pole. Reset genoa on stbd tack as wind backed south at sundown. One more meal of beans left. Motored an hour.

Thur, Aug 4
43:31N, 26:32W
Noon,
43:43N, 26:18W Bound for Ireland
55°
87 nm 0600, wind SSW low force 2, clear, low 70s. Light air all night. Got 4 hrs sleep, an hour at a time dozing off. I need a jump start this morning. Current has set me 8 nm north of course line, but heading is good, making 3 kts. Coming into traffic lanes, saw 3 ships passing by on the horizon during the night, one ahead, 2 astern, bound southeast. The wind drew astern by 0830, so I winged out the genoa to stbd, 3.5 kts. Slept another hour and a half. Wind low force 2 dead astern at noon wallowing at 2-3 kts. Nothing much to do except read and rest. Re-glued counter corner. Made popcorn and watched "Pride of the Yankees", the Lou Gehrig story with Gary Cooper. Bucketed, washed and rinsed hair with fresh water, great! Damn, it is slow, just enough way on for steerage. This puddle is like a mill pond. Motored from 1800 to 1830 then shut down to replace a broken band clamp on the shaft seal boot. Re-started and ran from 1930 until 2000 at 5.5 kts. Crossed Lat 44N at 25:56W at 2010 hours making 1.5 kts on course and heading. The last of that pot of beans, so good I hated to finish them. Sundown. It is going to be a long slow night. There is a long low swell coming from the NW indicating some wind there. 0430, light air veering westerly, port tack, not enough for steering so motored until sunrise.

Fru, Aug 5
44:15N, 25:36W
Noon,
44:33N, 25:11W Bound for Ireland
56°
69 nm 0600, light air W force 0, clearing, low 70s. Wind backed S at 0700, stbd tack, 2+ kts. Slept another hour. 0930, SSE force 2 making 4-5 kts. At 1000 we have made 400 nm from Lages and putting them behind us. From 0600 to 1800 we made 60 nm, a 5 kt average, and nearly as much as the previous 24 hours. As the day cools the wind is slacking and from 1700 speed is 3+ kts. Motored from 2030 to 2130. Crossed Lat 45N at 24:35W at 2110 hours. Tensioned Otto's mounting and set course and heading at 2200, then laid me down.

Sat, Aug 6
45:26N, 23:57W
Noon,
45:47N, 23:26W Bound for Ireland
57°
107 nm 0600, wind SSE force 3, high overcast, low 70s. Woke at 0330 with wind up making 6+ kts. Pitch dark. Trimmed sails, made coffee, and waited until dawn to set more sail. Two wave sets knocking us around, SSE and SW, quartered SSE making 6-8 kts. 0730, wind has slacked a bit, veering more southerly. On course and heading making 6 kts. 0830, pod pf 4 whales spouting ahead two points to stbd a 1/4 mile going away. Started engine. They are faster. Didn't see them. 0900, came under the edge of a heavy overcast. 0915, spouts again ahead 1 mile. Ran engine until 0930. Wind has veered SSW, force 3, making 7-8 kts. 1100, woke from nap, dense grey mist and drizzle, trimmed sails, force 2, 5 kts. 1130, cleared out of mist and wind veered astern and died, sails just slating. Wind came on again about noon, low force 2. I found and put a new heavy duty band clamp on the shaft seal boot and stopped the leak. At 1215 the wind came back and we are rocketing at 7+ kts. That was fun while it lasted, about an hour. Down to 5+kts. Back about 1445 and really humming, close hauled on a force 3 SE wind. Crossed Lat 46N at 23:07W at 1533 hours. Hmmm, Aunt Doris is 90 today, Happy Birthday, Doris. The wind suddenly died at 1900 so motored until 2000. Then hard on a force 3 SSE wind, 3-5 kts. Rain front 1/2 mile ahead. 6-8 kts through the front. Wind quickly built a 3 ft chop, bumpy.

Sun, Aug 7
46:48N, 21:53W
Noon,
47:07N, 21:28W Bound for Ireland
58°
111 nm 0600, wind ESE force 3, high overcast, 60s. Too much sail up at 0200, force 5 wind, furled genoa and motored slowly into wind to ease beam reach pounding in waves until I can get main reefed at first light. 0530, wind and waves have let down, back on course and heading, 4 kts close-hauled. Crossed Lat 47N at 21:38W at 0930 hours. Motored from 0915 to 1015 while I fixed pancakes. Napped an hour. This afternoon the wind has started backing north, straight out of the east now, maybe all the way around to west. I am tired of slowly beating to windward. It is a miserable cold filthy grey drizzly pounding slamming and banging drear day. At 1745 came out into clear and sunny but no wind shift. Motored through the night from 2200.

Mon, Aug 8
47:57N, 20:25W
Noon,
48:13N, 20:14W Bound for Ireland
60°
81 nm 0600, wind E force 1-2, high overcast, 60s. Happy Birthday, Cap'n Barefoot! You have lived long enough to be here on this miserable cold filthy grey drizzly pounding slamming and banging drear day in a trimaran that is wallowing around like a drunken demented hobby horse in the middle of the North Atlantic. 72, huh? Oh, Well!!! Shut off engine at 0600. Slowly beating to windward 2-3 kts on heading 052 to port of course line 15 nm. The sun poked through at 0700, let's see what this day brings. Rain clouds ahead. Crossed Lat 48N at 20:22W at 0720 hours. Current and leeway are setting us northeasterly at about .8 kts. Bearing to Galway is now 60°. Boat heading close hauled at 3 kts is 60°. Swells from the ESE are 4-6 ft, waves are 1 ft in force 1-2 E breeze. At noon wind was up a little for 25 minutes and making 4-5 kts on true heading with set and leeway of about 35° with boat heading 55°. Wind dead at 1400, so repaired loose sail slide on main, then motored through a drizzle front. Big 6+ ft swells rolling in from the south since morning, must be from a tropical storm brewing west of the Canaries
An injector nozzle has fouled about 1530. I put injector cleaner in tanks. Motoring at 1500 rpm and 3 kts it seems to be running evenly. I will run a couple of hours and give it time to clear up. If not I will have to manually clean the nozzles. Shut off engine at 1600, it appears to be better. Wind dead calm, just drifting with the current at .7 kts on a heading of 035°
Put on 2-3 days of chicken, rice and vegetables for dinner tonight and meals for the next 2 days. Wind is back force 2-3 at 1845, making 4-5 kts on a close reach on a boat heading of 65°.
I discovered the engine bilge deep in water, bailed and pumped it, then looked for the leak. A pin hole in the shaft log. Got it nearly stopped. Need daylight to see to stop it.

Tue, Aug 9
48:56N, 19:24W
Noon,
49:06N, 19:04W Bound for Ireland
62°
69 nm 0600, calm force 0, high overcast, 60s. Flopped and drifted and pumped bilge through the night. Motored from 0545 to 0645. Barely enough SE breeze to hold heading making 1 kt. Where are the westerly trade winds? Crossed Lat 49N at 19:16W at 0759 hours making 2 kts. 1000 hrs, I think I have the pinhole covered. At noon still pretty much flopping along on fluky air that has veered a little south. The big southern swells slat the sails continually. 1300, what little breeze there is has veered out of the south. A half to one kt. I finally gave up at 1630 as the batteries were low and started the iron spinnaker. The terminals to the starter solenoid must be corroded from the water in the bilge as I had to "screwdriver" jump the solenoid. Made 10 nm since noon and most of that was from the current. The injector cleaner worked, the engine will full rev to 3500 rpm and no smoke. Motor sailing at 2000 rpm and 6 kts. Popcorn and a movie. 1830, container ship passed 1 nm to port on same heading. 1900, dead calm. 2000, Dropped the main, the slating chafed through 5 sail slide tapes and broke one slide at a batten. Will have to repair in the morning daylight, too dark now. Motoring again from 2015. One damn thing after another. Fixed some electrical problems that cropped up, a busted wire and a loose connection. About the time I finished those a force 0 breeze came from SW. A westerly. If it builds I can sail with headsails alone while I repair the main. Sufficient unto each day are the problems thereof, for this is the end of this day that God hath made. Amen. I am going to bed.

