Voyages of Norman James: Bangor

The inshore waters forecast was for south or southwest 4 or 5 increasing 6 for a time in far southeast. Heading down wind in a F6 should not give us any cause for concern. Tidal considerations required us to leave Ardglass after midday to catch fair tide up the coast later in the day.

As we set off it was bright and sunny and we were soon sailing in a F5 with full main and slightly reduced genoa. Over the afternoon the wind increased and we reduced our sail area. Further up the coast required a course change to a more down wind point of sailing. The main was taken down and we continued, albeit a bit slower, with just the genoa up. The sea was increasing and we did not want to risk an involuntary gybe. The wind was gusting F7, a bit more than we were expecting.

Heading for Donaghadee Sound the wind died, the engine was turned on and with a fair tide under us a maximum SOG of 9.2 knots was achieved. Just after 19.00 hours we were tucked up in marina berth in Bangor, feeling very lucky not to have got wet from the rain which had been forecast.

Bangor was our first new port of call this year so we spent a couple of days exploring. Shopping was easy as the marina was located at the end of the main high street and we had a nice walk along the coast to the west. I was charmed by the local feathered residents, black guillemots nesting on the marina harbour wall. It was a real treat to see them diving and flying under water.