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Displaying items by tag: South Coast Boat Show

The Key Yachting team will be at the South Coast Boat Show in Southampton this weekend, displaying the newest models from Nautitech Catamarans and J/Boats.

The South Coast Boat Show will be open from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 April in Southampton’s Ocean Village Marina.

This year the South Coast and Green Tech Boat Shows will be combined for the first time so there will be plenty to see — including the latest from J/Boats and Nautitech.

The Nautitech 44 Open catamaranThe Nautitech 44 Open catamaran, marketed in Ireland and the UK by Key Yachting

The 2023 show will see the UK and Ireland premiere of the Nautitech 44 Open. It was recently awarded European Yacht of the Year 2023 in the Multihull category and was named among SAIL Magazine’s Top 10 Boats for 2023.

The Nautitech 44 showing in Southampton is straight from the Nautitech Shipyard in La Rochelle — don’t miss the chance to see this fantastic new performance catamaran in the UK.

Leading-edge hull design meets refined interior design in the new J/45 from J/Boats, marketed in Ireland and the UK by Key YachtingLeading-edge hull design meets refined interior design in the new J/45 from J/Boats, marketed in Ireland and the UK by Key Yachting

In addition, the first British J/45 will be displayed at the show. Hull #5 has a three-cabin, two-head layout and has just recently been commissioned in Hamble.

The new J/45’s leading-edge hull design meets refined interior design to raise the bar on cruising comfort and performance like no J before it.

Key Yachting is expecting a high level of interest and appointment slots for both the J/45 and N44 are filling up so we recommend making an appointment in advance to be able to get onboard.

There are regular direct flights from Dublin to Southampton with Aer Lingus and the Ocean Village is a short taxi ride from the airport so getting to the show is easy.

Tickets for the event are free but do need to be booked online. Viewing appointments can be booked via the Exhibitors page or by contacting Irish agent Mark Mansfield at [email protected] or +353 87 250 6838.

The Kay Yachting team will also be available to discuss any other models from Nautitech and J/Boats along with other brands Grand Soleil Yachts and Tofinou.

Published in J Boats & Grand Soleil

The South Coast Boat Show is almost here — and X-Yachts will be on hand to welcome you to come and experience in person the soul and heritage of their brand.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, both the Pure X (represented by the X4³) and new X-Power (in the form of the X-Power 33C) ranges will be on show at the Ocean Village Marina in Southampton from Friday 6 to Sunday 8 May.

To book a private appointment, get in touch with Debbie Weldon — and book your complimentary ticket to the show HERE.

Then the following weekend, X-Yachts owners will gather in Hamble for the 2022 Solent Cup hosted by the Royal Southern Yacht Club. The regatta is set to deliver a fun, competitive programme of racing exclusively for X-Yachts’ owners and crew.

Published in X-Yachts GB & IRL

X-Yachts GB & IRL is gearing up for a busy month of May, beginning with the South Coast Boat Show.

Both the Pure X and new X-Power ranges will be on show at the Ocean Village Marina in Southampton from Friday 6 to Sunday 8 May. Book your complimentary ticket to the show HERE.

Then the following weekend, X-Yachts owners will gather in Hamble for the 2022 Solent Cup hosted by the Royal Southern Yacht Club, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

The regatta is set to deliver a fun, competitive programme of racing exclusively for X-Yachts’ owners and crew.

Ashore, regatta guests will have the opportunity to relax, socialise and explore Hamble and the surrounding area.

For more information and how to join in the action, get in touch with Debbie Weldon.

Published in X-Yachts GB & IRL

With the cancellation of boot Düsseldorf back in January and other boat shows due to COVID, Dufour Yachts have been making more use of online events to showcase its range of yachts.

Following the first two events in its Dufour Nautic Days series, the French brand will hold its third this Wednesday 30 March.

Click HERE to register your interest and find out more about the event.