Wed, Aug 10
49:50N, 17:36W
Noon,
50:00N, 17:18W Bound for Ireland
63°
88 nm 0600, SSW force 0, clear, low 60s. Motored through the night. Now making 2 kts on genoa alone. This morning I am chill and in about as much hurry as the wind. Engine bilge dry, leak stopped. 0700, wind force 1, genoa pullinq well making 3 kts on heading. Rested another hour. High overcast beginning, sun not warming much. Wind has slacked. Vacuumed water out of bilges, and opened all hatches and the cabin sole to ventilate and finish drying. 1030, a ship passed a mile to stbd headed west. Main needs 3 slides replaced. Laced all the slides on and went below to check GPS for heading and bearing and found we were crossing Lat 50N right at noon with a SW wind pushing at 3.5 kts. Had lunch, a handful of raisins for dessert and took a nap. Woke at 1430. At 1500 set foresails wing and wing running on force 1-2 SW wind on heading. Didn't gain much. Set beans to soaking. 1900, tried to start the engine, batteries run way down. Apparently they did not charge well last night, alternator belt was loose. Charged one with the genset for 2 hours. Tightened belt. Doused sail and drifted while the engine hatch was up. Checked and cleaned all the starting circuit connections. Finally, after many trials, got the engine running at about 2100. The batteries are still low. There is virtually no wind so will run through the night or until some wind comes. Added 5 gallons fuel to the port tank just to make sure it doesn't run out during the night.

Thur, Aug 11
50:36N, 15:48W
Noon
50:46N, 15:22W Bound for Ireland
63°
88 nm 0600, NW force 3, part cloudy, low 60s. Motored through the night. A small cargo ship passed 1/4 mile to port headed NW just after I had set sail. Batteries did not charge properly last night. What? I hope I can get the engine started again. Started genset at 0800. Finally doped out the problem was in the starter. Dismounted it, disassembled, cleaned, lubed, reassembled and remounted it. Voila! Two hours of mechanicing well spent. Still have to dope out why the alternator is not charging. Sailing at 4 kts on heading at 1245 with Otto on the helm again. I proceeded to dismount and disassemble the alternator after checking the Yanmar manual, cleaned, lubed, reassembled and re-mounted it by 1600. The salt water spray from the belt when the bilge flooded took out the regulator. Oh, well. That's why I have the genset on board. Since about 1400 the wind has been near dead. I didn't have to tend the helm while I worked on the alternator. In between I chopped onion and a canned ham into the beans along with a can of tomato soup and some ragu sauce, tasty. Ate a bowl of them about 1615 after I cleaned up from mechanicing. Napped an hour. 1800, wing and wing, 3 kts. Crossed Lat 51N at 15:00W at 1915 hours. About 2000 the wind switched directions three times then backed from SW to NE in a matter of minutes, right on the nose. Motored into it, then it died. Three porpoise played at the bows for a few minutes. Tacked SE until 0130 then came back on course and heading with NW wind.

Fri, Aug 12
50:56N, 14:23W
Noon
51:10N, 13:58W Bound for Ireland
61°
56 nm 0600, WSW force 1, high overcast, low 60s. Running downwind with foresails winged out making 2+ kts. Another slow day. I found that in placing the genset close to the helm I was causing Otto to dither. I moved it 4 feet away and cured the problem. Now Otto can handle the helm while the batteries charge and I don't have to. At 1030 the batteries are full charged. I shut off the genset as we came into the clear. The warm sun feels good, and the quiet is wonderful. Time for my morning snack and a nap. Noon, beans and down wind at 3.5 kts. 1630, overcast lowered, grey all around, horizon moved in, wind rising, doing 4+ kts down wind, riding easy. Filled genset tank, ready to charge batteries again. 185nm from Galway Bay waypoint, 120 from Dingle. At 1800 we are on the Ireland chart, checked approach for obstruction, all clear on heading 063°. Wind is steady low force 3 and we are making 5+ kts. Otto is doing well keeping us on the heading and wind. The waves astern are yawing us about+/- 5°. At1820 I furled the genoa as it was backwinding in the yaws. Popcorn and a movie now that the genset is running. 1900, genset off. 2000, dark, mast light on, running 063° 4+ kts.

Sat, Aug 13
51:54N, 12:12W
Noon
52:13N, 11:29W Bound for Ireland
62°
115 nm 0600, W wind force 4, low overcast, drizzling, low 60s. Quartering downwind with shortened foresail, 7 kts, Yawing up to 10° in 6 ft waves. Otto is handling it well, on course and heading, occasionally banging hard as we slide off a cross-breaking wave. I ran genset from 0400 until it ran out at 0530 as Otto's battery was low. Bilges dry. Crossed Lat 52N at 11:57W at 0805 hours. Last can of corned beef hash for breakfast, and a pinch of tobacco for a smoke. I have been rationing the tobacco for the last six days and will run out this evening. 0900, the wind has veered W by N, a few degrees, and seems to be slacking some to force 3. At 1030 I set the main making 5-7 kts quartering down wave. The sun is out but clouds ahead. The gooseneck I jury rigged has a broken weld, I have lashed it as a precaution. The wind veered NW and came back force 5 with waves 8-10 ft abeam. At 1300 I doused the main and proceeded on engine and 3/4 furled genoa making 5-7 kts at 2500 rpm. A rough ride, pitching and pounding about every 2nd wave. 1430, furled genoa and changed heading north to 25° to quarter into the waves, still rough but not pounding as much. That was no good as speed dropped to nothing so back to course and heading. Checked battery charge, still up and an indication that the alternator is working some??? Put 5 gallons in stbd tank.
Land Ho!!! Sighted Clogher Head at 1830 hours on the stbd beam 20 miles distant. Used my last pinch of tobacco to celebrate.
Genset for two hours, it is running ragged.

Sun, Aug 14
51:54N, 12:12W
Noon
53:16N, 9:03W Galway Harbor, Ireland
118 nm 0600, WNW wind force 4, low overcast, drizzling, low 60s. Made the mark entering Galway Bay at 0700 right on the nose. Motored to Galway, and the pilot launch led me into the harbor. It is totally secure. Tied up at the quay wall at 1115. --Photos-- Chris, whom I met in Bermuda, helped me tie up. Bought some pipe tobacco, will have to quit smoking, E13.75 a pack. Located a market to replenish stores. Delightful town and people. Genset has crapped out, wont start, needs work. Clam chowder for lunch, then to bed. Slept 3 hours. Took genset apart, the shrouding of the engine has vibrated apart. Tomorrow will check in with customs, then find an alternator for the engine to charge batteries and then look to some way of fixing the genset. Without the genset I can't run my power tools, all European power is 220v. Last of the potatoes, onions and corned beef for dinner and breakfast tomorrow.

Mon, Aug 15
53:16N, 9:03W Galway Harbor, Ireland 0600, calm - slight NW air, low overcast, low 60s. Slept sound all night, 9 hours, up once. Nice, absolutely no motion to boat. Breakfast and coffee, then took alternator off engine. Cleared in at customs. Walked about 4 miles finding shop to get alternator tomorrow and got a map of Ireland and bus touring info. Rode the city bus back to city center and walked 6 more blocks to the harbor. Rested for an hour then went to market, €30 and internet, €2, another 2 miles. Napped. Found AA meeting by asking at the Police station, about 6 blocks from the boat, 2 a day. A fellow there, Tony, said he might have an another alternator as a spare.

