#vdlr – With a week still to go on its early bird entry and over three months to the close of entry, the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta (VDLR) has received over 120 entries for what is expected again to be Ireland's biggest regatta again in 2013.

Entries received to date are spread across a good mix of visiting clubs from Ireland and overseas with all of the visiting clubs represented bringing additional boats who have yet to enter so the estimation would be that VDLR numbers of visiting big boats will be up from 2011.

In another boost for regatta chairman Adam Winkelmann the entries received so far (see below for full list) are up at least 30% on this time two years ago.

The J24's will be holding their Eastern championships and will be racing within IRC 3 division. The hope is is that it will attract additional J24's in advance of the Nationals and Worlds later in the summer at Howth YC.

VDLR 2013 Entries to date:

#TERMINAL CHANGES - Motorists check-in area at the Dun Laoghaire Harbour ferry terminal, is currently a free car-parking facility with donations going to Barnardos, however Stena Line's HSS fast-craft service to Holyhead is to resume next week, albeit only for the festive season, reports Jehan Ashmore.

The Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company in association with Barnardos, has set aside the terminal for free-car parking which is available to next Sunday 16th December. Cars can park Monday to Wednesday (11am - 7pm) and Thursday to Sunday (12noon -8pm). The initiative not only supports a worthy cause but is to encourage customers to shop in Dun Laoghaire in the run-up to Christmas.

As for the HSS Stena Explorer, she reopens the route next Thursday 20th December, though only operating on 12 'selected' days over Christmas and early into the New Year, for sailing dates click HERE.

Also located at the ferry terminal (plaza) will be the Ice Kingdom Slides which opens tomorrow in addition on Marine Road /The Metals is the launch of the Dun Laoghaire Christmas Festival's Chalet Market plus life-size crib featuring 'live' animals outside St. Michael's Church. Also watch out for Firework Displays (on various dates) for details visit: www.dunlaoghaire.ie/christmas-festival/

The reduction in ferry operations in recent years has seen changes with the main ferry terminal entrance as previously reported on Afloat.ie transformed last September into the Shackleton Endurance Exhibition: 'Triumph against all odds'. The exhibition with the support of the harbour's 'masterplan', tells a survival story like no other of the Irish-born explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton and the Imperial Trans-Antarctic expedition of 1914-1917.

On display are more than 150 striking black and white photographs taken by photographer Frank Hurley and an exact replica of the James Caird; the lifeboat that proved so critical to the rescue. The exhibition also sales a range of related merchandise and other nautical-like items in its gift-shop.

#DUBLIN BAY NEWS - TheJournal.ie reports that gardaí are investigating the discovery of a human arm on a south Dublin beach on Thursday - the second such find in Dublin Bay in less than a week.

The body part was spotted by a member of the public around noon on a stretch of sand at Shankill. The arm was taken to the city morgue for examination by the coroner.

The news comes just says after a human leg was found on Dollymount Strand in north Dublin, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

The Garda Press Office said it was too early to say if the two finds are connected in any way.

#DUBLIN BAY NEWS - Investigations are underway after a human leg was discovered on a beach in north Dublin yesterday morning.

RTÉ News reports that the body part was found along Dollymount Strand on Bull Island around 9am yesterday (19 October) - some 18 months after a human arm was discovered on the same beach.

The State Pathologist's Office has been notified.

#boatstorage – Winter storage for boats is at a premium in Dun Laoghaire this winter with yacht club platforms packed and no boat storage on the Carlisle Pier available leaving boat owners looking around for secure locations in Dublin this winter. Thankfully there are some local options available.

A decision by Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company not to store boats on the Carlisle pier this Winter has forced waterfront yacht clubs to look elsewhere for winter boat storage after the annual lift out was successfully completed last Saturday.

Traditionally each club DMYC, RIYC, RStGYC and NYC offers its members storage on its own hard standing but space is limited and the Carlisle pier served as a convenient overflow for yachts and boats of all different sizes in recent years.

Dun Laoghaire has the biggest boating stock in the country, with over 2,500 boats stored ashore and afloat so boat storage in a city is always an issue but a number of good alternative storage options have surfaced however. (Please also see comments below – Ed).

Boats on moorings in the harbour are lifted out each October with the onset of winter for maintenance and insurance purposes.

One option is to use the town's 800-berth marina that offers berthing all year round for those wanting to keep their boat in the water but others will want to haul out in order to carry out essential hull maintenance work.

Other storage options are also available and these include  leading Irish marine firm MGM Boats who are offering hard standing storage at their Boat yard near the Coal Harbour in Dun Laoghaire.

MGM have limited storage for boats of all sizes on cradles and trailers. MGM can also supply cradles. The yard offers secure storage, close proximity to Dun Laoghaire, power and water is available and access to work on boats as required. Costs are €20 p/metre for a typical Ruffian keelboat that works out as (€840) and a Shipman 28 (€1023).

