And he calls her Conchita.

Himself has a mistress, he's had her for years. Compared to me she's hard work and her bum is so much bigger than mine. I'm not really jealous of her except sometimes during the summer when he yearns to be with her. There's a beautiful sea breeze and he's looking longingly out to sea and i know he's thinking of her.
Here she is, A Bermudan Sloop. I call her an old man's boat because there's no creature comforts aboard. She's got a small cabin area, a portaloo -if you are brave enough or can't wait until you get ashore, and not much room in the cockpit area to move about.
I'm not a happy camper when it comes to sailing but i have been out in it a few times. If nothing else the sea is a great place to get photographs of the town and the seabirds.

I took this from the safety of the pier during a Traditional sailboat race in Cobh a few years ago.

Camera settings, Camera used Canon 500D, Lens-Canon 55-250mm@250mm, exp1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO100

This is Roches Point Lighthouse at entrance to Cork Harbour

Camera settings, Camera Canon 500D, Lens used Canon 55-250mm@109mm, exp 1/4000 sec, f5.6. ISO400

Seagull saying hello to the terrified looking photographer aboard the old man's sailing boat.

 Camera settings,Camera used Canon 500D, lens used Canon 55-250mm@230mm, exp 1/4000sec, f7.1, ISO 400

 Camera settings, Camera used Canon 500D, lens used Tamrom 10-24mm@13mm, exp 1/800, f11, ISO100

 Camera settings, Camera Canon 500D, Lens used Tamron 10-24mm @12mm, exp 1/500sec, f11, ISO 100

This is himself, Maurice in the best seat in the house.

 Camera settings, Camera used Canon 500D Lens used Tamron 10-24mm@12mm, esp 1/200sec, f14, ISO 100

View of Cobh and the Cork Pilot boat through ropes of Conchita

 Camera settings,Camera used Canon 500D, lens used Tamron 10-24mm@24mm, exp 1/200 sec, f22, ISO100

 heading up river towards mooring and safety of land.

 Camera settings, Camera used Canon 500D, lens used Tamron 10-24mm@15mm, exp 1/200sec, f22, ISO200

Lighthouses off the South West Coast of Ireland

It's been a busy few days and i haven't taken many photos, we are blessed with really good weather at the moment and I should be making time to wander off with the camera but i'm in lazy mode.
Himself is just home from a sailing trip on his friend's "Moody", three sailors off on a booze cruise down West. They had a ball staying in beautiful bays and inlets along the way Baltimore, Schull, Cape Clear, Castletownsend and Courtmacsherry being the main stop overs.
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Last year myself and Clare went with them, the weather was beautiful, thank God, or I wouldn't have been there. I would seriously have jumped ship if there was any sign of choppy seas. As it was I was a nervous wreck going ashore in the dingy but the thought of solid ground and a pint of cider made the dingy trip worth while. There were several of those trips along the way. One of the nicest places we stayed in was Cape Clear Island.

I collected a lot of Yarrow on the Island and had it tied in bunches in my cabin drying. Yarrow tea is very good for colds and sore throats in the winter. Rory, the Captain, scared the be jaysus out of me when we were passing Baltimore later and the customs boat was about checking boats, for drugs i suppose. He had me convinced i was going to be taken off the boat and arrested for drying strange looking weed in my cabin. I got away with it that time but i wasn't taken on the trip this year, not sure if it had anything to do with that episode. I wasn't complaining though and happily waved the boys off.

These are some of the images i took last year of the lighthouses along the South West Coast.

This is the Fastnet Rock, also known as Ireland's tear drop

Camera settings Camera, Canon 500D, lens 18 - 55 @39mm. Exposure 1/160 sec, f14, ISO 100

The Baltimore Beacon, also known as Lot's Wife.

Camera settings, Camera  Canon 500D, Lens used 55-250mm @171mm, exposure 1/400sec, f11, ISO 100

The Galley Head Light House in Clonakilty

Camera Settings, Camera Canon 500D, Lens used 55-250mm@55mm, exposure, 1/2000sec, f5.6, ISO 200

The Old Head of Kinsale Light House

Camera settings, Camera Canon 500D, Lens used 55-250mm@135mm, exposure, 1/1328sec, f9, ISO 200

Roches Point Light House

Camera Settings, Camera Canon 500D, Lens used 55-250mm@116mm,  exposure 1/500sec,  f11, ISO 200