Tue, Aug 16
53:16N, 9:03W Galway Harbor, Ireland 0600, calm - slight NW air, low overcast, low 60s.Went to internet, log still would not load. Went to 1pm mtg and met Peter H. and spent the afternoon with him. The alternator will arrive tomorrow. Went with Peter, Danny and Diedre to a Detox center and was lead speaker. We were served a great after meeting snack of french fries bread and sausages. We all came back aboard about 2300, hung out for a half hour, then I went with Danny to his place a couple of blocks away for a shower. Returned at 0100.

Wed, Aug 17
53:16N, 9:03W Galway Harbor, Ireland 0630, calm - slight SW air, low overcast, drizzling, very high tide, high 50s. Dismounted gooseneck, and gave it to Eugene to re-weld and beef up. Then I removed the oil filter, Yanmar P/N 119660-35150, went to the marine store to buy one, none, bought a new main halyard, €38. Then to meeting, met with Mark who took me t a bank for cash, €200, and to get the alternator, €207, and 3 new oil filters, €16, substitute Micro P/N ADH22119, not quite the same, but they fit and work. Had lunch at Subway. To the boat, installed the filter and alternator, started engine and charged batteries for about 2 hours. Raining heavier from 1700 on. Went to an Indian cuisine "going away" dinner for Elly who is going to Prague to teach. I had lamb and curry, not very good, €14. We went to her place after for a "sing along" of traditional music, a new experience. On board at 0130, which is too late for this old man.

Thur, Aug 18
53:16N, 9:03W Galway Harbor, Ireland 0900, calm - slight SW air, overcast, clearing to the west, high 50s. Need to caulk some minor cabin top leaks around hatch, mast step and chainplates. Bought some tobacco, went to internet and got the log loaded. FTP problem was with the internet cafe computer. I then wandered to the St Pat's church meeting, and met up with Mark. We talked with Diedre an hour after the meeting then motored up to Connemara and Cong to visit the sites of "The Quiet Man". We visited the bridge, the ruins of the original cottage, the village of Cong, taking photos of the Cross of Cong and Pat Cohan's Bar, which was gutted and being restored, had dinner, then went to the church and the Ashford Castle grounds before returning to Galway about 2299. Mark is delightful company. --Photos--

Fri, Aug 19
53:16N, 9:03W Galway Harbor, Ireland 0750, calm - slight SW air, clear. Waited until the dew dried and then caulked the cabin leaks. Sent about 4 hours re-programmed the photo pages. Watched part of The Quiet Man with Mark . Did meetings and tinkered around town, got tobacco.

Sat, Aug 20
53:16N, 9:03W Galway Harbor, Ireland 0800, calm - slight SW air, overcast and clearing, 50s. Programmed GPS for course to Porto, Portugal, 759 nm. Went to 1100 meeting with Eugene. Anthony walked back with me, he may have a spare alternator. Went to ATM for cash, €170 and then to internet. Found the library and a cruising guide and an old copy of Reed's almanac. Need to get copies and a chart of the south coast of Ireland. Set a pot of beans to soak. Cleaned the computer and keyboard. Charged batteries. Potatoes, onions and canned meat for dinner. Brpught John Paul back to the boat, showed him the ABC pages on the domain and talked with him for a couple of hours about the program. A good lad without a sponsor.

Sun, Aug 21
53:16N, 9:03W Galway Harbor, Ireland 0800, calm , overcast and drizzling constant, 50s, a slight surge in harbor. I slept well. A lazy day. When the rain let up a little I walked 1/2 mile to market and back with two 30 lb bags, €40, I thought my arms would be stretched 5 ft long. Not much selection but I did find corned beef. I did the internet and uploaded some photos, updated the log and sent an email to Jeff Schone. Eugene brought me the repair to the gooseneck and a spare part. I met up with John and Isabella on the way back from market and we went to Kinvarra for the hooker boat race at the Cuinniu Na mBad - Gathering of the Boats - and traditional music and dancing. John was one of the musicians and played Black Velvet Band for me. A hooker is the traditional, Galway work boat, a gaff rigged sloop, typically 40-60 ft, bluff bowed and lovely of line, with a tremendous gaffed main and a bowsprit half as long as the boat to carry a large spritsail and jib, fast on and off the wind. They were used for everything from fishing to cargo, hauling building materials, peat, gravel and other supplies. A wonderful experience.

Mon, Aug 22
53:16N, 9:03W Galway Harbor, Ireland 0830, near calm - westerly breeze, clear, high 50s. Two men tried to come aboard about 0230, thieves, I scared them off. Slow start this morning. Did some programming correcting the Windwalker Voyage picture, and some of the text. Re-assembled the gooseneck, it is fine. Charged batteries about 2 hours. To meeting. Dave took me to a fuel station where I got 24 gallons of agricultural diesel for €.56/L, half price, €72. Engine oil, €24. Need to put 30 gallons of water aboard. Cooked the beans and had a bowl. Replaced the main halyard with new line. Bought a 2004 cruising guide that gives me most of the seaport data from Galway to Gibraltar for €15 reduced price. Then to market again for dry beans, potatoes, canned vegetables and sundries, €42. Anthony visited for a while, and Dave stopped back by. Meeting at 2030, and back aboard about 2230.

Tue, Aug 23
53:16N, 9:03W Galway Harbor, Ireland 0800, NW wind force 4 gusting 5, overcast and raining, low 60s, with a slight surge in the harbor. Laid up in the cabin reading for most of the day. Changed the engine oil about 1700 when the rain let up and made a sail slide stop for the mast. Charged batteries. Put about 8 gallons of fuel in port tank to fill it. The stbd tank will take the rest of the can to fill when I am ready to leave, about 30 gallons in the tanks and 10 gallons in reserve for the trip. Good beans for meals today. 1900 raining again, wind is up and surge is building some tonight. They warped a 350 ft delivery tanker into this little harbor about 1930 without a tug, just barely able to fit, really something to watch. The surge was from the harbor tide gates being open to let the tanker in. They were closed after it and the surge slowed. To bed to read about 2030.

Wed, Aug 24
53:16N, 9:03W Galway Harbor, Ireland 0700, near calm NW, clear, high 50s. Re-reefed and tied down the main, putting all the slides back on track. Finished caulking the mast step. Overcast and filthy cold rain came in from the NW about 0830, will probably wash the caulk out, as it didn't have time to set. Wind up to force 4-5. Took the genset engine shrouds to Ryan Engg. to be welded. Stopped by the harbormaster office and filled form. Had a nice visit with the harbormaster, Peter H's brother-in-law, Brian Sheridan. He gave me a chart from Dingle to Cork. Fished a cockpit cushion out of the water on the way back. Fair cover and good foam. Wandered around town to the internet and meeting. Raining again as I got back at 1430. Waited until it let up then put on rain gear and walked to Ryan for the welded shrouds. Raining again so below and programmed a nautical units converter linked at the bottom of the page. Quiet night.

Thur, Aug 25
53:16N, 9:03W Galway Harbor, Ireland 0800, near calm NW, clear, low 50s, damn cool. Clouding and spitting by 0830 so stayed below, studied charts and programmed waypoints of next voyage legs into the GPS, both around to Cork and direct to Porto Leixios, Portugal. Zeroxed the local tide tables at the library. The 5 day forecast shows that through the rest of the week the tide is early and late and Sunday the winds will be up to force 5 from the SW against me. I could get out through the harbor lock Monday at UTC noon with force 2 westerlies turning NW offshore. Went to Danny's and showed him how to view Barefoot's World from the CD, to help him with his step work, then went to meeting. Back for beans and bed by 2230.

