The latest storm was called Agnes, the one before might have been Nigel – not sure if giving the weather a name makes you feel better about it? Anyway these conspired to keep us in Howth for a whole week, not all bad though as we got to catch up with friends Liz and Liam from the ARC+ rally 2015, our first transatlantic passage. Just as we left the harbour on Friday the Coast Radio Station put out yet another Gale and Small Craft warning, but no going back as the marina needed the berth. At least the wind was favourable. We made good progress going inside Ireland’s Eye and Lambay islands and inside Rockabill lighthouse with very little sail set. And we did get the tide right for the North Channel getting a good boost though the wind had died away and we ended up motoring. Our course took us close to Ailsa Craig. There was enough mobile signal to update our Border Force/Customs online report form a couple of times and we tied up in our berth in Kip marina at 16.30. We were flying the Q flag as in the instructions (had it up all the way up the Clyde) but nobody came to inspect us. We were glad to get back; it seemed to take an age to come from Southern Ireland. We were away for 135 days in all (not sailing every day of course), and covered 4795 nautical miles. Portugal and especially the Azores were lovely.