Sunday 23 April
Having given up waiting for confirmation of berth availability from Howth, we had a very helpful conversation with Dun Laoghaire, who offered us a choice of moorings, so we made our way back through the shipping out of the River Liffey and across the bay to one of the largest and emptiest marinas I’ve ever been to. It seems the adoption of the Euro and EU financial input into the economy of the Republic of Ireland encouraged strong growth in many areas, including the maritime leisure industry, but the present downturn of this all-too-familiar ‘boom and bust’ cycle has resulted in many cruising sailors being unable to maintain their hobby, leaving large areas of the marina unoccupied. My crew’s main frustration was the lack of reliable wifi, as the marina is too large for the shore-based signal to reach across to us.
After some tidying and general preparation for visitors, my crew went off to meet my VIPs from their flight and bus ride into town. They were delighted to see my Second Mate’s brother again, and to become acquainted with his girlfriend from University.