Fri, Aug 26
53:16N, 9:03W Galway Harbor, Ireland 0730, near calm NW, high overcast, low 50s. Having a great deal of trouble getting started today, cold and miserable out. Programmed GPS routes from Portugal to Madeira. From Galway to Funchal via Cork and Lisbon is about 1550 nm, direct about 1300 nm. Started sorting charts according to my inventory list. 1230 it is blowing a filthy rain. Spoke at 1300 meeting, then went to the computer store and bought a UCB flash memory stick to use for uploading to the web and 10 RW CD's, €59. Stopped for a burger and an ice cream, €8. Back to the boat and an hour of cleaning up Barefoot's World and loading to the memory stick. Still spitting rain with occasional sun. Finished sorting the charts and went to meeting. Soup. Worked at cleaning unused files from the domain until 0230. Eliminated 16 mbyte.

Sat, Aug 27
53:16N, 9:03W Galway Harbor, Ireland 0900, near calm NW, high overcast, 50s., water in harbor basin way out, down 3 meters. Spent early part pf the day programming, and nearly finished getting the genset back together by dusk and a fresh drizzle about 2000. Went to meeting and came back to dinner about 2230 and more programming, correcting the chart of the voyage legs. Had to lengthen shorelines as water is low.

Sun, Aug 28
53:16N, 9:03W Galway Harbor, Ireland 1000, Force 4-5 NW, high overcast, 60s, water in harbor basin still way out. Miserable out. Finished voyage chart for Windwalker page. I am not going to get out tomorrow, too much yet to do, and I can't get my butt in gear. Didn't get enough sleep.
Hmmm, I find myself getting lonesome for No. Idaho and the ranch, strange. Oh, well, I am in Ireland and a long way and a long time from there. Hmmm, let me see, from here to Portugal, visit Casey, and then on to Madeira in the last weeks of September, leave Madeira for the Canaries the first week of October, the Canaries to Cape Verdes in October, Cape Verdes to Brazil in November, Brazil to Lesser Antilles in March, Lesser Antilles to Panama in late April, through the canal, Panama to Costa Rica in May, then south to the Galapagos before June, Galapagos to Pitcairn in July, Pitcairn to Gambiers in August. On to the Tuamotus and Marquesas in September, Marquesas to Hawaii in November, the out islands of Hawaii until April, Hawaii to the Columbia in May, and up the Columbia to Lewiston in June. Hmmm, 12-15000 miles and nearly a year away and that would be pushing it. Sure wish I had a cruising companion.
Got the charts stowed again and found a cabin leak at the aft chain plates again. Cleaned the old caulking out, let the areas dry while I had lunch, cleaned them with gasoline, then re-caulked both chainplates, and put more caulk on the mast step. Finished getting the genset together and checked out, works fine. Now I can vacuum the keyboard and the bilges again before take-off, and can use my power tools as needed. Peter and Yvonne stopped by for a pleasant hour and invited me to a different meeting at 1830. Wind hasn't let up all day. Wind force 7 walking to meeting and back, really blowing.

Mon, Aug 29
53:16N, 9:03W Galway Harbor, Ireland 0800, calm, high thin clouds, 50s. Wind blew itself out during the night about 0300. Found that the bow line had chaffed through. Put 30 gallons of water aboard. Wore me out toteing it 150 meters. Somewhere I have a leak in the plumbing, a gallon of water in the cabin bilges. Vacuumed the bilges nearly dry. Tanks 1 and 2 are full and 3 is about half. Stowed loose gear. Went to meeting. I can leave when the weather and wind are right. Salvaged a couple of hundred feet of 1/2" anchor rode from the harbor. Drew €220 from the bank. Bought a DVD, "Patton", flints for my lighter and another package of tobacco. Found some cardboard to keep charts separated into proper areas and easier to locate when I need them. Anthony brought me a 35A alternator that will work as an emergency spare.

Tue, Aug 30
53:16N, 9:03W
Anchored
53:06:52N, 9:40:07W Galway, Ireland
to
Aran Islands 0700, calm, high clouds, 50s. Serious leak at No. 1 water tank fitting, pumped it out and sealed it. Vacuumed the bilges again. To market for last minute provisions, €20 and €3 for a chicken sandwich and a milkshake, to Peter H's for goodbyes, to harbormaster for clearance and weather report, and to internet to post this and email folks. Just before leaving I discovered the hydraulic steering was low on hydraulic oil. I got it filled and bled and then left the harbor on the tide, clearing the harbor lock at 1400. I anchored for the night in 10 feet of low tide water at 1900 hours in the bay at Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands at the entrance of Galway Bay. We (the boat and I) motored the 39 miles in 5 hours. The autopilot has a glitch, not getting power light on control unit. It was lit when I plugged it in just before leaving, but had quit by the time I cleared the harbor and was ready to set course. It is not the power connector or the fuse, I checked both sides and in the middle. It may be a corroded connection not supplying the necessary current even though I am reading a voltage.

Wed, Aug 31
53:06N, 9:41W
Anchored
52:34N, 9:51W Inishmore Bay
to the
Shannon Estuary
42nm 0745, W force 4, black solid overcast, low 60s. Filthy drizzling morning. If I can't get the autopilot working I will have to day sail to Cork, anchoring at night. I am feeling about half sick and chilled this morning. Cream of chicken soup for breakfast. Checked and tested the autopilot some more. Nothing can be done now. At least it didn't fail before arriving in Galway. I will have both of them repaired at Cork. Nothing to do but continue with my hand on the helm. Broke the thermos jug, dropped a spoon inside measuring sugar into it for tea. One more thing, damn. Pulled the hook at 1100 and motored out to sea in the channel between Inishmore and Inishmaan. Flew the genoa about noon and with a favorable west wind raised the main at 1300. Sailed at 6-7 kts most of the afternoon, entering the Shannon estuary at 1545. Anchored in a small bay at Kilcloher Head, not a whole lot of lee but will do for the night. Immediately fixed dinner, potatoes, onion and corned beef. I starved all day, a cup of tea and a Snickers for lunch. Although the wind was only force 5-4, the seas from the NW were up to 15 feet on my beam and I couldn't' leave the helm for more than a few seconds.