The programme will include Nicolas Bérenger, Dufour commercial director and Figaro sailor, taking us on board a new Dufour to talk about the pleasure of helming, DNA and reactivity.

There are eight models in the Dufour range including the latest models, the Dufour 32 and Dufour 61 at either end of the range.

The new-look, Felci-designed Dufours are well known for their performance and quality. So it should be no surprise that the order book is almost full for the 2023 season already.

Dufour 390

Adding to that demand will be the Dufour 430 and Dufour 390 which will join the line-up of performance cruising yachts at the South Coast Boat Show in Southampton on 6-8 May.

This is a great opportunity to get an insight into the Dufour range in person, as both yachts borrow styling, design features, equipment and smart layout ideas used in their larger and smaller sister yachts.

Crosshaven Boatyard are the Irish agents for Dufour Yachts. Get in touch with Hugh Mockler or Donal McClement on 021 483 1161 or email [email protected].

Published in Crosshaven Boatyard

Last weekend's UK South Coast Boat Show at Ocean Village Marina, Southampton has been deemed a 'great success' by both organisers and exhibitors, with nearly 700 appointments booked by 500 'serious buyers' over the three-day show.

Over 50 innovative sail and power brands were on display in the water at MDL’s Ocean Village Marina at the weekend, while the land-based exhibition area showcased smaller boats and supporting services such as ancillary gear, finance and insurance.

With its carefully curated selection of boats, the appointment-only show was one of the first boat shows to take place in a physical format since the start of the pandemic.

“The South Coast Boat Show has been a great start to the 2021 boat show season,” says Al Wood from Multihull Solutions. “Our appointments were fully-booked throughout, allowing us to showcase Dragonfly trimarans in a relaxed and exclusive environment.

“While online resources are invaluable, there’s no substitute for spending time onboard. The show has been a great success for us, with a contract signed plus a number of new clients eagerly anticipating exhilarating trial sails. We look forward to returning next year.”

Ancasta International Boat Sales’ marketing director, Will Blair, adds: “It was great to be able to get customers physically back onto boats again after so many months with no boat shows.

“The process to ensure visitors and staff were kept safe worked well and overall it was a successful weekend. The format of the South Coast Boat Show is one that is here to stay, focusing on buyers who appreciate the time and space to really explore their new yachts without queues and distractions.”

Tim Mayer, director of sales and marketing for show organiser MDL Marinas, comments: “We worked closely with local stakeholders to ensure that the show could go ahead in a safe and secure manner. The event taking place, and it’s success, is a big boost to the leisure marine industry and will give confidence to marine companies and the general public that other shows and events planned for later in the year will also be successful.”

Alongside the show’s sponsors, Raymarine, Towergate Insurance and Inspiration Marine, brands which exhibited at the show in Ocean Village Marina’s stunning city-centre location, with its sheltered all tides access and unique Harbour Hotel backdrop included: Arcona Yachts, Axopar, Bavaria, Beneteau power and sail, Broadblue, British Boat Club, Chris-Craft, Cranchi, Discovery, Dragonfly, Dufour Yachts, Elan, Finnmaster, FlexiSail, Fountaine Pajot, Galeon, Galia, Grand Soleil, Hallberg-Rassy, Hanse, J-Boats, Jeanneau power and sail, Najad Yachts, Nautitech Catamarans, Nord Star, Prestige, Princess, Pure Latitude, Sargo, Saxdor, Seakart, Sealine, Sea Ray, Seaward, Solaris and X-Yachts.

Returning to Ocean Village Marina in 2022 for a third time, the South Coast Boat Show will take place on the 6-8 May with more brands, more boats and an upscaled landside area, accommodating additional boating-related exhibitors.

Published in Marine Trade
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X-Yachts welcomes everyone to experience first-hand the soul and heritage of its brand at the South Coast Boat Show in Southampton this coming weekend.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the X4⁹ will be part of X-Yachts’ presence at Ocean Village Marina from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 May.

