While the current spell of balmy weather may make the cruising life seem like the ultimate dream, it doesn’t take too much effort to remember that ten days or so ago, it was blowing old boots with rain to match writes W M Nixon.
But your dyed-in-the-wool cruising enthusiast takes it all in his or her stride, and usually has a range of options to offset the ill-effects of the worst that our weather can throw at us. Particularly those who happen to have twin keels. They’ll tell you that when you get really completely and utterly fed up with being bounced about even in supposedly serene anchorages, there’s nothing to beat simply waiting until the ebb has run for an hour or two, and then you gently run your pride-and-joy onto the nearest bit of flat and sheltered beach for eight or ten hours of guaranteed peace and quiet and stillness.
In the most recent bit of meteorological unpleasantness, we happened to find to ourselves at Crookhaven in far West Cork. It really is the ultimate summer place when summer is properly upon us. But when there’s a wet gale from the west, the anchorage right at the village is actually quite uncomfortable if the tide is flooding vigorously westward into this long natural harbour. And as it’s such a strategically useful port of call, the place can become uncomfortably crowded with boats waiting their chance to round the Mizen.
But at the head of the sheltered inlet, there isn’t the mud you’d expect. On the contrary, there’s a fine stretch of smooth flat clean sand. Empty smooth flat clean sand. Perfect for a twin keeler. And sure enough, there was one right there, spot on the prime position, and perfectly placed to meet dog walkers and other interesting local folk who might not cross your path if you confine yourself to the company of weatherbound yotties down at the village.
The rain has cleared for the time being, but another westerly gale is in the offing. Best make sure that life’s a beach…….Photo: W M Nixon
