Strangford & Portaferry
May 25, 2023
25 May '23. Strangford Lough entrance - two important people and 11 knots of current!
One of the most famous bits of water in Northern Ireland, Strangford itself has no official HM but I could not leave it out of my story. The narrow entrance to the Lough is guarded by two beautiful villages - Strangford on the south and Portaferry, with its small marina, on the north.
1. We arrived into Portaferry marina late in the evening to be met by Mrs Eveleigh Brownlow MBE and her daughter Camilla. She was someone I had heard a lot about and is a living legend in this part of Ireland. Dedicated to Portaferry RNLI, her lasting legacy is not only the new station here (Photo 5) but her inspiration to so many people I met in this area.
Thank you Eveleigh (@camillabrownlow ) for your generous donation to The Seafarers' Charity.
2. On the famous Strangford ferry I bumped into John Murray, the retired manager of Portaferry Marina. He worked most of his life as a fitter at Harland & Wolff in Belfast, but latterly was also the manager when the small marina was built by @inlandandcoastalmarinasystems1
3. Strangford Lough is a Marine Nature Reserve and a sailors' heaven with dozens of landings, berths and anchorages.
4. Portaferry derives its name from the Irish name 'Port an Pheire' meaning 'landing place of the ferry'. Long before the current ferry plied these very tidal waters, the village was an important trading port.
5. The bright green roof of the new RNLI station.
6. I love the rich language of NI place names.
7. The modern ferry often "glides" diagonally across the narrows where currents regularly run at 8 knots, and 11 knots have been recorded!
8. Ferry at dusk.
9. We were lucky enough to sail up and down the three mile entrance channel four times in total.
10. Video showing the strength of the current.
@portaferryrnli @portaferrymensshed @porticoportaferry
One of the most famous bits of water in Northern Ireland, Strangford itself has no official HM but I could not leave it out of my story. The narrow entrance to the Lough is guarded by two beautiful villages - Strangford on the south and Portaferry, with its small marina, on the north.
1. We arrived into Portaferry marina late in the evening to be met by Mrs Eveleigh Brownlow MBE and her daughter Camilla. She was someone I had heard a lot about and is a living legend in this part of Ireland. Dedicated to Portaferry RNLI, her lasting legacy is not only the new station here (Photo 5) but her inspiration to so many people I met in this area.
Thank you Eveleigh (@camillabrownlow ) for your generous donation to The Seafarers' Charity.
2. On the famous Strangford ferry I bumped into John Murray, the retired manager of Portaferry Marina. He worked most of his life as a fitter at Harland & Wolff in Belfast, but latterly was also the manager when the small marina was built by @inlandandcoastalmarinasystems1
3. Strangford Lough is a Marine Nature Reserve and a sailors' heaven with dozens of landings, berths and anchorages.
4. Portaferry derives its name from the Irish name 'Port an Pheire' meaning 'landing place of the ferry'. Long before the current ferry plied these very tidal waters, the village was an important trading port.
5. The bright green roof of the new RNLI station.
6. I love the rich language of NI place names.
7. The modern ferry often "glides" diagonally across the narrows where currents regularly run at 8 knots, and 11 knots have been recorded!
8. Ferry at dusk.
9. We were lucky enough to sail up and down the three mile entrance channel four times in total.
10. Video showing the strength of the current.
@portaferryrnli @portaferrymensshed @porticoportaferry