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20050501

Date - Position	Heading Made Good	Daily Log Comments
Mon, Aug 1 40:39N, 29:46W Noon, 40:49N, 29:34W	Bound for Ireland 53° 111 nm	0600, wind SE force 1 abeam, clear, low 70s. Motored until sunrise. Set sails making 1-3 kts on course and heading. Made 100 miles from Lages in very light air, mostly motoring yesterday and last night. At least we are sailing now. Wind veering slowly south, and not much of it all afternoon, 1 kt, just enough for steerage. Bucketed myself about 1615 to wash the sweat of the day, cool and refreshing. Making 1.5 kts plus a half of current. Crossed 41N at 29:18W at 1830. Still just a breath of wind. Put the beans on the stove at 1900, with corned beef, onions, some salsa and a can of spaghetti sauce, spiced up. Meals for 2-3 days. Motored for an hour at sunset.
Tue, Aug 2 41:24N, 28:31W Noon, 41:41N, 28:38W	Bound for Ireland 55° 66 nm	0600, wind W force 1, clear, low 70s. Coming into the westerlies, a little more wind on the port quarter, still light, making 2 kts on course and heading. In the middle of the night as the wind veered I was able to sail wing and wing for an hour, making about 2 kts. It is a pretty sight with the sails on opposite sides. The wind died as the sun rose so I motored for 2 hours to charge batteries and to make more northing, hopefully to find better wind. There is a cumulus anvil cloud to the north, maybe an indicator. Stopped engine at 0930, wind SW force 0-1 astern, making 1-2 kt winged out. Cold beans for breakfast. Rigged a whisker pole to keep the genny winged out, gained a half kt on heading 040°. At 1445 returned to course and heading 053° on stbd tack making 3 kts. By 1730 the wind had veered dead astern so I winged the genny out stbd again making 2-3 kts. Crossed Lat 42N at 28:20W at 1955 hours making 3 kts on course and heading. It has been another slow day.
Wed, Aug 3 42:22N, 28:00W Noon, 42:42N, 27:33W	Bound for Ireland 55° 80 nm	0600, wind S force 1-2, clear, low 70s. Light air all night, backing south about 0100. Reset genoa on stbd tack. Slept off and on through the night, woke dreaming of Judy and Spyder and other friends and family. Motored for an hour at sunrise, then set sails on stbd broad reach running 4+ kts in a bare force 3 wind. Rice and cinnamon for breakfast. Slept a couple more hours until 1115. The boat and Otto are happier, still on a run doing 5+ kts. The wind died to force 2 in mid afternoon. Crossed Lat 43N at 27:11W at 1710 hours making 3 kts on course and heading. At 1800 I winged the genoa stbd to gain a half knot to 3.5. The 12' boat hook makes a good whisker pole. Reset genoa on stbd tack as wind backed south at sundown. One more meal of beans left. Motored an hour.
Thur, Aug 4 43:31N, 26:32W Noon, 43:43N, 26:18W	Bound for Ireland 55° 87 nm	0600, wind SSW low force 2, clear, low 70s. Light air all night. Got 4 hrs sleep, an hour at a time dozing off. I need a jump start this morning. Current has set me 8 nm north of course line, but heading is good, making 3 kts. Coming into traffic lanes, saw 3 ships passing by on the horizon during the night, one ahead, 2 astern, bound southeast. The wind drew astern by 0830, so I winged out the genoa to stbd, 3.5 kts. Slept another hour and a half. Wind low force 2 dead astern at noon wallowing at 2-3 kts. Nothing much to do except read and rest. Re-glued counter corner. Made popcorn and watched "Pride of the Yankees", the Lou Gehrig story with Gary Cooper. Bucketed, washed and rinsed hair with fresh water, great! Damn, it is slow, just enough way on for steerage. This puddle is like a mill pond. Motored from 1800 to 1830 then shut down to replace a broken band clamp on the shaft seal boot. Re-started and ran from 1930 until 2000 at 5.5 kts. Crossed Lat 44N at 25:56W at 2010 hours making 1.5 kts on course and heading. The last of that pot of beans, so good I hated to finish them. Sundown. It is going to be a long slow night. There is a long low swell coming from the NW indicating some wind there. 0430, light air veering westerly, port tack, not enough for steering so motored until sunrise.
Fru, Aug 5 44:15N, 25:36W Noon, 44:33N, 25:11W	Bound for Ireland 56° 69 nm	0600, light air W force 0, clearing, low 70s. Wind backed S at 0700, stbd tack, 2+ kts. Slept another hour. 0930, SSE force 2 making 4-5 kts. At 1000 we have made 400 nm from Lages and putting them behind us. From 0600 to 1800 we made 60 nm, a 5 kt average, and nearly as much as the previous 24 hours. As the day cools the wind is slacking and from 1700 speed is 3+ kts. Motored from 2030 to 2130. Crossed Lat 45N at 24:35W at 2110 hours. Tensioned Otto's mounting and set course and heading at 2200, then laid me down.
Sat, Aug 6 45:26N, 23:57W Noon, 45:47N, 23:26W	Bound for Ireland 57° 107 nm	0600, wind SSE force 3, high overcast, low 70s. Woke at 0330 with wind up making 6+ kts. Pitch dark. Trimmed sails, made coffee, and waited until dawn to set more sail. Two wave sets knocking us around, SSE and SW, quartered SSE making 6-8 kts. 0730, wind has slacked a bit, veering more southerly. On course and heading making 6 kts. 0830, pod pf 4 whales spouting ahead two points to stbd a 1/4 mile going away. Started engine. They are faster. Didn't see them. 0900, came under the edge of a heavy overcast. 0915, spouts again ahead 1 mile. Ran engine until 0930. Wind has veered SSW, force 3, making 7-8 kts. 1100, woke from nap, dense grey mist and drizzle, trimmed sails, force 2, 5 kts. 1130, cleared out of mist and wind veered astern and died, sails just slating. Wind came on again about noon, low force 2. I found and put a new heavy duty band clamp on the shaft seal boot and stopped the leak. At 1215 the wind came back and we are rocketing at 7+ kts. That was fun while it lasted, about an hour. Down to 5+kts. Back about 1445 and really humming, close hauled on a force 3 SE wind. Crossed Lat 46N at 23:07W at 1533 hours. Hmmm, Aunt Doris is 90 today, Happy Birthday, Doris. The wind suddenly died at 1900 so motored until 2000. Then hard on a force 3 SSE wind, 3-5 kts. Rain front 1/2 mile ahead. 6-8 kts through the front. Wind quickly built a 3 ft chop, bumpy.
Sun, Aug 7 46:48N, 21:53W Noon, 47:07N, 21:28W	Bound for Ireland 58° 111 nm	0600, wind ESE force 3, high overcast, 60s. Too much sail up at 0200, force 5 wind, furled genoa and motored slowly into wind to ease beam reach pounding in waves until I can get main reefed at first light. 0530, wind and waves have let down, back on course and heading, 4 kts close-hauled. Crossed Lat 47N at 21:38W at 0930 hours. Motored from 0915 to 1015 while I fixed pancakes. Napped an hour. This afternoon the wind has started backing north, straight out of the east now, maybe all the way around to west. I am tired of slowly beating to windward. It is a miserable cold filthy grey drizzly pounding slamming and banging drear day. At 1745 came out into clear and sunny but no wind shift. Motored through the night from 2200.
Mon, Aug 8 47:57N, 20:25W Noon, 48:13N, 20:14W	Bound for Ireland 60° 81 nm	0600, wind E force 1-2, high overcast, 60s. Happy Birthday, Cap'n Barefoot! You have lived long enough to be here on this miserable cold filthy grey drizzly pounding slamming and banging drear day in a trimaran that is wallowing around like a drunken demented hobby horse in the middle of the North Atlantic. 72, huh? Oh, Well!!! Shut off engine at 0600. Slowly beating to windward 2-3 kts on heading 052 to port of course line 15 nm. The sun poked through at 0700, let's see what this day brings. Rain clouds ahead. Crossed Lat 48N at 20:22W at 0720 hours. Current and leeway are setting us northeasterly at about .8 kts. Bearing to Galway is now 60°. Boat heading close hauled at 3 kts is 60°. Swells from the ESE are 4-6 ft, waves are 1 ft in force 1-2 E breeze. At noon wind was up a little for 25 minutes and making 4-5 kts on true heading with set and leeway of about 35° with boat heading 55°. Wind dead at 1400, so repaired loose sail slide on main, then motored through a drizzle front. Big 6+ ft swells rolling in from the south since morning, must be from a tropical storm brewing west of the Canaries An injector nozzle has fouled about 1530. I put injector cleaner in tanks. Motoring at 1500 rpm and 3 kts it seems to be running evenly. I will run a couple of hours and give it time to clear up. If not I will have to manually clean the nozzles. Shut off engine at 1600, it appears to be better. Wind dead calm, just drifting with the current at .7 kts on a heading of 035° Put on 2-3 days of chicken, rice and vegetables for dinner tonight and meals for the next 2 days. Wind is back force 2-3 at 1845, making 4-5 kts on a close reach on a boat heading of 65°. I discovered the engine bilge deep in water, bailed and pumped it, then looked for the leak. A pin hole in the shaft log. Got it nearly stopped. Need daylight to see to stop it.
