#LectureNWpassage - The Winter lecture 2015/16 season of the Glenua Sailing Centre continues with this month’s lecture, ‘Sailing the Northwest Passage’ next Thursday, 12 November.

Sibéal Turraoin will present an illustrated lecture at 20.00 held at the Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club, Ringsend, Dublin. There will be an entry fee of €5 in aid of the R.N.L.I.

In the early summer of 2010 Young Larry, a 44ft steel gaff-rigged yawl, left Lymington on the south coast of England bound for the Northwest Passage.

Skippered by Andrew Wilkes and Máire Breathnach, she stopped at Dungarvan, Co Waterford to pick up her third crew-member, Sibéal Turraoin, a fourth would join them in Canada for six weeks. This was their second trip to the Arctic having sailed two years previously in Arctic Tern, a 68ft steel hulled yacht.

Leaving Dingle in mid-June, Young Larry sailed 1,700 miles through the North Atlantic to Nuuk, capital of Greenland.

The next six weeks were spent cruising up the western coast to Upernavik, waiting for the ice in Baffin Bay to melt. Sights such as whale hunts, giant glaciers, icebergs, sledges and dogs all became common along the way.

After a foggy and icy crossing the Davis Strait Young Larry landed in Pond Inlet and collected their final crewmember Dermot O’Riordan for the six week leg through the Northwest Passage.

Polar bears were spotted swimming around the boat in Beechey Island where Franklin spent a winter on his ill-fated exploration; a caribou and whale feast with drum dancing was had in Gjoa Haven, a settlement founded by Amundsen.

Dew Line stations were also explored; northern lights seen; ice floes navigated and after rounding through the stormy Bering Straits Young Larry arrived at the gold rush town of Nome, where Wyatt Earp ran a saloon.

After continuing south to Dutch Harbour, Young Larry finally berthed in Kodiak for the winter, almost 8,000 miles travelled, the 145th boat to transit the passage, and, reputedly, the first by an Irish woman.

#PolarLectures - The Nautical Institute Ireland Branch and the Irish Institute of Master Mariners are pleased to present a lecture by: Captain David (Duke) Snider FNI FRGS on The Polar Code and Ice Navigation. The lectures take place this month in Cork and Dun Laoghaire, for details please read further below.

Ice Navigation expert Capt. Duke Snider is Senior Vice President of the Nautical Institute and lead author of the Ice Navigator Standards developed for Transport Canada for submission to the IMO for inclusion in the Polar Code.

The IMO has adopted the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code) and related amendments to make it mandatory under both the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). The Polar Code is expected to enter into force on 1 January 2017.

The Institutes are delighted to extend the invitation to their guests to attend this interesting and informative lecture.

There will be two opportunities to attend Capt. Duke Snider's talk as detailed below.

CORK VENUE: National Maritime College of Ireland, Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork
Date: Tuesday, 20th October
Time: Lecture starting at 1900hrs

DUBLIN VENUE (Dun Laoghaire) Commissioners of Irish Lights Office
Date: Wednesday, 21st October
Time: Lecture starting at 1900hrs

Please confirm attendance by e-mailing your name and whether you wish to attend the Cork or Dublin venue to [email protected]

For more information please click here.

#LectureLusitania - The Winter lecture 2015/16 season of the Glenua Sailing Centre resumes with the return to the venue of the Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club, Ringsend, Dublin, this Thursday, 1st October at 8pm.

The topic for this season’s opening lecture “The Sinking of the Lusitania” will be illustrated and presented by Cormac F. Lowth. An entry fee of €5 is in aid of the R.N.L.I.

Cormac is well-known as a superb researcher, lecturer and writer on many aspects of Irish maritime history. This lecture will examine, with many rare images of her interior, various aspects of the Lusitania focusing on the innovative nature of her construction and prominence as a luxury Trans-Atlantic passenger liner.

The lecture will also delve into the mysteries surrounding the last fateful voyage of the Lusitania from New York to include the alleged cargo of the ship, the activities of British Naval Intelligence and the involvement of ‘Room 40’ in breaking German codes, the German U-20 torpedo attack on the Lusitania and the massive second explosion that sank the ship.

Cormac will then describe the rescue of the survivors, the propaganda campaign that followed the sinking and the tragic aftermath, when, despite an inquest, an official enquiry, various salvage attempts and diving investigations of the wreck, conspiracy theories and rumours abound right up to 2015, a hundred years later.

Among the reports earlier this year on Afloat.ie was the RMS Lusitania commemoration centenary ceremony hosted by Cunard and the Port of Cork, led by President Michael D Higgins in Cobh to mark the 100th anniversary of the liner's sinking off the Cork coast.

Notable, the Cunard liner 'Queen Victoria' arrived at Cobh cruise terminal with 2,144 passengers as part of a seven night 'Lusitania Remembered' voyage, following a wreath-laying ceremony held on board in the early hours off the wreck site off Old Head of Kinsale.

Later that same day ashore, four glass headstones were unveiled, having been commissioned for the centenary by the Port of Cork and Cunard, at the Old Church Graveyard where 170 victims of the Lusitania are buried in what were previously unmarked graves.

#Women&TheSea - Almost a month ago Afloat reported on the forthcoming Women and the Sea Symposium which is a ticketed event held this week on the Friday 25th and Saturday 26th September.

In advance of the lecture (see more details below) registration for both days of the Symposium takes place at 3.30pm on the Friday in the National Maritime Museum of Ireland, Dun Laoghaire.

