J109 Ireland Delivery - Day 1- Kilrush to Fenit

After a couple of trips down to Kilrush over the winter and some help from the team at Mast and Rigging Ireland the Bottom Up Boats crew was reading to sail their newly acquired J109 "Joie de vie" half way around Ireland to her new home in Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland.
Follow the chapters below to skip to the bits you want to see most
0:00 - Intro
0:36 - How to get the J109 to Belfast ?
1:27 - Time to depart
2:30 - Time to depart (Take 2)
3:44 - Sites on the way to Fenit
5:08 - Kilrush Marina Review
6:51 - Fenit Harbour Marina Review
7:59 - Read out of the ships log for day 1
The several of the crew had done deliveries and extended passages in the summer months, this was the first anyone in the group had tackled a passage like this in the colder months before the heat had kick in. With a good weather window forecast the team was quietly optimistic that they could all complete the journey of a life time.
The plan for day 1 was adjusted after discussion with the friendly marina staff, the plan was to leave Kilrush before first light, riding the outrushing tide in the Shannon river on the way to Portmagee.
A beautiful sunset and an early night gave way to a heavy fog. After spending an hour or two in the marina lough and no sign of the fog lifting the Bottom UP Boats crew decided it was too dangerous to take on the ships in the Shannon without the correct radar gear. The only option was to head into town for a full Irish Breakfast and way for the tide to come back in enough to get on our way.
By early afternoon the sun was burning off the last of the fog and we were underway, the plans has to be readjusted as we would not be making slow progress into the tide on the way out the Shannon river. We adjusted our course for Fenit Harbour in the hope we could make up time on day 2 of the J109 delivery.
The passage to Fenit was great with the harbour masters looking after us, giving us a ride into the local pub. After talking to the local we planned for and early night so we could depart before sunrise to try and make up time by flying down the west coast to Cape Clear Island and the more southerly point of the island of Ireland.
If you make it to the end of the video you will get our Marina review and read out of the ships log.
Kilrush Marina Scored a 7 out of 10 for Short Stays.
* Open daily from 08.00-18.00 and during June/July/August until 21.30
* 24 Hour on call service
* 52.37.60 N, 09.30.18 W
* VHF Channel 80
Fenit Harbour Marina Scored a 8 out of 10 for Short Stays.
Fenit Harbour & Marina
Harbour Office,
Fenit,
Tralee,
Co. Kerry.
T. [phone]
F. [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
The team at bottom up boats hoped you enjoyed today's Vlog where we started the delivery of our J109 from Kilrush to Strangford Lough. If you have not already done so why not subscribe to join the CREW to ensure that you don't any of our future udpates.