Next stop Ireland

We put up our main almost as soon as we got through the lock gates and within minutes of making our way down the Mersey the benefits of having AIS became apparent when the coastguard contacted us to negotiate going starboard to starboard with a rather large cable laying vessel making its way down the opposite way but wanting to turn to port into Gladstone Dock! There was little to no wind so we were under motor but it still we were out of the Marina and on our way after such a long time in the Marina and having completed a list of jobs as long as your arm!

Leaving of Liverpool

Finally a few days later than anticipated due to an alternator failure on the starter battery supply we got away on Thursday 2nd June. Our chief engineer Mr David Cruikshank together with the crew Geraldine and Dermot  had very patiently been helping us in Liverpool having arrived on the Sunday and their help was invaluable. George came to see us off and our friends John and Mandy threw us down a bottle of Port as we waited in the lock for the water to fill. I have to say that both John and I were a little emotional when those gates finally opened and we were out once again on the water. Our journey had started....

Nearly on our way back

Orion is currently on the hard awaiting new anodes and just generally checking over her hull which looks good. The coppercoat has done its job and we are free of growth which is heartening. It has been along time coming but I think that we are nearly ready to go back to the sun!
Orion has been in Liverpool for 20 months and you tend to forget how much work we have done since our arrival.

• replace all the roof linings
• refurbish both heads
• fit new solar panels
• fit wind generator
• re design and upgrade the chart table
• Fit new radar/AIS
• Refurbish the stern cabin
• new sail bags

Just a few more purchases to be made such as new life raft, a sea anchor and a new dinghy... but they should be sorted before the end of May

We have made a rough itinerary for anyone interested in crewing but this is just as far as Gib

 

Leave Liverpool 30^th May (HT 10.00 local time)

Liverpool to Arklow via Holyhead ( approx 140 mls)

Leave Arklow Wed 1st June (HT 09.00 local time)

Arklow to Kilmore Quay (60 miles approx)

Leave Kilmore Quay Friday June 3rd

Will travel along the Southern Irish Coast stopping at various ports

Aiming to be in Baltimore by the 9th June

Leave Baltimore for Porto Sin ( South of La Corunna Spain ) - 550 miles approx 5 days

Leave Porto Sin 19th June

Down coast of Spain / Portugal – 340 miles to Cape St. Vincent

Possible stops on the way at either Nazare or Peniche

Arrive Lagos 24^th June

3 days stop off in Lagos - leave 27^th June

Onward to Gibraltar via Faro and Cadiz possibly Morrocco

Arrive Gibraltar 4^th July LEG 2 Gib to Greece to follow.

I have now resolved that I am going to update this page and our new Facebook page on a regular basis