Gale warnings are given over the radio so we depart Glandore before the weather closes in. It's only 17 NM to Baltimore, so we should get in before the gales hit this area. Forty-five minutes out of Glandore, the visibility deteriorates so we stay well offshore to avoid the numerous rocks which pepper this coastline.The entrance to Baltimore is tricky to spot as the cloudbase is right over the cliffs. It should be really easy as there is a massive white day mark - "Lot's Wife" - on the eastern side of the approach (see photo). However, today it was hidden and therefore no use whatsoever.
As we wiggled through the entrance, swarms of kids in dinghies were zipping about - oblivious to the rain and having lots of fun. Baltimore is a major sailing centre and there are several schools here which run summer camps for children. After managing to avoid mowing down several of the Lasers, we found our way to the town quay and rafted up in the pouring rain.
The key objective now was to get the mainsail repaired. Bizarrely, there are no sailmakers in Baltimore and we eventually found one in Goleen some 20 NM away who would pick up the sail and repair it.
Tonight we eat ashore at the Jolie Brise Restaurant. I chose the local Galley Head prawns which were absolutely tasteless as they were practically still frozen. At the other end of the scale, the white wine we ordered had not been chilled so had to be sent back. Verdict: avoid.
PS: photo above of Lot's Wife was taken the next day when it wasn't raining.
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