On departing Dunmore we set half sails and were carried at at 7's and 8's to Credan Head and into the estuary. At one point our groundspeed registered 9.2 knots as the winds built. We continued to reduce our sails and headed for the navigational lights at Duncannon. As we neared the Fort we reckoned that we were getting about 30 knots from our port side, and we furled our mainsail even further just as we were hit by a big blow. And that's when we learned that you have to keep both headsail sheets tight when tacking in a blow to prevent them becoming impossibly tangled. Spent ten minutes on the lower side of a heaving deck trying to sort out the problem but to no avail. Started the motor and ran for cover and home! A great day's sailing in challenging conditions, and some lessons learned.
Passage: Day 1. Dunmore East to Waterford.
Date: Sat 18th June 2011.
Duration: Total 2.75 Hours.
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