ArchiCAD University Sailing: Fastnet Rock, April 2005
Sailing June 2005 Sailing April 2005 ACU Sailing 2006
ACUE Sailing Weekend in Western Ireland - sail to Fastnet!
We held a sailing weekend 7-8-9-10-11 April 2005, with ArchiCAD University friends in some of the best scenery in Europe - the western islands and fjords of Ireland - on 2 beautiful yachts.

Cape Clear Island

Our two Yachts moored up in the North Haven of Cape Clear Island.
Swapimage: Alex Tepper, Marie Sofie Larsen, Andreas Lettner, Liu Liu Zhang, David Nicholson-Cole at the Pub at Cape Clear Island.

See more about the yacht at the website:
http://www.dod-architects.com/zeilen
Sailing is a wonderful group-bonding experience, and you learn something too!

Report of the Itinerary in Brief, with Yachts 'White Elephant' and 'Jessie of Adrigole'.

Skippers: Daniel Dusoswa (genial host), Niall McAllister (owner of Jessie), and DNC (doing his racing thing).
See below for an outline chart of the weekend's sailing.

Thursday 7th April:
Pick up from airport 6pm, transport to Castleton Bere, ferry across to Bere Island, bring luggage on board and have a welcome drink. Howling wind during the night.

Friday 8th April:
Weather calm but cold with snow (unusual) on the surrounding mountains. Leave early from Laurence Cove Marina on Bere Island and sail south. Wind picked up and we were running southward in squally north winds between 4 and gusting 5 and 6 around Sheeps Head and the Mizen Head with the sails goosewinged; past Mizen head we had a long reach, passing north of Fastnet Rock and going north of Cape Clear Island turn south through the gap, and a final windward leg into the Baltimore approaches. We found a lot of moorings and tied up to two adjacent ones for the evening in Baltimore, a small picturesque village (yes, smaller than its namesake in Chesapeake bay) with a few pubs and one very fine french restaurant. Rafted up together for maximum social interaction! Some people dinghied ashore to try the pub!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl1QBAJJ0ME
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo-ys87onGw

Saturday 9th April:
Race to the Fastnet Rock! Hard windward beat out to the rock in a very consistent Westerly force 4 and a light Atlantic swell, then round it to starboard, turn a full 360degrees and continue on a broad reach to the little North Haven on Cape Clear Island, an amazing island with a delightful little harbour. We walked up to a pub designed by Daniel, where the quality of the hospitality and live music is guaranteed. A large party of irish revellers from the mainland kept some of us yachties up till 4am with fine singing. We spent the night rafted up against a red ferry! This is the most South Westerly inhabited tip of Northern Europe.

Sunday 10th April:
Leave 11am to sail from Cape Clear back to Bere Island. A long windward beat to the west in a force 4, with a gentle swell coming in from the Atlantic. Rounded Mizen Head then continued on a long broad reach up to Bere Island, rolling a bit in the swell. Long party on board, we had more beer on the boat than the nearby pub!

Monday 11th April:
After breakfast, clean the boat, take the 13.30 Ferry and drive back to Cork airport.

Animated GIF by Marie Sofie Larsen
'Jessie of Adrigole' is a superb Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37 Legende, and was provided by West Cork Sailing, based in Adrigole nearby. West Cork Sailing

Animated GIF by Marie Sofie Larsen

Outline chart of the weekend's sailing.

We made full use of accurate long range weather forecasts to get the best out of the weekend! going to Baltimore is a long way, but we were confident in Westerly winds to bring us back.
ACUE Sailing route 2005

Email: ArchiCAD University Secretariat for further information