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Sailing Along Ireland's West Coast, Part 1 | Ep. 196

19 December 2025 · 20 min · 8K views · County Mayo, Ireland

What this video covers

Tom and Karen transit the west coast of Ireland, opting for the exposed Atlantic route over the Irish Sea to avoid extreme tidal currents.1:02 Departing from Port Ellen on the Isle of Islay, they complete a 90-mile passage to Arranmore Island, navigating around Malin Head while contending with contrary currents that reduce their speed over ground to 3.4 knots.7:37 A subsequent 70-mile leg requires motor-sailing into headwinds and a 90-degree cross-swell, which creates choppy, uncomfortable sea states.6:50 To conserve fuel for the stretch south of Galway, they prioritize sailing over motoring whenever wind conditions allow.11:48 The crew seeks shelter in Port a Chloi to wait out a small craft advisory, anchoring for two days to avoid an incoming storm.13:03 During the layover, they hike the local cliffs, noting historical World War II neutrality markers labeled "EIRE" (referenced as IR-63) that warned aircraft of Irish territory.15:21

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