Boats crossing the Irish Sea on the return from Aberystwyth in the Fog. Photo Graham Ferguson

At 8.15 a.m. on Friday, 23rd April, thirteen RIBs left Kinsale for Aberystwyth. Where? You might ask. Well Aberystwyth [52°24'N 4°05'W] is a small seaside town (population 13,500) in the county of Ceredigion on the west coast of Wales, and is situated towards the centre of Cardigan Bay. The reason, apart from the challenge and the craic, was to raise 20,000 euro for the RNLI, to be distributed between Kinsale, Crosshaven, Courtmacsherry and Valentia.

The boats taking part in the RIB Run were from the areas covered by these branches of the RNLI. Conditions were not ideal heading out from Kinsale. There was a Force 4 south-westerly wind blowing, gusting 5 to 6 at times, but despite the winds visibility was poor. The forecast was for a continual improvement throughout the day, and getting even better as the weekend went on.

Seen off by family, friends and representatives of the RNLI the RIBs made their way out past the Bulman buoy and past our home port of Oysterhaven to regroup at Roche's Point in a thick fog. There we met up with the other three RIBs taking part. Our numbers swelled to sixteen. We headed off in four groups of four. We were only underway a short time when we had our first encounter with cetacean. Two pilot whales appeared just off our port bow, blowing a spray of water into the air as if to wish us well on our trip. By the time we reached Ballycotton the thick fog had lifted somewhat, but visibility was still poor.

The sea was choppy and we were settling down for a bumpy spin to Kilmore Quay where we planned to refuel the boats and have lunch before crossing the Irish Sea. A little way past Ardmore we notice a large flock of kittiwakes flying close to the surface and diving into the water. As we approached closer we saw the reason - a school of porpoises and about a half dozed Risso'a dolphins appeared to be in the middle of lunch. In an instant we were encircled with leaping porpoises and Risso's. Their speed, grace and agility was amazing to watch. Unfortunately we had to burst on as we still had a lot of water to cross. As we passed Hook Head lighthouse the sea state worsened as someone let out the white horses.

The boats and crew were taking a pounding in a very confused sea. Sound navigation skills were required to locate Kilmore Quay in the poor visibility. In Kilmore Quay boat crews were busy refuelling boats and everyone had worked up a nice appetite for lunch. A very friendly and curious seal inspected all boats while we were having lunch, no doubt expecting a morsel or two for himself for his troubles. Unfortunately, this time his luck was out as nothing on the menu was suitable for his palate.

CFT Contingent: Simon Beecher, Kinsale RNLI talking to Graham Ferguson, Robert Merrick, and Anne Fitzgerald on the Saturday morning in Aberystwyth.

Leaving our seal friend to visit the local fishing boats where he might have better luck, it wasn't long before we were heading out again past the Salties and facing our boats east. There was little encouragement in the state of the Irish Sea as we headed out past the Carnsore Point wind farm. It took about three hours to make the fifty mile crossing but at approximately 6.00 p.m. we sighted the lighthouse on Strumble Head. We now had about two more hours travelling left to make our way up Cardigan Bay to Aberystwyth. Conditions in Cardigan Bay were flat calm in the shelter of land and because of this we made the journey in an hour and a half.

A single porpoise greeted us about a mile from Aberystwyth, as if to welcome us to Wales. The Aberystwyth lifeboat met us on arrival and led us into the harbour. The boats tied up safely, we headed off to our hotel for a welcome shower and a bite to eat. Our day was not over yet as the members of the Aberystwyth lifeboat had a reception organised for us in the Boat Club and it would be extremely bad manners not to partake of their warm hospitality, where chat and craic lasted well into the small hours of Saturday morning.

After breakfast on Saturday we headed down to the harbour to refuel the boats. Our route took us past the seafront buildings which are brightly painted Victorian/Edwardian, 4/5 stories high. The few that aren't hotels or guest houses are various Halls of Residence for the University. We took a short cut through the Castle ruins which split the main (north) beach from the south beach. These ruins are laid out as park gardens; beside them is a sandstone neo-Gothic building that is known as the 'Old-College'.

The promenade has many of the usual sea-front accompaniments: flowerbeds, illuminations, benches, white railings, paddling pool for toddlers, a pier with slot machines, breakwaters and a jetty for small boats. It was a beautiful sunny day and we spent a lazy morning sorting out the boats. It was then time for lunch and to explore the town, after which it was back to the hotel for a spell in the steam room, and sauna to relieve the odd aching muscle.

Wearing the Green, group shot taken Saturday morning after refuelling the boats.

Aberystwyth is a university town with a population of over 7,000 students and, according to Aberystwyth's web site, the town's economy is based around, among other things, repairing broken shop windows, alcohol and tourism. The town appears to have an inordinate number of pubs - over 50 at the moment; a dipsomaniac's dream town. The compact town centre has led to a particular 'art-form' called the 'crawl' - where revellers have a drink in one pub and then move on to the next pub. The town centre therefore had a vibrant throng 'crawling' between pubs. And when in RomeÉÉÉ.

However, being sensible people we were all (well almost all) taking it easy Saturday night in anticipation of the journey home on Sunday. Breakfast on Sunday was at 7.00 a.m. as start time for the trip home was 8.00 a.m. With much tooting of fog horns we were led out of the harbour by our friends in the Aberystwyth lifeboat and a small contingent of local boats. Conditions were lovely and calm and everything was looking good for a smooth trip home.

About five miles out however we hit a bank of thick sea fog. Boats regrouped and stuck close together. On arrival at Strumble Head we contacted Milfordhaven Coastguard for clearance as the fog had not lifted and we would be crossing the main shipping lanes on our passage across the Irish Sea. Milfordhaven issued a Securité to all shipping and gave us the go-ahead. We were contacted by the Stena Line Fast Ferry who had just left Fishgaurd and wanted to check our position. Having confirmed that we were not on a collision course we continued on our way. Conditions on the Irish Sea were like something out of a horror film, with a flat grey sea and a thick fog. The occasional kittiwake flew about 6 inches from the surface its reflection mirrored perfectly in the calm water. Boats kept visual contact for the crossing as there was no sign of the fog lifting.

Our first respite came when we saw the light of Tuskar Rock to starboard, and visibility continued to improve as we headed back past the wind farms and into Kilmore Quay. Boats refuelled, we basked in warm sunshine and enjoyed a well earned lunch before tackling the last leg of our journey. It was a super trip back to Kinsale in ideal conditions. Lovely warm sunshine and nice flat seas Ð my kind of conditions. The crew of Crosshaven RNLI motored out to cheer us on as we passed Cork Harbour, and their colleagues in Kinsale RNLI came to meet us. We regrouped at the Soverign Rocks outside of Oysterhaven where there was great excitement as word spread from boat to boat of a sighting of a Basking Shark, a rare sight in the area.

Finally, when all boats had arrived the RNLI led us into Kinsale to what I can only describe as a tremendous welcome. It had been a great trip. We had experienced a number of weather and sea conditions. Although tired we had a great sense of achievement. Thanks to Ronan Twomey who organized the trip, to all our new friends in Aberystwyth and all our old friends in Kinsale and further afield who supported us.

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