MGM will also provide complete service of lift out, power-wash and storage Example of cost €30 p/meter Ruffian (€1260)Shipman 28 (€1530)

Dalkey firm Western Marine is also offering both uutdoor and indoor storage for sail boats on trailers up to 30ft and powerboat/ ribs up to 40ft.

Western marine say they offer Secure storage, Close proximity to Dun Laoghaire and power and water is available on site.

Access to work on boats as required, crane on site. An example of costs are as follows: SB20 €395 Ruffian (€495) Shipman €595

The company says it will have a full range of services on site, including full chandlery, boat valeting, antifouling service, rigging service etc.

Western marine have also launched a trailer a tow bar service, specialising in the servicing and repair of all trailers, including bearings and brakes, as well as fitting tow bars to all makes of cars.

If you know of any other boat storage options for readers please leave details in the comment box below

#INSS – A sailing school training boat and an outboard engine have been stolen from The Irish National Sailing School (INSS) at the West Pier in Dun Laoghaire.

The 'FunYak' boat was stolen last Saturday night and the an 8hp Yamaha engine was stolen last night.

#OPEN HOUSE- The National Maritime Museum of Ireland is to participate in the Open House Dublin weekend in early October, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The former Old Mariners Church was built between the years 1838-1867 for the Church of Ireland, though the architect is unknown. Its construction involved granite rock quarried from Dalkey Hill.

In June of this year the museum was reopened following several years of extensive renovations and a subtle refurbishment which was carried out to ensure its impressive collection can be showcased.

Among the exhibits is a model of the RMS Leinster which was torpedoed off the Kish during WWI with the loss of 500 people. A notable display is an optic from the Baily Lighthouse on Howth Peninsula. It was installed in 1902 and removed in 1972 when the lighthouse was modernised. Also on view is a uniform of Captain Robert Halpin, who was master of the Great Eastern which laid the first successful telegraph cable across the Atlantic from Ireland to the US.

The museum is located on Haigh Terrace, off George's St. Upper, the main street in Dun Laoghaire. Facilities include a coffee dock, a Wi-Fi hotspot and museum shop. Most of the museum is wheelchair accessible.

No booking is required and opening times on Sunday 7th October are 12noon-4.30pm. For information and links to other buildings in the Open House Dublin programme click HERE

#SAIL-TOUR– Under a ticket lottery scheme there is an opportunity to view the architecture along the Dun Laoghaire coastline by taking a tour on board Go Sailing's 54ft luxury yacht, as part of the annual Open House Dublin weekend (5-7 October), writes Jehan Ashmore.

The tour is scheduled to depart the marina in Dun Laoghaire Harbour at 1.45pm on Saturday (6th October). By taking to the water, the 2hrs 15mins cruise, will provide a completely different perspective of the built environment and overall views along the scenic southern coastline of Dublin Bay.

Due to consistently high demand, the limited places available on the tour are to be distributed via a lottery system, for details as to how to apply they can be found by clicking this LINK.

#RUSSIAN NAVY - While Dublin Port was visited by USS Fort McHenry (LSD-43) over the last week, the Russian Navy's Vice-Admiral Kulakov (626) paid a courtesy call to Cork Harbour, berthing at Cobh, normally associated with frequent cruise callers, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The imposing Udaloy anti-submarine destroyer berthed alongside Cobh's deepwater quay last week, where the public had rare access to board the 162m destroyer commissioned in 1982.

Later this month the Cork Harbour Open Weekend (15-16th Sept) as previously reported on Afloat.ie will offer two-days of fun filled activities for all ages, with events and activities for all, both on and off the water.

#US NAVYSHIP DEPARTS – At lunchtime the United States Navy dock-landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD-43) departed Dublin Port, after her visit for American Football Week, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Waiting out in Dublin Bay was the Irish Naval Service 'flagship' L.E. Eithne (P31) which had gone to anchorage having also stayed in the capital concurrently to the naval visitor. As USS Fort McHenry headed out on an easterly direction L.E. Eithne got underway too and proceeded southbound.

Other shipping activity in the bay included Seatruck Ferries newbuild freight-only ferry, Seatruck Progress, the ro-ro vessel serves on the Dublin-Liverpool route. Also at anchorage was Broström Tankers coastal tanker Bro Genius (2003/4,107grt).

Further out in the bay at the North Burford Buoy was Dublin Port Company's multi-cat Rosbeg, the workboat tender craft performs a wide variety of duties inside and outside the port, from cleaning the river to quay maintenance, bed levelling and buoy-handling.

Closer to shore, nearer to Dun Laoghaire Harbour was the cutter Cosantoir Bradan (meaning Salmon Defender) which as previously reported is on charter from the Central Fisheries Board to the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI). They are using the cutter in conjunction with their RV Keary for survey work, including bottom surveying.

RV Keary attended the Dublin Tall Ships Races Festival, where she was moored in Grand Canal Dock which was also occupied by a fleet of narrowboats moored at the marina of the Waterways Visitor Centre.