Tue, Aug 9 48:56N, 19:24W Noon, 49:06N, 19:04W	Bound for Ireland 62° 69 nm	0600, calm force 0, high overcast, 60s. Flopped and drifted and pumped bilge through the night. Motored from 0545 to 0645. Barely enough SE breeze to hold heading making 1 kt. Where are the westerly trade winds? Crossed Lat 49N at 19:16W at 0759 hours making 2 kts. 1000 hrs, I think I have the pinhole covered. At noon still pretty much flopping along on fluky air that has veered a little south. The big southern swells slat the sails continually. 1300, what little breeze there is has veered out of the south. A half to one kt. I finally gave up at 1630 as the batteries were low and started the iron spinnaker. The terminals to the starter solenoid must be corroded from the water in the bilge as I had to "screwdriver" jump the solenoid. Made 10 nm since noon and most of that was from the current. The injector cleaner worked, the engine will full rev to 3500 rpm and no smoke. Motor sailing at 2000 rpm and 6 kts. Popcorn and a movie. 1830, container ship passed 1 nm to port on same heading. 1900, dead calm. 2000, Dropped the main, the slating chafed through 5 sail slide tapes and broke one slide at a batten. Will have to repair in the morning daylight, too dark now. Motoring again from 2015. One damn thing after another. Fixed some electrical problems that cropped up, a busted wire and a loose connection. About the time I finished those a force 0 breeze came from SW. A westerly. If it builds I can sail with headsails alone while I repair the main. Sufficient unto each day are the problems thereof, for this is the end of this day that God hath made. Amen. I am going to bed.
Wed, Aug 10 49:50N, 17:36W Noon, 50:00N, 17:18W	Bound for Ireland 63° 88 nm	0600, SSW force 0, clear, low 60s. Motored through the night. Now making 2 kts on genoa alone. This morning I am chill and in about as much hurry as the wind. Engine bilge dry, leak stopped. 0700, wind force 1, genoa pullinq well making 3 kts on heading. Rested another hour. High overcast beginning, sun not warming much. Wind has slacked. Vacuumed water out of bilges, and opened all hatches and the cabin sole to ventilate and finish drying. 1030, a ship passed a mile to stbd headed west. Main needs 3 slides replaced. Laced all the slides on and went below to check GPS for heading and bearing and found we were crossing Lat 50N right at noon with a SW wind pushing at 3.5 kts. Had lunch, a handful of raisins for dessert and took a nap. Woke at 1430. At 1500 set foresails wing and wing running on force 1-2 SW wind on heading. Didn't gain much. Set beans to soaking. 1900, tried to start the engine, batteries run way down. Apparently they did not charge well last night, alternator belt was loose. Charged one with the genset for 2 hours. Tightened belt. Doused sail and drifted while the engine hatch was up. Checked and cleaned all the starting circuit connections. Finally, after many trials, got the engine running at about 2100. The batteries are still low. There is virtually no wind so will run through the night or until some wind comes. Added 5 gallons fuel to the port tank just to make sure it doesn't run out during the night.
Thur, Aug 11 50:36N, 15:48W Noon 50:46N, 15:22W	Bound for Ireland 63° 88 nm	0600, NW force 3, part cloudy, low 60s. Motored through the night. A small cargo ship passed 1/4 mile to port headed NW just after I had set sail. Batteries did not charge properly last night. What? I hope I can get the engine started again. Started genset at 0800. Finally doped out the problem was in the starter. Dismounted it, disassembled, cleaned, lubed, reassembled and remounted it. Voila! Two hours of mechanicing well spent. Still have to dope out why the alternator is not charging. Sailing at 4 kts on heading at 1245 with Otto on the helm again. I proceeded to dismount and disassemble the alternator after checking the Yanmar manual, cleaned, lubed, reassembled and re-mounted it by 1600. The salt water spray from the belt when the bilge flooded took out the regulator. Oh, well. That's why I have the genset on board. Since about 1400 the wind has been near dead. I didn't have to tend the helm while I worked on the alternator. In between I chopped onion and a canned ham into the beans along with a can of tomato soup and some ragu sauce, tasty. Ate a bowl of them about 1615 after I cleaned up from mechanicing. Napped an hour. 1800, wing and wing, 3 kts. Crossed Lat 51N at 15:00W at 1915 hours. About 2000 the wind switched directions three times then backed from SW to NE in a matter of minutes, right on the nose. Motored into it, then it died. Three porpoise played at the bows for a few minutes. Tacked SE until 0130 then came back on course and heading with NW wind.
Fri, Aug 12 50:56N, 14:23W Noon 51:10N, 13:58W	Bound for Ireland 61° 56 nm	0600, WSW force 1, high overcast, low 60s. Running downwind with foresails winged out making 2+ kts. Another slow day. I found that in placing the genset close to the helm I was causing Otto to dither. I moved it 4 feet away and cured the problem. Now Otto can handle the helm while the batteries charge and I don't have to. At 1030 the batteries are full charged. I shut off the genset as we came into the clear. The warm sun feels good, and the quiet is wonderful. Time for my morning snack and a nap. Noon, beans and down wind at 3.5 kts. 1630, overcast lowered, grey all around, horizon moved in, wind rising, doing 4+ kts down wind, riding easy. Filled genset tank, ready to charge batteries again. 185nm from Galway Bay waypoint, 120 from Dingle. At 1800 we are on the Ireland chart, checked approach for obstruction, all clear on heading 063°. Wind is steady low force 3 and we are making 5+ kts. Otto is doing well keeping us on the heading and wind. The waves astern are yawing us about+/- 5°. At1820 I furled the genoa as it was backwinding in the yaws. Popcorn and a movie now that the genset is running. 1900, genset off. 2000, dark, mast light on, running 063° 4+ kts.
Sat, Aug 13 51:54N, 12:12W Noon 52:13N, 11:29W	Bound for Ireland 62° 115 nm	0600, W wind force 4, low overcast, drizzling, low 60s. Quartering downwind with shortened foresail, 7 kts, Yawing up to 10° in 6 ft waves. Otto is handling it well, on course and heading, occasionally banging hard as we slide off a cross-breaking wave. I ran genset from 0400 until it ran out at 0530 as Otto's battery was low. Bilges dry. Crossed Lat 52N at 11:57W at 0805 hours. Last can of corned beef hash for breakfast, and a pinch of tobacco for a smoke. I have been rationing the tobacco for the last six days and will run out this evening. 0900, the wind has veered W by N, a few degrees, and seems to be slacking some to force 3. At 1030 I set the main making 5-7 kts quartering down wave. The sun is out but clouds ahead. The gooseneck I jury rigged has a broken weld, I have lashed it as a precaution. The wind veered NW and came back force 5 with waves 8-10 ft abeam. At 1300 I doused the main and proceeded on engine and 3/4 furled genoa making 5-7 kts at 2500 rpm. A rough ride, pitching and pounding about every 2nd wave. 1430, furled genoa and changed heading north to 25° to quarter into the waves, still rough but not pounding as much. That was no good as speed dropped to nothing so back to course and heading. Checked battery charge, still up and an indication that the alternator is working some??? Put 5 gallons in stbd tank. Land Ho!!! Sighted Clogher Head at 1830 hours on the stbd beam 20 miles distant. Used my last pinch of tobacco to celebrate. Genset for two hours, it is running ragged.
