The 2011 Dublin Boat Show is going on the water in 2011 if a new approach to promote boating in Ireland takes off. The Irish Marine Federation (IMF) aims to include as many boating activities as possible in the national boat show line up next May in Malahide.

An attendance of up to 17,000 are expected at the Malahide marina venue from May 20 to 22. It will be the first time the national event has taken to the water in its 50 year history.

The world's biggest boat builders Beneteau, Jeanneau, Sea Ray and Sunseeker among others have already signed up for the North Dublin event, according to the IMF.

The organisers are partnering with leading Irish boating organisations to demonstrate the many different aspects of the sport on the water with a weekend schedule of live commentary.

BJ Marine, MGM Boats, Western Marine, HM Yachts in Cork and Viking marine of Dun Laoghaire and Shannon Castle Line in County Clare are among the first of the Irish firms to express interest in the new format as exhibition details circulate through the industry this week.

The aim is to get as many class associations on the water as well as small powerboat racing such as Zzapcats, kayaking and match racing fans to stage short, sharp events on the estuary directly in front of the marina. A timetable of events will be published shortly. 

Coastguard and Lifeboat demonstrations are also planned. Technical demonstrations such as glass fibre repairs and engine maintenance are also in the line up.

Despite the coastal setting Ireland's Inland waters will feature prominently too through the Irish Boat Rental Association who will be promoting holidays on the river Shannon and Erne.

Visitors are also expected from Wales and across the Irish Sea region and special offers to both show-goers and exhibitors are being made through an Irish Sea Inter­Reg programme.

The Malahide exhibition site will feature a marine village ashore with over 500 square meters of undercover exhibit space. Show goers will get the chance to talk to the leading lights in the sport before going afloat on the marina where over 100 berths will be available.

"It's a pretty unique site that gives us the best chance to show off the marine leisure industry afloat and ashore. Because its just off the M50 and M1 motorways it means it's also so easy to get to from anywhere in the country. This will be a great day out." said the Federation's Steve Conlon.

More information from Steve Conlon on 087 6472746. Updates here on afloat.ie as the show takes shape.

Cruisers, cruising boats, one-designs and boats that do not normally race are invited to participate into Dublin Bay Sailing Club's annual Turkey Shoot series of seven races held on Sunday mornings from November 7th. The popular format is under modified ECHO handicap. It has attracted fleet sizes topping 100 boats, rivalling many summer fixtures. After sailing, food will be available to competitors in Royal Irish Y.C.

The entry fee of €70.00 includes temporary membership of Dublin Bay S.C. and Royal Irish Y.C. Entry forms and a notice of race are in the Marina office and in Dun Laoghaire's waterfront clubs and for Afloat.ie readers both are available for easy download below.

Sailing instructions will be available from the Marina Office on Sunday 7th November.

Fenit Harbour Company has launched a new website to promote its harbour and marina facilities, one of the most westerly marinas in Europe. Using the slogan, 'Tralee's Hidden Gem', Chairman of the Harbour commissioners, Brian O'Sullivan outlined plans for the harbour and its 'untapped potential' at an official launch at nearby Tralee Bay Sailing Club last Friday. The new website is HERE.

The Irish Marine Federation (IMF) has thrown its weight behind MEP Nessa Childers' efforts to raise funds in Europe for a stalled marina in Courtown.

Wexford Councillors and County Council officials have come together to seek European assistance to help save the stalled Courtown marina, news of the move was published in the Gorey ECHO.

"This is precisely the kind of question our politicians we need to ask if we're ever to complete the necklace of marinas around our coastline, said the IMF's David O'Brien.

Plans for a 230-berth marina in Courtown were unveiled in November 2008 and included apartments and retail units. The plans also included the construction of a breakwater off the south pier in the village.

Childers visited the north Wexford seaside village to discuss the possibility of restarting the project which has been stalled since 2008 due to the economic recession.

Following her meeting with council officials and county councillors, Ms. Childers submitted a Parliamentary Question regarding the possibilities for getting financial assistance for marina facilities in Ireland.

In the question Childers says: "Is there funding opportunities or other supports available from the European Union in order to assist in providing finance for the development of marina facilities in Ireland to enhance our tourism product?"

Ireland, as an island nation, is working to develop its infrastructure as a destination for sailing holidays.

"The development of marinas in a sustainable fashion at key locations around the coast of Ireland to accommodate sailing and boating activities would benefit from investment from a tourism and economic development point of view." said Childers.

For every euro spent berthing in Courtown marina visiting sailors will spend 10 in the village, according to our research, says O'Brien. Huge Tourism benefits can literally come in on the tide, if only we had the infrastructure", he added.

The IMF is the national body that represents the marine leisure industry including the Irish Marina Operators Association (IMOA).

The County Council carried out a feasibility study which found that the marina had to be self-funding through sale of apartments and other units as there was no government funding for such developments.

Speaking this week, Director of Services with Wexford County Council, Niall McGuigan said: "It is currently not financially feasible but we hope for the best. We would be very eager for it to go ahead."

Mr. McGuigan said that the project was on hold until either funding became available, an investor was found or a combination of both.

There has been good news in Wicklow for watersports fans with the new public slip opening at Greystones harbour. It is now possible to launch three boats at one time even at low water (when most slips run out of water), which is a great improvement. At the moment it is understood only limited access is available to the slip as building works are undergoing. When finished there will be a second wide slip and Cllr Derek Mitchell of the town council maintains the new facilities will be the best public boat launching facilities in the country.
Sispar, who are building the harbour, stated that the marine works are still on target to be completed this October and building a Medical centre on the site will start then provided Wicklow Council vote for it in September. Completion is expected late in 2011. It is hoped to build the Public Square, Clubhouses and take down the hoardings by the same time.

