An island paradise in the Irish Sea positioned at the mouth of Belfast lough 54° 67.1 N 005°53.1 E. A place you've never heard of but you'll fall in love with. From a few weeks old to 24 years old it's always been my home.
The life I live onboard incredible yachts takes me to extraordinary places from Bermuda to Bergen and everything in between but there's no place quite like the Copeland Islands.
Steeped in local history, culture and wildlife, it's the perfect place to sit and handwrite this blog. Everyone has their happy place, somewhere they go to switch off their brain and relax their thoughts. For me, it's a Secluded Island in the Irish Sea.
It's rarely I get to visit due to the nature of yachting. Every time I return here I know exactly why I do. I sit in the front window of a stone cottage my great-grandfather built in the seat my granny loved, I watch the sea change, the tide turn, and the breeze building as the squall moves past. I watch the changes and see the weather systems that taught me what I love, I see the stretch of water where my Dad taught me how to row and drive a 10hp 2-stroke engine for the first time.
Remembering where I was first caught in a storm. My gaze moves to the bunny rabbits in the field darting around between their burrows and I recall childhood moments of endlessly wanting to catch the bunny's but never succeeding.
As the summer comes to a close the braken and honey suckle begin to die and the autumns shows her face. Every childhood holiday was spent running the fields of this magical place playing with friends, going fishing, climbing in trees and building tree huts.
The peace and tranquillity here are like no other in the world. With a community of families who have supported each other throughout life's loves, laughs and losses over generations. We come together whenever we can to enjoy the place we all call home.
It's not often I handwrite a blog post and typing it up later might drive me mad. The reality of handwriting about a place steeped in traditional values brings me a happy heart. No electricity, no running water or cars flying past... just peace.
I go back to work in a day or two but the golden memories of sunset watching and playing cards switching across the table on Ramsey Street, are always in my heart.
Written 29/08/2024 Copeland Islands
The reward of living and working onboard is the possibility of endless adventure. I find that its incrediblty important to have one place you call home, have peace and confort. Do you have a place in the world that you call home is your secluded island? Write to Shaped by the Sea and tell me about it?
As always keep smiling, laughing and loving the Sea xo
So true Mel once visited never out of your heart