Sun, Aug 14 51:54N, 12:12W Noon 53:16N, 9:03W	Galway Harbor, Ireland 118 nm	0600, WNW wind force 4, low overcast, drizzling, low 60s. Made the mark entering Galway Bay at 0700 right on the nose. Motored to Galway, and the pilot launch led me into the harbor. It is totally secure. Tied up at the quay wall at 1115. --Photos-- Chris, whom I met in Bermuda, helped me tie up. Bought some pipe tobacco, will have to quit smoking, E13.75 a pack. Located a market to replenish stores. Delightful town and people. Genset has crapped out, wont start, needs work. Clam chowder for lunch, then to bed. Slept 3 hours. Took genset apart, the shrouding of the engine has vibrated apart. Tomorrow will check in with customs, then find an alternator for the engine to charge batteries and then look to some way of fixing the genset. Without the genset I can't run my power tools, all European power is 220v. Last of the potatoes, onions and corned beef for dinner and breakfast tomorrow.
Mon, Aug 15 53:16N, 9:03W	Galway Harbor, Ireland	0600, calm - slight NW air, low overcast, low 60s. Slept sound all night, 9 hours, up once. Nice, absolutely no motion to boat. Breakfast and coffee, then took alternator off engine. Cleared in at customs. Walked about 4 miles finding shop to get alternator tomorrow and got a map of Ireland and bus touring info. Rode the city bus back to city center and walked 6 more blocks to the harbor. Rested for an hour then went to market, €30 and internet, €2, another 2 miles. Napped. Found AA meeting by asking at the Police station, about 6 blocks from the boat, 2 a day. A fellow there, Tony, said he might have an another alternator as a spare.
Tue, Aug 16 53:16N, 9:03W	Galway Harbor, Ireland	0600, calm - slight NW air, low overcast, low 60s.Went to internet, log still would not load. Went to 1pm mtg and met Peter H. and spent the afternoon with him. The alternator will arrive tomorrow. Went with Peter, Danny and Diedre to a Detox center and was lead speaker. We were served a great after meeting snack of french fries bread and sausages. We all came back aboard about 2300, hung out for a half hour, then I went with Danny to his place a couple of blocks away for a shower. Returned at 0100.
Wed, Aug 17 53:16N, 9:03W	Galway Harbor, Ireland	0630, calm - slight SW air, low overcast, drizzling, very high tide, high 50s. Dismounted gooseneck, and gave it to Eugene to re-weld and beef up. Then I removed the oil filter, Yanmar P/N 119660-35150, went to the marine store to buy one, none, bought a new main halyard, €38. Then to meeting, met with Mark who took me t a bank for cash, €200, and to get the alternator, €207, and 3 new oil filters, €16, substitute Micro P/N ADH22119, not quite the same, but they fit and work. Had lunch at Subway. To the boat, installed the filter and alternator, started engine and charged batteries for about 2 hours. Raining heavier from 1700 on. Went to an Indian cuisine "going away" dinner for Elly who is going to Prague to teach. I had lamb and curry, not very good, €14. We went to her place after for a "sing along" of traditional music, a new experience. On board at 0130, which is too late for this old man.
Thur, Aug 18 53:16N, 9:03W	Galway Harbor, Ireland	0900, calm - slight SW air, overcast, clearing to the west, high 50s. Need to caulk some minor cabin top leaks around hatch, mast step and chainplates. Bought some tobacco, went to internet and got the log loaded. FTP problem was with the internet cafe computer. I then wandered to the St Pat's church meeting, and met up with Mark. We talked with Diedre an hour after the meeting then motored up to Connemara and Cong to visit the sites of "The Quiet Man". We visited the bridge, the ruins of the original cottage, the village of Cong, taking photos of the Cross of Cong and Pat Cohan's Bar, which was gutted and being restored, had dinner, then went to the church and the Ashford Castle grounds before returning to Galway about 2299. Mark is delightful company. --Photos--
Fri, Aug 19 53:16N, 9:03W	Galway Harbor, Ireland	0750, calm - slight SW air, clear. Waited until the dew dried and then caulked the cabin leaks. Sent about 4 hours re-programmed the photo pages. Watched part of The Quiet Man with Mark . Did meetings and tinkered around town, got tobacco.
Sat, Aug 20 53:16N, 9:03W	Galway Harbor, Ireland	0800, calm - slight SW air, overcast and clearing, 50s. Programmed GPS for course to Porto, Portugal, 759 nm. Went to 1100 meeting with Eugene. Anthony walked back with me, he may have a spare alternator. Went to ATM for cash, €170 and then to internet. Found the library and a cruising guide and an old copy of Reed's almanac. Need to get copies and a chart of the south coast of Ireland. Set a pot of beans to soak. Cleaned the computer and keyboard. Charged batteries. Potatoes, onions and canned meat for dinner. Brpught John Paul back to the boat, showed him the ABC pages on the domain and talked with him for a couple of hours about the program. A good lad without a sponsor.
Sun, Aug 21 53:16N, 9:03W	Galway Harbor, Ireland	0800, calm , overcast and drizzling constant, 50s, a slight surge in harbor. I slept well. A lazy day. When the rain let up a little I walked 1/2 mile to market and back with two 30 lb bags, €40, I thought my arms would be stretched 5 ft long. Not much selection but I did find corned beef. I did the internet and uploaded some photos, updated the log and sent an email to Jeff Schone. Eugene brought me the repair to the gooseneck and a spare part. I met up with John and Isabella on the way back from market and we went to Kinvarra for the hooker boat race at the Cuinniu Na mBad - Gathering of the Boats - and traditional music and dancing. John was one of the musicians and played Black Velvet Band for me. A hooker is the traditional, Galway work boat, a gaff rigged sloop, typically 40-60 ft, bluff bowed and lovely of line, with a tremendous gaffed main and a bowsprit half as long as the boat to carry a large spritsail and jib, fast on and off the wind. They were used for everything from fishing to cargo, hauling building materials, peat, gravel and other supplies. A wonderful experience.
Mon, Aug 22 53:16N, 9:03W	Galway Harbor, Ireland	0830, near calm - westerly breeze, clear, high 50s. Two men tried to come aboard about 0230, thieves, I scared them off. Slow start this morning. Did some programming correcting the Windwalker Voyage picture, and some of the text. Re-assembled the gooseneck, it is fine. Charged batteries about 2 hours. To meeting. Dave took me to a fuel station where I got 24 gallons of agricultural diesel for €.56/L, half price, €72. Engine oil, €24. Need to put 30 gallons of water aboard. Cooked the beans and had a bowl. Replaced the main halyard with new line. Bought a 2004 cruising guide that gives me most of the seaport data from Galway to Gibraltar for €15 reduced price. Then to market again for dry beans, potatoes, canned vegetables and sundries, €42. Anthony visited for a while, and Dave stopped back by. Meeting at 2030, and back aboard about 2230.
Tue, Aug 23 53:16N, 9:03W	Galway Harbor, Ireland	0800, NW wind force 4 gusting 5, overcast and raining, low 60s, with a slight surge in the harbor. Laid up in the cabin reading for most of the day. Changed the engine oil about 1700 when the rain let up and made a sail slide stop for the mast. Charged batteries. Put about 8 gallons of fuel in port tank to fill it. The stbd tank will take the rest of the can to fill when I am ready to leave, about 30 gallons in the tanks and 10 gallons in reserve for the trip. Good beans for meals today. 1900 raining again, wind is up and surge is building some tonight. They warped a 350 ft delivery tanker into this little harbor about 1930 without a tug, just barely able to fit, really something to watch. The surge was from the harbor tide gates being open to let the tanker in. They were closed after it and the surge slowed. To bed to read about 2030.
