Dublin Cruising Catamaran Reached Pacific Paradise

9th July 2019

Fifteen thousand miles from Dublin in a magic year of cruising – George & Mary Coombes’ Lagoon 450s Realta Bheag moored off Bora Bora in mid-Pacific in French Polynesia Credit: George Coombes

Dublin couple George and Mary Coombes have achieved the cruising dream writes W M Nixon. Having departed from an increasingly wet and windy Ireland in late July of last year, their Lagoon 450s catamaran Realta Bheag has now sailed more than 15,000 miles, and they are currently exploring the ultimate cruising paradise of French Polynesia – for the time being, the exotic islands of Tahiti and Bora Bora are at the centre of their world.

When we met them at the MGM Boat Show in Howth early last season their plans were initially aimed at less distant horizons, with an extensive exploration of the Caribbean’s many islands being central to the project.

realta bheag howth2 Realta Bheag in Howth at the MGM Boat Show in May 2018. Photo: W M Nixon

But having crossed the Atlantic via last Autumn’s ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers), they found that they’d acquired such a taste for the voyaging life that soon Realta Bheag was headed for the Panama Canal and the much longer passages of the Pacific. So now they’re in Tahiti in the world of magical tropical sunsets, and Realta Bheag has lain to a mooring off the fabulous island of Bora Bora.

They bought their dreamship through Ross O’Leary of MGM Boats in Dun Laoghaire, and thanks to the worldwide contacts which he has built up through his top-of-the-range selection of marques, they’ve found that when matters of routine maintenance and servicing arise, the man from MGM has been able to direct them to qualified providers wherever they’re needed.

ross mary george3 A team project. Ross O’Leary of MGM Boats (left) with Mary and George Coombes aboard Realta Bheag. Photo: W. M. Nixon

Thus the crew of Realta Bheag have been able to devote all their energies into putting purpose into their carefree existence, and the word is that although Tahiti and Bora Bora have them currently in their spell, with each passing day the western horizon calls with increasing resonance, for there are always other exotic islands beyond the seas.

realta bheag sunset4 Living the dream……the tropical sunset brings a pause, but soon the western horizon will be beckoning again. Photo: W M Nixon

Published in MGM Boats, Cruising

Published in MGM Boats

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MGM Boats

About The Author

WM Nixon

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William M Nixon has been writing about sailing in Ireland for many years in print and online, and his work has appeared internationally in magazines and books. His own experience ranges from club sailing to international offshore events, and he has cruised extensively under sail, often in his own boats which have ranged in size from an 11ft dinghy to a 35ft cruiser-racer. He has also been involved in the administration of several sailing organisations.

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