Carlingford Marina in County Lough has put together a 'jam-packed' schedule of events that will take place in the week leading up to this year’s Moneley Oyster Pearl Regatta. This will be the first year of the Carlingford Cruising Week, designed to show off the 'spectacular asset' that Carlingford Lough is as a cruising destination in Ireland.
“Carlingford is one of the most picturesque coastal inlets in Ireland, and it is worthy of spending a few days exploring all the different anchorages, harbours, canals and marinas within its confines,” says Jonny Moneley, General Manager of Carlingford Marina.
Albert Basin and Newry Canal with Carlingford Lough in the background
The event will take participants on a tour of Carlingford Lough, visiting marinas and anchorages both North and South of the border - and will showcase the natural beauty of this fjord, which is flanked by the Cooley Mountains to the South and the Mountains of Mourne to the North. One of the more enchanting elements of the programme will lead participating boats up the Clanrye River, through Victoria Lock, and right into the heart of Newry City for an overnight stop in the historic Albert Basin.
Jonny Moneley, General Manager of Carlingford Marina
The Carlingford Cruising Week kicks off on Saturday, the 29th of July, and is suitable for all boat types and boaters of all ages and levels of experience.
"The event will take participants on a tour of Carlingford Lough"
“We welcome quite a few competitive sailors for the Moneley Oyster Pearl Regatta each year, but this year we wanted to create an event that would encourage motor cruisers and family fishers to get involved in the craic too!” says Moneley.
Yachts racing on Carlingford Lough
Entertainment has been scheduled for every destination that the flotilla visits over the week, including a floating concert that will take place for the “On The Hook” event in Rostrevor Bay. There are some shore side events too such as the “Taste of Carlingford Lough” event where guests can use their event lanyards to get access to special menu items in participating restaurants and bars.
There is plenty for the kids to enjoy too! There is an event called “The Great Mackerel Cook Up” where participants have to ‘catch their dinner’ and return to the Marina where a team of chefs will be stationed, ready to cook them up on the barbeque. The “Best Dressed Boat” competition is sure to excite the junior sailors – however, organisers strongly encourage all boats to participate.
“The best dressed boat competition will effectively be a parade of sail through Carlingford Harbour and will be a great spectacle for the people of the village who will line the pier walls and cheer for their favourite boat. Because it will be such a fun event for the local community, I want to encourage as many boats as possible to participate and put on a show,” he says.
Yachts sailing past Carlingford Marina
“I don’t think we will have any problem convincing the kids to get dressed up – but in an effort to drag the childishness out of everyone, you will notice I have also offered a €50 bar tab as a participation bonus in this event. I think that should do the trick,” Moneley adds.
The bar tab that Moneley refers to here can be cashed in at the “Prize Giving Ceremony” at the end of the week. This closing ceremony will bring together all the participants of the Carlingford Cruising Week - as well as those who travelled only to compete in the Moneley Oyster Pearl races - for one final night of entertainment, and chance to bid each other farewell.
Registration for the Carlingford Cruising Week is open now and can be done online by visiting the Carlingford Marina website – www.carlingfordmarina.ie. As part of the online registration, you can give an expression of interest to compete in The Moneley Oyster Pearl races. Your details will then be forwarded to the race committee, who will contact you with further details.
Contact Jonny by email on [email protected] or by phone on +353 87 652 4829. There should be something for everyone to enjoy on this Irish boating holiday.
