Sailing In Ireland

[AnthonyB]

Would like to know where in Ireland sailing is big.

Any comments would be appreciated

 

[Bob 04 H260]

I have done a number of vacations in Ireland, all were great. Most places it seems there are a lot more power boats than sail boats. If I was looking at a trip there from a sailing perspective I would look at Kinsale (http://www.kyc.ie/index.cfm/page/home) as a possibility. A beautiful small town with an interesting area to sail in. Also the town of Dingle, has a beautiful harbour and sailing around the Dingle peninsula (said to be one of the 10 most beautiful places in the world) would be fantastic !
good luck, Bob

 

[Afloat.ie]

Anthony,

Dublin (Dun Laoghaire and Cork) are the two biggest sailing centres in Ireland, but Bob is right, Kinsale is one of the most picturesque areas, and a great starting point for the South-West Coast, which has some of the best cruising grounds in Ireland.

There is a yacht charter company based at the Trident Hotel in Kinsale, from were you can hire a yacht and sail west to Glandore, Baltimore, Schull and Dingle, if you have the time. Dingle Yacht Charter is another option, and around Dingle the coast becomes even more spectacular.

 

[Ed Schenck]

I have only spent a couple of weeks in Ireland. The river Shannon looked like an ideal location, lots of protected water. Dingle and other west coast locations are easily reached if the Atlantic cooperates. Here is one charter service: http://www.shannonsailing.com/rentalAndCharter.htm .

 

[AnthonyB]

Thanks for the feedback.

I was actually giving some thought to sailing to Ireland, leaving the vessel there over the winter then make a return trip the following summer.

My wife thinks I'm crazy.

 

[Andy1237]

Search the archives for Gwen and Scotland. Gwen is a Scot that sailed a Hunter from Florida home to Scotland. I corresponded with him about sailing in Scotland and Ireland. He was very knowledgable. If I had the time I would have arranged for time to sail both isles. Previoulsly we only had time to crew for an afternoon race in Kinsale. Dingle is more dinghy racing but still a sailing mecca.

 

[PaulK]

We put in at a number of ports on Ireland's East coast. What are you looking to do - crew on board a local boat while you're there, or visit different places? Besides those already mentioned, I would add Howth (a suburb of Dublin, really, but much friendlier than the "Royal whatever YC" in Dublin.) I believe they have an Etchells 22 fleet, along with numerous other cruising boats and dinghies. Cork, as mentioned above, is really hot. The Royal Cork YC hosts CORK week, of course. (Just ended last week.) They are actually in Crosshaven, South of Cork city. Their big-boat racers are strong contenders in major regattas all over Europe. Beautiful sailing all over Ireland, and great people to visit with.

 

[Tim R.]

I was there a few years ago and did some great sailing in Galway Bay. Nice resort town. Not as traditional but lots of fun. Still had plenty of awesome pubs.

 

[Caboteur]

Anthony B.
I sailed to Portugal & Spain & back on my C&C Landfall 38, was a great trip... my wife thought (still does) I was crazy so I did it with two other crazies. She joined me by plane. We wintered there.
I crewed on a French boat from the Açores to Québec, they wintered here and should now be in Ireland; it was their first Atlantic trip.
If you wish I'll give you their e-mail and/or phone.
Pierre

 

[AnthonyB]

Sail From Toronto or NYC To Ireland

Was wondering if were to make the trip, should we sail from Toronto down the St Lawrence or motor down the Hudson and start from NYC?

Thanks

Anthony B
I sailed to Portugal & Spain & back on my C&C Landfall 38, was a great trip... my wife thought (still does) I was crazy so I did it with two other crazies. She joined me by plane. We wintered there.
I crewed on a French boat from the Açores to Québec, they wintered here and should now be in Ireland; it was their first Atlantic trip.
If you wish I'll give you their e-mail and/or phone.

 

[PaulK]

Routing

Was wondering if were to make the trip, should we sail from Toronto down the St Lawrence or motor down the Hudson and start from NYC?

Thanks

Anthony B

Going via New York would mean pulling the mast. It also doesn't get you any closer to your destination. Cargo traffic in/around/to/from New York can be a major hassle, and the Hudson is notorious for lack of wind in summer. We left Connecticut via Long Island Sound in June and arrived in Crosshaven (Cork) 22 days later. We had fog for about at least a third of the trip, with visibility varying from a mile to less than a boatlength. Several storms with waves up to about 6m. Otherwise, some great sailing. In Ireland we explored Crosshaven, Kinsale, Arklow, Wicklow, Dublin, Howth, and Strangford Loch before heading over to Dunoon (Holy Loch) in Scotland, Man, the Scillies, and then Royan and St Jean de Luz in France. Some of the facilities were fairly...marine fishery-oriented. We used 2x8 bumperboards to deal with the pilings and stone quays. Other places were set up with huge marinas and slips. Dingle (visited separately) IS beautiful.

 

[Caboteur]

I would go down the St-Lawrence, stop in the Maggies, St-Pierre & Miquelon and either go for the Açores (comfort) or directly to the W coast of Ireland (speed)... Going to NY would lengthen the trip without giving a better angle to the prevailing winds once at sea... though out the St-Lawrence you should sail SE to 40°N to avoid the "bergs".

The tricky sailing is between Grondines & Matane where it is a good idea to rely on local knowledge avalaible in all ports.

Pierre