A leisurely motor on a Sunday morning, as our crews headed for the final stopping place in Ireland at Greystones. This would only be a short stop as, later that night, both Ashanti and Clearlake II need to set out on an overnight sail back across the Irish sea to the Welsh port of Milford Haven. (Four countries on one week? Not too bad!)

After a short rest at Greystones, our intrepid sailors set out again at 2200 on one of the longest stages of the entire round Britain cruise, across the Irish sea once again.

If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing

Thank you.

Early on Saturday morning, our crews set off again along the Irish coast, this time for the Howth Head peninsula on the northern boundary of Dublin Bay. (For those keeping count, this is the fourth country of the British Isles we have visited so far!) Our crews found that the winds were again in their favour as they made their way south, and with the sails set and auto-helm on, they could settle down with a hot cup of tea and enjoy the sights and sounds if the Irish waters.

On arriving in Howth, our crews met ashore to indulge in a pint of the 'black stuff' before settling in before their hop south to Greystones in the morning.

If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing

Thank you.

Day three is a short hop along the east coast of County Down, past Strangford Lough and toward the fishing town of Ardglass. After leaving the shelter of Bangor, our yachts had favourable winds all the way along their 23 mile journey, arriving in plenty of time to raft up, enjoy a good meal and head ashore for a relaxing pint before an early night ready for the next day.

If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing

Thank you.

Bright and early, our crews headed out under blue skies into the open water of the Irish sea, and had good wind to help them on their way. As our crews had got to know each other the day before, they were all eager to help each other in their endeavour to haul their vessels through the waves and head for the third country we are visiting on this trip. Located just outside the Northern Irish capital, Belfast, Bangor is a seaside town on the southern side of Belfast Lough, and has plenty to offer.

The splendid sight of the town of Bangor proved a welcome sight after an exhilarating sail across the sea, and the view of the Ferris Wheel illuminated against the night sky invokes many memories of childhood, even in some of our most hardened sailors!

All of those on board are helping us to raise much needed funds for Macmillan Cancer Support and, along with our sponsors, are all working hard to make sure the work that they do to help some of the most vulnerable people in the UK.

If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing

Thank you.

The first day of leg 5 of Premier sailing's sail4macmillan round Britain cruise of 2019. As the boats had been serviced and resupplied, our new crews had arrived, introduced each other and set off on their way from Troon to Portpatrick. On a cloudy Wednesday morning, Ashanti and Clearlake II set off into the open water of the Firth of Clyde. With little wind, both boats fired up their Volvo engines to keep them on track and on time, heading past Loch Ryan on their way towards the Irish sea.

Portpatrick is the most western point in Scotland, and the last Scottish haven on our cruise this year. After their arrival, and a good meal on board, our crews rafted up and headed ashore for a final evening north of the border, before making a short hop across the Irish sea the following morning.

A new crew ready to head out across the Irish sea

If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing

Thank you.

 

 

 

If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing

Thank you.

 

If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing

Thank you.

On day five, Ashanti and Clearlake II set out again through the islands of western Scotland and the Firth of Clyde, not far from the isle of Bute.

Navigating the islands can be difficult, and detailed passage planning is essential to the success of any trip, let alone this one. As with any such endeavour, you need to adapt and be ready to change plans at a moment's notice, fortunately our skippers and crews all have the skills necessary for this to happen with ease.

Conditions were perfect for an exhilarating sail, both vessels leaning against the wind and cutting their way through the waves making for a wonderful sight. With good wind our crews made amazing progress, and with adrenaline pumping the hours and the miles flew by, with a steady supply of tea and biscuits keeping them going on their way.

On arrival at Largs, our crews moored up and tucked into a good meal, reminiscing over the amazing sailing they have had so far this week, and preparing themselves for the final stage of this leg, the short hop to Troon, that they will make the next day.

If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing

Thank you.

As our crews woke and readied themselves to leave the Crinan canal, they were greeted by a marvellous sight.

VIC 32 is one of the last two remaining steam-powered Clyde Puffers in operation. She was commissioned by the admiralty in 1939, she served throughout the Second World War as an inshore craft and, following the war, was used mainly in the coasting trade. As most of the Clyde Puffers have been converted to diesel, VIC 32 is quite the celebrity as one of the last remaining coal powered Puffers in operation.

On leaving the canal, the mist descended on our crews and, although visibility was still good, the eerie atmosphere it creates over the shoreline can be a little unsettling for some. Our crews are made of sterner stuff, and continued on, soon free of the mist and well on their way to Tarbet and their resting place for that night.

On reaching their destination, our crews settled in for the night and, fed and watered, readied themselves for the next day.

If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing

Thank you.

On  day three our crews took on the fifteen locks and seven bridges of the Crinan canal. Completed in 1801, the canal links the Firth of Clyde with the west coast of Scotland and is popular with many leisure cruises, not least ours, and provides another opportunity for navigating locks, as well as testing thre boat handling skills of our crews.

Originally populated mainly by Clyde Puffers, the Crinan canal is a much tighter fit than the Caledonian in places and required a steady hand on the helm at times, as well as good communication when entering the small locks that line the way.

After traversing the fourteen kilometers of the canal, Ashanti and Clearlake II moored near the village of Ardrishaig, ready to lock out in the morning and into the open sea once more.

If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing

Thank you.