I gave it a try…and launched early to be at Mizen Head at slack tide – if it would be the other slack at low tide, it would have been a different job! Sure, all was easy and sheltered before the wide bay before Crookhaven, but as the full 15 knots hit me unsheltered plus paddling against the incoming tide anyway, it was hard work. Still going with acceptable 4 km/h, but after Streek Head, the entrance of Crookhaven, the gusts became mean and felt almost catabatic coming down from the mountains. As conditions were not supposed to get much better the next few hours, I decided on the chicken way and will round Mizen Head tomorrow very early morning on lower wind, lower seas and low slack tide at 5am. The crossing over to Dursey Island should be also easier with the running up tide, see if I go straight. One should not force the nature…
Of all three inviting bays before mizzen Head, Galley Cove had the least detour, and was lurking just right after the gusty short last stretch. On a calm sandy beach, landing was as easy as it could be. The whole cliff area I paddled since the start was stunningly beautiful, and had actually everywhere plenty of calm bays to rest, plenty of small easy landing rocky beaches to rest and plenty of easy landing reasonable camping beaches. A paradise for the ambitioned, advanced beginner!