A short first week on board Sailing Vessel (SV) Stardust brought a boat load of changes to life. Currently docked up in Dún Laoghaire, Dublin, Ireland, the town is small and picturesque, situated on the southern end of Dublin Bay. Friday was a short train ride to the center of Dublin, where we explored the historic city by foot and bus. The day ended at Darkey Kelley's, a traditional Irish pub serving up live music, fantastic lamb shank and mash, and of course, Guinness by the pint.
Over the weekend, we took an afternoon sail to Lambay Island, situated several miles north of Howth, where we anchored for a night out. The privately owned island was as green as you could imagine, and hosted an abundance of avian and pinniped friends in the form of gulls, cormorants, boobies, and of course, the fabled seal.
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The historic Dublin Castle, first built over 800 years ago
The largest monolith Ireland has to its name, situated within the picturesque Phoenix Park
Lamb shank and mash bathed in a delicious gravy, with a Guinness to wash it all down.
A church just up the street from the marina in Dún Laoghaire
The Dún Laoghaire marina in the late hours of the day
Anchored behind Lambay Island, in the shelter from the wind and waves around
Two Howth 17s, the oldest one design class of racing yacht in the world. These traditional wooden boats were part of a larger fleet racing in Dublin Bay
Lambay Island, as seen from afar
Lambay Island has a mix of dense field, as well as curated pastures for animals to roam
The residence at Lambay Island, home to its owners