This fine venue in Dun Laoghaire will be host to the first ever Women and the Sea Symposium which aims to promote greater awareness and understanding of the important roles that, women have played, and continue to play, in marine and maritime culture, science, and industry.

As for the free public lecture, the topic is on the first two Irishwomen to traverse the Canadian Arctic's North-West Passage. The lecture chaired by Lorna Siggins of The Irish Times, is to take place on the Friday night at 7pm and be also held in the maritime museum.

Women and the Sea, is a joint venture between University College Dublin and the National Maritime Museum of Ireland. The symposium is to bring together researchers from the humanities, sciences, industry and heritage sectors, and welcomes participation from all interested individuals and groups.

For details to the event costing €15 and registration visit the symposium's website http://womenandthesea.com/registration/

#MusicINmusuem – An evening of baroque music by Galerum Gabrielis is to be held in the National Maritime Museum of Ireland, Haigh Terrace, Dun Laoghaire on Thursday 11 June (8:00 pm - 10:00 pm)

A wonderful evening of the finest Baroque music will be given an unusual presentation in the venue of the former Mariners Church by Evin Kelly (Bayan) and Norah O'Leary (Baroque Cello).

The range of music will be from G.P. Telemann; G.B. Vitali; J.S. Bach; G. Frescobaldi and A. Vivaldi

Tickets available before the concert or at the door. €10.00 per head

The museum also has a gift shop and café. For further details and information visit: www.mariner.ie

#WSSfilm – The Cobh branch of the World Ship Society (WSS) concludes its 2015 monthly meetings programme held in the pictureque coastal town with a Film from the society's library archive.

The film (starting at 20.00) takes place next Tuesday 19th May in the Commodore Hotel, Cobh, where the society's programme as usual has been held for this year's season.

Next month, however a Branch outing to Bristol is planned. WSS AGM, Site visits, for details check later from their website HERE.

Cobh's WSS branch is the only branch of the society in the Republic of Ireland and this year they celebrate 10 years having been established in 2005.

Over that time Cobh WSS have also made port tour visits to the UK, Poland and Sweden.

The WSS was founded in 1946 and for more details about this branch click HERE.

#LectureLusitania – The Building of the Lusitania is the lecture topic that Cormac Lowth will present in conjunction with the National Maritime Museum of Ireland in Dun Laoghaire next Thursday, 30th April.

Cormac's illustrated lecture will tell the story of the building of the Cunard Line's RMS Lusitania's fateful last journey 100 year ago when she was struck by a U-Boat torpedo during WW1 off the Old Head of Kinsale on 7 May 1915. It is generally considered as being the most significant reason for the United States to finally decide to declare war on Germany.

In addition Cormac will delve into the mysteries of her alleged cargo, the second explosion, salvage attempts and the Special Preservation Order.

Lecture Information: Admission is €10.00 (payable at door from 7.30pm) followed by the talk at 8.00pm. Bookings can also be made be email: [email protected] or Tel: (01) 2143 964

The Maritime Institute of Ireland museum on Haigh Terrace, Dun Laoghaire will also staging a special exhibition on the disaster during the month of May.

The museum also has a gift shop and café. For further details and informantion visit: www.mariner.ie

#McNamaraConcert - Frank McNamara, will play a once-off concert next month in the National Maritime Museum of Ireland, Dun Laoghaire.

The internationally known arranger, conductor, composer, and pianist would be familiar to many as the Musical Director of the Late Late show for over 20 years.

Tickets for the evening two-hour concert (8-10pm) on next Saturday, 30th May cost €20.

They are available through either [email protected] or Tel: 01 2143 964

For further information in general about the Maritime Institute of Ireland's museum on Haigh Terrace, Dun Laoghaire which has also a gift shop and café visit: www.mariner.ie

#LectureLusitania – The Building of the Lusitania, that's the title of the next lecture to be held in National Maritime Museum of Ireland in Dun Laoghaire next Thursday. 30th April.

The centenary lecture beginning at 8:00pm is to be presented by Cormac Lowth, who will accompany the talk with illustrations.

Lowth's Lusitania lecture running for two-hours is been held in conjunction with an exhibition in the Museum's beautiful restored former Mariners Church building.

The exhibition tells the story of her last fateful journey, the mysteries of her alleged cargo, the second explosion, salvage attempts and the special preservation order.

Lecture Information: Admission is €10.00 (payable at door from 7.30pm).

Bookings can also be made be email: [email protected] or Tel: (01) 2143 964

For further information about the Maritime Institute of Ireland's museum (including a gift shop and cafe) on Haigh Terrace, Dun Laoghaire, visit: www.mariner.ie

#WSSlectureLiners – The Cobh branch of the World Ship Society (WSS) continues its 2015 monthly meetings programme with the lecture 'Modern Cruise Liners'

This lecture to be held next Tuesday 21 April.

Alan Moorehouse of the WSS is to present the lecture (starting at 20.00) and takes place as usual in the Commodore Hotel, Cobh.

Further presentations are held (on the third Tuesday of each month) until this May.

Presentations are made during the winter months while in the summer period is spiced with visits to ships in the port.

Cobh's WSS branch is the only branch of the society in the Republic of Ireland and this year they celebrate 10 years having been established in 2005.

Over that time Cobh WSS have also made port tour visits to the UK, Poland and Sweden.

The WSS was founded in 1946 and for further details about the season programme of activities, click HERE

For information in general on the role of the WSS Cobh branch, click HERE.