This is the first report from this (2002)
summer’s long cruise of Taniwani and crew. Expect a few of those
before we hope to finish this trip in Portugal.
I have made up three mail distribution lists,
one for German reports, one for English reports and a common one for the
relevant pictures. The pictures may actually come in multiple messages,
given the sometimes shaky connection.
You can reach us via e-mail at:
We pick this up either via cell phone
connection or Iridium. Another possible address is
It goes to the same mailbox as above, but is
also forwarded automatically to the mail server at Kielradio from where
we can pick it up via SSB (Short-wave).
Harald’s cell phone is commonly on, but may
not always be heard:
+49-170-5655-322
Outside cell phone range we should be
reachable via Iridium phone:
+881-6314-21464
There
is also a free SMS service at the Iridium Website where you can send a
short message to our phone, using above number.
Today is
Sunday the 16th of June, we are anchored in a nice
and quiet spot
in a long inlet called Lough Swilly, slightly west
of Malin Head,
the northernmost promontory of Ireland. We
are moored
between bow and stern anchor just outside the tide
that flows in
and out of the Lough. The ‚Kids’ took off for Derry
to pick up
Felix’s friend Dominic at the airport.
Yesterday we had a longer passage (66 nm) from
Ballycastle around Malinhead. It was quite a smooth ride despite the changing
weather. But now it seems we might be weather locked for a day or two with a
significant depression approaching.
Ballycastle is a nice little harbor with a new small
marina. Nice little town with good facilities next to it. From there we also had
a trip to nearby Giant’s Causeway.
A short stretch along the
shore, where cooling lava formed into hexagonal blocks of black lava stone. (See
pictures).
About similar in length was the trip from Scotland to
Ireland on Thursday, passing along the notorious Mull of Kintyre with its strong
currents and rips. Our passage was carefully timed so we moved on quite nicely.
Before all of that there was just a lot of work to get
the boat ready again after the winter. It is always surprising how many things
don’t work, that were seemingly ok before the winter. Some examples are three
water leaks in the plumbing of the water maker, (no, it didn’t freeze in the
winter); or why does the gimbaled stove not swing freely?
Plenty more of that, but then the same is true for the
crew that has to get all the routine going again. Slowly getting there again.
Best wishes from the Crew of Taniwani
Report2: From Loch Swilly
to Inishbofin