In my notes “Snipe - Cruiser - Snipe” in the last Bulletin I ended by saying that we hoped to test the converted Snipe Vero by having a short cruise around Donegal Bay in her — this we did, and it proved to be a short cruise — not because of faults in the boat but because of bad weather and overstaying in a port where we made many friends.

We sailed from our home port of Mullaghmore which is situated on the southern side of Donegal Bar on Monday July 22nd at 1030 in very light winds from the north-west on a course north-east, heading for Salthill Quay which is about 2 miles up the estuary leading to Donegal town. We had barely steerage way as Verna, part owner of Vero, stowed all the gear which seemed to have been flung in at the last minute — and I sat wondering where it was all going, cursing the wind — or rather the lack of it. Much to my surprise everything did fit into the small cabin and within an hour the wind began to strengthen to a nice Force 3—4. Perfect sailing weather — blue sky, and sea with the occasional white cap, Vero broad reaching along at about 4 knots. By 1230 we were nearly halfway — spirits were high as I checked the sailing directions — that excellent book “South & West Coasts of Ireland” produced by the Irish Cruising Club — and surveyed a blue hulled trawler about two cables away through the glasses — she made a fine sight, her hull shining in the sun as she rolled gently on the Atlantic swell, followed by the usual hoard of noisy gulls. A bee landed on the side deck — we were now about seven miles from the nearest land — it stayed a few minutes and then flew off again — perhaps to have a look at the trawler!

At 1530 Salthill Quay was sighted about 1½ miles ahead. However we were unable to find one of the leading marks, stated to be a tram converted to a house and painted grey. The estuary is very shallow with sand banks and shoals, the tide runs at 4 knots springs. We arrived at half flood, luckily, because we sailed the starboard side of Long Ridge instead of the port side and promptly grounded at 1600. We soon floated off and beat back, searching for a way through the overfalls which marked the banks lying between us and the little harbour — looking so near and yet so far! At last we found a way through and ran down to the quay and moored in 1½ fathoms at 1730, seven hours and 20 miles from home.

After a walk of a mile and a half to Mountcharles village to buy something to prove we had been there we returned to Vero and spent the evening watching people fishing from the pier, and catching nothing and children bathing and looking a bit cold.

All that can be said of Tuesday is that it poured rain all day long — we passed the time reading and listening to the wireless — wondering when we would be able to push on to Killybegs.

Wednesday July 24th saw us underway at 0900 reaching away on an ebb tide, wind force 4-5 with squalls. All went well until we cleared the estuary and were off Doarin Head at the mouth of Inver Bay at 1030, a squall came down off the land with a heavy shower — we think it was force 7-8, because a short steep sea suddenly got up and the wave tops were all flattened out as spray — in fact all around us the sea was a grey-white mass on the move. Visibility was down to about a cable; I luffed Vero into it, the wind shrieked in the rigging, seas broke over the foredeck and flooded against the cabin — part of it flooding over and into the cockpit. This squall and driving rain lasted about ten minutes although it seemed more like an hour. When it cleared we could see that the bay was in a confused state and decided to run back to Salthill Quay, which we reached at 1230 after a very tricky and hectic sail in strong wind against a foul tide. We made Killybegs that evening, a further 20 miles on the northern side of the bay — and here we stayed a few days, before we went on a fishing trip down the west coast in something a little larger than Vero — a 98 foot trawler with centrally heated wheelhouse, Decca Navigation and all mod cons. On our return we sailed Vero the 14 miles over the bay to home with a following wind in 2½ hours and caught 18 mackerel on the way!

So ended our “test” and Vero came out of it very well too. However we have altered her slightly ready for next year. We raised the foredeck three inches and the cabin is now on permanently, she also sports a pulpit and has a dinghy to tow. The dinghy is a 6 foot plywood pram, so is in keeping with the size of the parent ship — rather small — but one that does a grand job. With these alterations we hope to cruise in Vero next summer. In the meantime Vero lies outside the workshop here, covered in tarpaulins and Verna and I try and think of any more improvements we can make before setting out again — new compass perhaps — put the stove in gimbals…