Day Nine : Crosshaven, Ireland

We arrive in Crosshaven 24 hours after leaving Isles of Scilly. After a much needed shower in the Royal Cork Yacht Club, our safe arrival is celebrated with a drink at the bar. Appetites for the Celtic Sea crossing were not voracious and the pre-cooked sausages from yesterday have been untouched. So tonight, bangers and mash with onion gravy are on the menu.

As dinner is concluded, the wind howls through the rigging and the rain lashes down. It seems we timed our passage just right!

Day Eight : Isles of Scilly to Crosshaven, Ireland

After all the preparations have been finished, we finally sit down for a hearty brunch of bacon, spinach, poached egg on an english muffin. For the passage across the Celtic Sea to Cork, sausages are prepared for a snack on the way and chicken ceasar wraps stored in tin foil so people can help themselves when on watch.

We depart New Grimsby Sound at 1400 for the 135 NM voyage. This is possibly our last weather window for a few days as strong winds are forecast by the end of tomorrow. It's a bit bumpy to start - with short, confused waves - as we leave the Isles of Scilly but the sea settles down as we get into deeper water. Although we depart in fair weather, as the day progresses we can see the weather fronts clearly defined by the clouds on the horizon.

Lots of ginger nut biscuits and dark chocolate for the ladies' watch through the night.