Bangor, Northern Ireland

Bangor Marina is enormous. Especially when coming from little Port Ellen. There are pontoons from A to Z, and a Reception like a commando center. There are fabulous showers, even a bathtub! The washing machine room includes a book-exchange. This morning we have errands on the agenda: washing clothes, a trip to the chandlery, auto-shop, pharmacy, grocery. And then we're off again.

At 14:00 we leave the marina in a fresh breeze, 4 to 5 beaufort, from the north. We have following winds and spread genoa and mainsail, down to Ardglass. A sunny and pleasant sail alongside green and rolling Irish hills. Several other boats from Bangor have the same idea and we all parade into the harbor towards evening.

Meeting other sailors and hearing their stories is what we like best about coming into a new harbor. In Ardglass we're invited onboard "Aloe Vera", and have a beer with an interesting solo-sailor from Conway in Wales.