Viewing slots are in high demand, with limited times available HERE.

Published in X-Yachts GB & IRL

Ireland's offshore islands

Around 30 of Ireland's offshore islands are inhabited and hold a wealth of cultural heritage.

A central Government objective is to ensure that sustainable vibrant communities continue to live on the islands.

Irish offshore islands FAQs

Technically, it is Ireland itself, as the third largest island in Europe.

Ireland is surrounded by approximately 80 islands of significant size, of which only about 20 are inhabited.

Achill island is the largest of the Irish isles with a coastline of almost 80 miles and has a population of 2,569.

The smallest inhabited offshore island is Inishfree, off Donegal.

The total voting population in the Republic's inhabited islands is just over 2,600 people, according to the Department of Housing.

Starting with west Cork, and giving voting register numbers as of 2020, here you go - Bere island (177), Cape Clear island (131),Dursey island (6), Hare island (29), Whiddy island (26), Long island, Schull (16), Sherkin island (95). The Galway islands are Inis Mór (675), Inis Meáin (148), Inis Oírr (210), Inishbofin (183). The Donegal islands are Arranmore (513), Gola (30), Inishboffin (63), Inishfree (4), Tory (140). The Mayo islands, apart from Achill which is connected by a bridge, are Clare island (116), Inishbiggle (25) and Inishturk (52).

No, the Gaeltacht islands are the Donegal islands, three of the four Galway islands (Inishbofin, like Clifden, is English-speaking primarily), and Cape Clear or Oileán Chléire in west Cork.

Lack of a pier was one of the main factors in the evacuation of a number of islands, the best known being the Blasket islands off Kerry, which were evacuated in November 1953. There are now three cottages available to rent on the Great Blasket island.

In the early 20th century, scholars visited the Great Blasket to learn Irish and to collect folklore and they encouraged the islanders to record their life stories in their native tongue. The three best known island books are An tOileánach (The Islandman) by Tomás Ó Criomhthain, Peig by Peig Sayers, and Fiche Blian ag Fás (Twenty Years A-Growing) by Muiris Ó Súilleabháin. Former taoiseach Charles J Haughey also kept a residence on his island, Inishvickillaune, which is one of the smaller and less accessible Blasket islands.

Charles J Haughey, as above, or late Beatle musician, John Lennon. Lennon bought Dorinish island in Clew Bay, south Mayo, in 1967 for a reported £1,700 sterling. Vendor was Westport Harbour Board which had used it for marine pilots. Lennon reportedly planned to spend his retirement there, and The Guardian newspaper quoted local estate agent Andrew Crowley as saying he was "besotted with the place by all accounts". He did lodge a planning application for a house, but never built on the 19 acres. He offered it to Sid Rawle, founder of the Digger Action Movement and known as the "King of the Hippies". Rawle and 30 others lived there until 1972 when their tents were burned by an oil lamp. Lennon and Yoko Ono visited it once more before his death in 1980. Ono sold the island for £30,000 in 1984, and it is widely reported that she donated the proceeds of the sale to an Irish orphanage

 

Yes, Rathlin island, off Co Antrim's Causeway Coast, is Ireland's most northerly inhabited island. As a special area of conservation, it is home to tens of thousands of sea birds, including puffins, kittiwakes, razorbills and guillemots. It is known for its Rathlin golden hare. It is almost famous for the fact that Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, retreated after being defeated by the English at Perth and hid in a sea cave where he was so inspired by a spider's tenacity that he returned to defeat his enemy.

No. The Aran islands have a regular ferry and plane service, with ferries from Ros-a-Mhíl, south Connemara all year round and from Doolin, Co Clare in the tourist season. The plane service flies from Indreabhán to all three islands. Inishbofin is connected by ferry from Cleggan, Co Galway, while Clare island and Inishturk are connected from Roonagh pier, outside Louisburgh. The Donegal islands of Arranmore and Tory island also have ferry services, as has Bere island, Cape Clear and Sherkin off Cork. How are the island transport services financed? The Government subsidises transport services to and from the islands. The Irish Coast Guard carries out medical evacuations, as to the RNLI lifeboats. Former Fianna Fáíl minister Éamon Ó Cuív is widely credited with improving transport services to and from offshore islands, earning his department the nickname "Craggy island".

