DAY 5 - WEDNESDAY 16 JUNE

 BURTONPORT to BANGOR 130 NM

At last we are back on track and with great advice from Mike Thorton, of Bluewater Raven, a good day was planned.  He also briefed for the following day as we were not to meet up until later in the following morning.

 

Morning briefings an essential part of the trip

All are heading for Bangor, except the two Redbays who are going to Red Bay for a planned service.  The day starts well with plans for fuel at Portrush and lunch on Ratlin Island.  Stops are planned for the Giants Causeway and the Rope bridge.

All goes well to Portrush with fuel at 60p a litre, hungry tanks are filled.  But during fuelling Trinity does a routine inspection and find oil in the bilge - further investigation finds all three bolts holding the front on Trinity port engine mounting are missing !  It looks like the end of the rally for Trinity, but the support vehicle is called for, engineering skills shared, bits and pieces found with wonderful local help and we manage to lift the engine, using rope, strops, a jack and an aluminium plate; with the gift of a new bolt from Gordon Compton and one taken from the starboard engine, Trinity is back up and running.  But is there further damage? - time will tell.  New bolts are being flown to Oban.

My Pleasure looking for a new home.

This means half the fleet miss lunch at Rathlin Island, but makes up for it by driving their RIBs into caves under the rope bridge, even the local fishermen are impressed. 

The Rope Bridge -

All looks good as we head for Bangor but 10 miles form Bangor Scoopy Doo, has a major engine failure and she is out of the running.

As we approach Bangor the local RIB team comes out to meet us and follows us in for a good look over the fleet in the Marina.  (Not being bias but the whole welcoming fleet was made up of Scorpions, some over 10 years old, well used and looking as good as new) When we arrive we are met by Evolution,  Paul has driven up on his own and rejoined the game – well done Evolution

The Irish leg is coming to an end and it has been a very special treat, we have had a rare chance to see so much in suitable weather – this is a great honour, the West Coast is a perilous place for boats and few get this opportunity.

Tomorrow we have a long list of adventures planned  some of us hope to see our first Golden Eagle in the wild, but this is a very challenging Rally there are surprises around every corner.

If you are jealous, that you are not here - well you should be, we are exhausted, beaten, burnt and sore but happy

Briefing done - we meet up with the Redbay boats tomorrow and take on Corryvreckan Whirlpool, one of Nature's True Wonders - Bring on Scotland.

Patrick Byrne

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