Greystones Marina under construction in June 2010

Because of this building it is unlikely that the planned 200 berth marina can open until early 2012 as land access will be across the building site. Sispar is keen to add up to 34 houses to the planning permission later and will consider this following Bord Pleanala’s ruling that moving some of the old town dump will require their approval. The problem being that Bord Pleanala’s approval process could take over a year.

No entry to boaters in the marina basin

Cllr Mitchell has made a submission to the Planning process to ask that better drainage be provided in Darcy’s field to try to reduce erosion and that more boat storage and maintenance areas be provided to produce more jobs. "Also I have asked that the large Public Square be reorganised to provide more open continuous space for major town events such as concerts, parades, car shows etc" he told Afloat.ie

A letter from a UK sailor cruising round Ireland makes the Irish Times Letters page this morning to make a point previously made on the Afloat forums. Terry McMenamin from Derby says it is near-impossible to dispose of food waste safely when sailing away from east coast marinas. Four months ago the same issue raised its head on Afloat.ie when Graham Rabbits discussed the problems encountered in West Cork and the West of Ireland. Click here.

Schull has been planning a development of their beautiful harbour for the last number of years and at long last it looks like coming on stream.
The committee in charge of the project is now very keen to get an accurate "fix" on the likely up-take on long term boat leases. For work to commence on the project Schull need to pre-sell 150 berths long-term and all are aware that this is not the easiest task in this economic climate.

The project in Schull is very exciting not least because it is a real community project supported by everybody in the village. Planning for this project has been going on for the last 15 years and two years ago Planning Permission for the development was received. The plans are to extend the existing pier facilities by building a breakwater, with a 220 berth marina inside. Schull is a very busy fishing and leisure craft harbour which also has a frequent daily ferry service to Cape Clear Island in the summer. All of these activities have been based on the existing pier which is totally inadequate to cope with all of this activity. During the busy July/August period there would be well over 300 boats on the water in Schull. The new plans will allow the fishing fleet & ferry operators to have the new extended pier area exclusively for their own use and the leisure craft will have a new base on the marina on the northern shore inside the safety of the new extended breakwater.

The biggest single item of cost is the pier extension/ breakwater and the downturn in the economy has meant that the cost of this has now come within budget, and given Schull the opportunity to move forward with their plans. The downside of the current climate is that any grants to help defray the capital cost of the project have also dried up.

When Schull started to apply for planning permission - about 5 years ago - they asked for people interested in the project to support them financially and were very pleased when 110 people put up 3k euro each to kick start the project. So there are a solid base of people interested in a marina berth. The marina will cater for all shapes and sizes of leisure craft and a feature will be a "dry dock" section for RIB owners where they can leave their RIBs in safety up out of the water - eliminating the need to antifoul or scrub every few weeks.

However for work to commence on the project Schull need to pre-sell 150 berths long-term and all are aware that this is not the easiest task in this economic climate.

Schull is a wonderful place, based in Roaring Water Bay with Carberrys Hundred Islands within an hour or two of sailing or gentle motoring. Many of these islands are uninhabited but perfect for that peaceful day out where you can picnic or swim at your leisure. Crookhaven & Baltimore are only 2 hours away as is the Mizen Head and its the perfect gateway to the spectacular cruising grounds of the almost deserted Dunmanus Bay and the great scenery of the Kenmare River.

If you would be interested in learning more about a berth in Schull please log onto this website http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RSNLYDB and leave some simple details or contact Simon Nelson ([email protected] /02828554) or George Dwyer ([email protected] /0862412991) to register your interest.

A marina in Schull is to be completed in Schull by 2011 according to a survey that seeks feedback from interested parties in taking a berth in the new facility. A marina and breakwater has been in the pipeline for nearly 20 years. Planning Permission for the development was received two years ago. Click read more for the survey link. 

Schull is well located for a marina and the initiative to bring one to completion has been a genuine community effort. 

Schull is a charming village with shops, pubs and restaurants, which is surrounded by countryside, beaches and a bay full of islands for boaters to explore. The sheltered waters of Roaringwater Bay are an ideal place to learn how to sail.

See Survey Here

Schull Harbour Sailing Club

Greystones Motor Yacht Club

Do you own a power boat or a yacht?

Do you moor or berth it elsewhere because of the poor condition of Greystones harbour?

Is it your intention to keep your boat at the new Greystones harbour?

Do you like having fun?

If you have answered ‘yes’ to the above four questions then we have some good news for you. As you will be aware a vibrant new community harbour and marina is to be built at Greystones. We welcome this improvement and all the facilities that are being put in for the existing clubs and for the general public who will be able to enjoy this great addition to our town.

We intend to set up the Greystones Motor Yacht Club. The purpose of this club will be to cater for the needs of both motor boats and yachts. As it stands there is no club for us to join in Greystones so it is our intention to start such a club.

Setting up the Greystones MYC has commenced but will take some time. However if you are interested in becoming a member please register your interest by emailing your details to us.

Greystones Motor Yacht Club, Greystones, Co. Wicklow. Tel: 085 788 9544 or email: [email protected]

or c/o Michael Quinn, 20 Main Street, Bray, Co. Wicklow. Tel: 086 2675382, 01 282 9541, or email: [email protected]

Have we got your club details? Click here to get involved