Craggy Island is an bleak, isolated community located of the west coast, inhabited by Irish, a Chinese community and one Maori. Three priests and housekeeper Mrs Doyle live in a parochial house There is a pub, a very small golf course, a McDonald's fast food restaurant and a Chinatown... Actually, that is all fiction. Craggy island is a figment of the imagination of the Father Ted series writers Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews, for the highly successful Channel 4 television series, and the Georgian style parochial house on the "island" is actually Glenquin House in Co Clare.

Yes, that is of the Plassey, a freighter which was washed up on Inis Oírr in bad weather in 1960.

There are some small privately owned islands,and islands like Inishlyre in Co Mayo with only a small number of residents providing their own transport. Several Connemara islands such as Turbot and Inishturk South have a growing summer population, with some residents extending their stay during Covid-19. Turbot island off Eyrephort is one such example – the island, which was first spotted by Alcock and Brown as they approached Ireland during their epic transatlantic flight in 1919, was evacuated in 1978, four years after three of its fishermen drowned on the way home from watching an All Ireland final in Clifden. However, it is slowly being repopulated

Responsibility for the islands was taking over by the Department of Rural and Community Development . It was previously with the Gaeltacht section in the Department of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht.

It is a periodic bone of contention, as Ireland does not have the same approach to its islands as Norway, which believes in right of access. However, many improvements were made during Fianna Fáíl Galway West TD Éamon Ó Cuív's time as minister. The Irish Island Federation, Comdháil Oileáin na hÉireann, represents island issues at national and international level.

The 12 offshore islands with registered voters have long argued that having to cast their vote early puts them at a disadvantage – especially as improved transport links mean that ballot boxes can be transported to the mainland in most weather conditions, bar the winter months. Legislation allowing them to vote on the same day as the rest of the State wasn't passed in time for the February 2020 general election.

Yes, but check tide tables ! Omey island off north Connemara is accessible at low tide and also runs a summer race meeting on the strand. In Sligo, 14 pillars mark the way to Coney island – one of several islands bearing this name off the Irish coast.

Cape Clear or Oileán Chléire is the country's most southerly inhabited island, eight miles off the west Cork coast, and within sight of the Fastnet Rock lighthouse, also known as the "teardrop of Ireland".
Skellig Michael off the Kerry coast, which has a monastic site dating from the 6th century. It is accessible by boat – prebooking essential – from Portmagee, Co Kerry. However, due to Covid-19 restrictions, it was not open to visitors in 2020.
All islands have bird life, but puffins and gannets and kittiwakes are synonymous with Skellig Michael and Little Skellig. Rathlin island off Antrim and Cape Clear off west Cork have bird observatories. The Saltee islands off the Wexford coast are privately owned by the O'Neill family, but day visitors are permitted access to the Great Saltee during certain hours. The Saltees have gannets, gulls, puffins and Manx shearwaters.
Vikings used Dublin as a European slaving capital, and one of their bases was on Dalkey island, which can be viewed from Killiney's Vico road. Boat trips available from Coliemore harbour in Dalkey. Birdwatch Ireland has set up nestboxes here for roseate terns. Keep an eye out also for feral goats.
Plenty! There are regular boat trips in summer to Inchagoill island on Lough Corrib, while the best known Irish inshore island might be the lake isle of Innisfree on Sligo's Lough Gill, immortalised by WB Yeats in his poem of the same name. Roscommon's Lough Key has several islands, the most prominent being the privately-owned Castle Island. Trinity island is more accessible to the public - it was once occupied by Cistercian monks from Boyle Abbey.

©Afloat 2020