Wed, Aug 24 53:16N, 9:03W	Galway Harbor, Ireland	0700, near calm NW, clear, high 50s. Re-reefed and tied down the main, putting all the slides back on track. Finished caulking the mast step. Overcast and filthy cold rain came in from the NW about 0830, will probably wash the caulk out, as it didn't have time to set. Wind up to force 4-5. Took the genset engine shrouds to Ryan Engg. to be welded. Stopped by the harbormaster office and filled form. Had a nice visit with the harbormaster, Peter H's brother-in-law, Brian Sheridan. He gave me a chart from Dingle to Cork. Fished a cockpit cushion out of the water on the way back. Fair cover and good foam. Wandered around town to the internet and meeting. Raining again as I got back at 1430. Waited until it let up then put on rain gear and walked to Ryan for the welded shrouds. Raining again so below and programmed a nautical units converter linked at the bottom of the page. Quiet night.
Thur, Aug 25 53:16N, 9:03W	Galway Harbor, Ireland	0800, near calm NW, clear, low 50s, damn cool. Clouding and spitting by 0830 so stayed below, studied charts and programmed waypoints of next voyage legs into the GPS, both around to Cork and direct to Porto Leixios, Portugal. Zeroxed the local tide tables at the library. The 5 day forecast shows that through the rest of the week the tide is early and late and Sunday the winds will be up to force 5 from the SW against me. I could get out through the harbor lock Monday at UTC noon with force 2 westerlies turning NW offshore. Went to Danny's and showed him how to view Barefoot's World from the CD, to help him with his step work, then went to meeting. Back for beans and bed by 2230.
Fri, Aug 26 53:16N, 9:03W	Galway Harbor, Ireland	0730, near calm NW, high overcast, low 50s. Having a great deal of trouble getting started today, cold and miserable out. Programmed GPS routes from Portugal to Madeira. From Galway to Funchal via Cork and Lisbon is about 1550 nm, direct about 1300 nm. Started sorting charts according to my inventory list. 1230 it is blowing a filthy rain. Spoke at 1300 meeting, then went to the computer store and bought a UCB flash memory stick to use for uploading to the web and 10 RW CD's, €59. Stopped for a burger and an ice cream, €8. Back to the boat and an hour of cleaning up Barefoot's World and loading to the memory stick. Still spitting rain with occasional sun. Finished sorting the charts and went to meeting. Soup. Worked at cleaning unused files from the domain until 0230. Eliminated 16 mbyte.
Sat, Aug 27 53:16N, 9:03W	Galway Harbor, Ireland	0900, near calm NW, high overcast, 50s., water in harbor basin way out, down 3 meters. Spent early part pf the day programming, and nearly finished getting the genset back together by dusk and a fresh drizzle about 2000. Went to meeting and came back to dinner about 2230 and more programming, correcting the chart of the voyage legs. Had to lengthen shorelines as water is low.
Sun, Aug 28 53:16N, 9:03W	Galway Harbor, Ireland	1000, Force 4-5 NW, high overcast, 60s, water in harbor basin still way out. Miserable out. Finished voyage chart for Windwalker page. I am not going to get out tomorrow, too much yet to do, and I can't get my butt in gear. Didn't get enough sleep. Hmmm, I find myself getting lonesome for No. Idaho and the ranch, strange. Oh, well, I am in Ireland and a long way and a long time from there. Hmmm, let me see, from here to Portugal, visit Casey, and then on to Madeira in the last weeks of September, leave Madeira for the Canaries the first week of October, the Canaries to Cape Verdes in October, Cape Verdes to Brazil in November, Brazil to Lesser Antilles in March, Lesser Antilles to Panama in late April, through the canal, Panama to Costa Rica in May, then south to the Galapagos before June, Galapagos to Pitcairn in July, Pitcairn to Gambiers in August. On to the Tuamotus and Marquesas in September, Marquesas to Hawaii in November, the out islands of Hawaii until April, Hawaii to the Columbia in May, and up the Columbia to Lewiston in June. Hmmm, 12-15000 miles and nearly a year away and that would be pushing it. Sure wish I had a cruising companion. Got the charts stowed again and found a cabin leak at the aft chain plates again. Cleaned the old caulking out, let the areas dry while I had lunch, cleaned them with gasoline, then re-caulked both chainplates, and put more caulk on the mast step. Finished getting the genset together and checked out, works fine. Now I can vacuum the keyboard and the bilges again before take-off, and can use my power tools as needed. Peter and Yvonne stopped by for a pleasant hour and invited me to a different meeting at 1830. Wind hasn't let up all day. Wind force 7 walking to meeting and back, really blowing.
Mon, Aug 29 53:16N, 9:03W	Galway Harbor, Ireland	0800, calm, high thin clouds, 50s. Wind blew itself out during the night about 0300. Found that the bow line had chaffed through. Put 30 gallons of water aboard. Wore me out toteing it 150 meters. Somewhere I have a leak in the plumbing, a gallon of water in the cabin bilges. Vacuumed the bilges nearly dry. Tanks 1 and 2 are full and 3 is about half. Stowed loose gear. Went to meeting. I can leave when the weather and wind are right. Salvaged a couple of hundred feet of 1/2" anchor rode from the harbor. Drew €220 from the bank. Bought a DVD, "Patton", flints for my lighter and another package of tobacco. Found some cardboard to keep charts separated into proper areas and easier to locate when I need them. Anthony brought me a 35A alternator that will work as an emergency spare.
Tue, Aug 30 53:16N, 9:03W Anchored 53:06:52N, 9:40:07W	Galway, Ireland to Aran Islands	0700, calm, high clouds, 50s. Serious leak at No. 1 water tank fitting, pumped it out and sealed it. Vacuumed the bilges again. To market for last minute provisions, €20 and €3 for a chicken sandwich and a milkshake, to Peter H's for goodbyes, to harbormaster for clearance and weather report, and to internet to post this and email folks. Just before leaving I discovered the hydraulic steering was low on hydraulic oil. I got it filled and bled and then left the harbor on the tide, clearing the harbor lock at 1400. I anchored for the night in 10 feet of low tide water at 1900 hours in the bay at Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands at the entrance of Galway Bay. We (the boat and I) motored the 39 miles in 5 hours. The autopilot has a glitch, not getting power light on control unit. It was lit when I plugged it in just before leaving, but had quit by the time I cleared the harbor and was ready to set course. It is not the power connector or the fuse, I checked both sides and in the middle. It may be a corroded connection not supplying the necessary current even though I am reading a voltage.
Wed, Aug 31 53:06N, 9:41W Anchored 52:34N, 9:51W	Inishmore Bay to the Shannon Estuary 42nm	0745, W force 4, black solid overcast, low 60s. Filthy drizzling morning. If I can't get the autopilot working I will have to day sail to Cork, anchoring at night. I am feeling about half sick and chilled this morning. Cream of chicken soup for breakfast. Checked and tested the autopilot some more. Nothing can be done now. At least it didn't fail before arriving in Galway. I will have both of them repaired at Cork. Nothing to do but continue with my hand on the helm. Broke the thermos jug, dropped a spoon inside measuring sugar into it for tea. One more thing, damn. Pulled the hook at 1100 and motored out to sea in the channel between Inishmore and Inishmaan. Flew the genoa about noon and with a favorable west wind raised the main at 1300. Sailed at 6-7 kts most of the afternoon, entering the Shannon estuary at 1545. Anchored in a small bay at Kilcloher Head, not a whole lot of lee but will do for the night. Immediately fixed dinner, potatoes, onion and corned beef. I starved all day, a cup of tea and a Snickers for lunch. Although the wind was only force 5-4, the seas from the NW were up to 15 feet on my beam and I couldn't' leave the helm for more than a few seconds.