We left Kilkeel Abruptly at 0830 when the dredger crew turned up ready to go out. As we left harbour, there were lovely views astern to the Mourne Mountains – small maybe in Scottish terms but attractive nonetheless. It was a fine day with a quartering Force 4/5 wind so we put a reef in the mainsail and enjoyed a forty mile sail down to Howth, at the NE corner of Dublin Bay. En route we passed the isolated skerry of Rockabill, the green island of Lambay, and the rocky and reef-strewn islet of Ireland’s Eye (derivation not known). Howth harbour is in two parts – a trawler dock and a yacht marina – so we took an overnight berth in the latter, enjoying a snooze in the sunshine after tying up.