Onward to Dublin
by SV Taipan on 28 Aug 2016
Blackrock Castle SV Taipan
On Friday we headed back down the river in much better weather and were able to catch all the sights we missed coming in. There is a great cycle and walking path right along the southern bank which is very well used. We passed Blackrock Castle dating from the 16th century. Built by the citizens of Cork in 1582 as a watch tower and fort to guard the river entrance against pirates and other invaders, it now serves as Ireland’s first fully interactive astronomy center, and is open to the public.
We were able to admire the riverside architecture and small towns like Ringaskiddy and Monkstown on either side.
The impossibly tall and delicate spire of St Colemans Cathedral at Cohb had us searching for a dockside tie hoping to take the opportunity while passing to explore, however after a fruitless search we reluctantly continued on to Crosshaven and picked up a mooring for the night.
Construction began on the magnificent neo-Gothic cathedral in 1867 and was not completed until over half a century later due to increases in costs and revisions of the original plans. The cathedral organ has 2,468 pipes. It also has a 49 bell carillon, the largest bell weighing 3.6 tons is suspended 200 feet above the ground The Cathedral has one of the largest carillon in the British Isles and has it's own carillonneur.
There is also a Titanic museum in Cohb as it was the last stop for the ill fated ship. You always have to leave something to come back for.
Fort Davis and Rams Head forts loomed large on either side of the entrance to the River Lee. They had been shrouded in such heavy rain as we came in we completely missed them.
We had an early start on Friday to Rosslare Harbour for and 86nm run. Fortunately the days are long and the current was favorable so we arrived just on dusk to tie up next to a fishing boat in the harbor. Rosslare is a ferry port with boats going to Wales, England and France.
Saturday dawn broke as we departed and the day was bright and sunny again. We motored for a while then the wind started to build. By mid afternoon we had 35 knots from dead behind and an uncooperative auto pilot. David managed to tame the beast after some excitement and eventually after playing with the settings we were once again under auto control.
Dun Loaghairy, our destination, is an old walled harbor dating back to the mid 1800s with Martello Tower forts east and west of it. The port offers excellent protection and easy all weather access, large enough to enable us to lower the main within its tall protected walls. Scott, the marina staff member on that afternoon came out to greet us and met us on the dock as we very gratefully threw lines and tied up Taipan after a fairly arduous sail.
Dublin is a 20 min train ride away from the station just across the road so a very convenient spot to stop.
So we are off to explore Dublin.
This article has been provided courtesy of the SV Taipan.
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