Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta

15th May 2025

Afloat.ie Team

Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Ambassadors horse-racing legend Rachael Blackmore and Rugby Star James Ryan pictured with Skipper of the Terra Nova, Peter Bowring, Paddy Boyd, Event Director and Maria McEnery, Volvo Car Ireland at the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta launch Ireland’s largest sailing event of the year Credit: Marc O'Sullivan

Volvo Ambassadors Rachael Blackmore, horse-racing legend and winner of both the Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup, who this week announced her retirement, alongside James Ryan, newly announced Lions squad member, three time six Nations Champion and Grand Slam winner, were 'riding the crest of a wave' today to help launch the 10th Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta. Ireland's largest sailing event, which takes place from Thursday, July 10th to Sunday, July 13th 2025, is now a major international sailing event, with everything from Olympic and world-class professionals to weekend sailors and their craft travelling from as far afield as the U.S.A to participate.

No strangers to high performance sports and adventure themselves both Rachael and James embraced the aquatic charms of Dublin Bay onboard "Terra Nova" expertly skippered by Peter Bowring to help officially launch the event, which will see up to 70 different yacht clubs around the globe represented, reflecting the Regatta's ever growing international profile.

Reflective of the event's tenth anniversary, numerous brand-new elements have been introduced to ensure the event remains fresh, challenging and inclusive to all in the sailing community. Hence the addition this year of the Bay Race (the first race of the Regatta) and the inaugural Melges 15 Europeans, which will see circa 40 boats competing, making this a significant milestone for the class as the largest European event, with sailors from all over the world aged 12 to 75 taking part! A new Introductory Class has also been established, to encourage participation from boats that might otherwise not have taken part, facilitating less experienced sailors who are keen to experience the thrill of racing in a Regatta for the first time.

From the Baily lighthouse in Howth to Dalkey island, Dublin Bay accommodates six separate courses for no less than 36 competing classes of boats for the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, which has now become not only the country's biggest sailing event, with an average of 1600 sailors competing, but also one of Ireland's largest participant sporting events overall (after the Mini-Marathon).

Co-hosted by the four waterfront Yacht Clubs in Dun Laoghaire (Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club, National Yacht Club, Royal Irish Yacht Club and Royal St. George Yacht Club) this biennial four-day event is set to welcome boats ranging from small 14-foot dinghies up to ocean-going 50-footers, with individual crew members travelling from all over the world to participate in the event. Such is the scale of the event that it requires the services of 280 volunteers on and off the water, as well as top international race officers and an international jury to resolve any arising disputes representing five countries.

Spectators will be able to view the boats racing on six courses from any vantage point on the southern shore of Dublin Bay. As well as from the Harbour walls itself, it will also be possible to see the boats from Sandycove, Dalkey and Killiney, especially when the boats compete over inshore coastal courses or have in-harbour finishes.

The Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta is unique because of its compact site offering four different yacht clubs within the harbour and the race tracks' proximity, just a five-minute sail from shore. The Regatta also prides itself on balancing excellent competition with good fun ashore.

Speaking at the launch, VDLR Ambassador Rachael Blackmore commented, "As someone who enjoys the competition and the thrill of sport, it's great to see the same passion that drives horse racing reflected out on the water at the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta. It's fantastic to see an event of this scale bringing people of all levels together, from seasoned pros to Regatta first-timers, and I'm delighted to support the 10th edition of Ireland's largest sailing event."

VDLR Event Director, Paddy Boyd, speaking about the much-loved event which showcases the very best of Irish (and international) sailing action on the water, said "This year's event is shaping up to be one of the best yet with innovations afloat and ashore making it a real spectacle for all. The new Bay Race will be a mass start fixed mark race, starting close to the end of both the East and West piers, with (weather permitting) several course options for competitors. This will be both fun and tactically challenging for participants, with Dublin Bay's beautiful C-shape approximately 10km wide at its base and 7km long from Howth Head to Dalkey Island, allowing plenty of room for the expected 350 boat fleet at this four-day event. In addition to all of the high-octane action on the water, the much-loved family focussed Coastival event run by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, celebrates Dun Laoghaire's incredible maritime heritage, and Summerfest will see over 50 music events for all ages happening at various spaces throughout the town….so there is quite literally something for everyone - of every age - to enjoy!"

For competitors in the VDLR, the Volvo Trophy is on the line for the overall winner of IRC classes, and with 40 IRC entries already in, two months before the first gun, these classes will ensure some of the hottest Irish Sea IRC action to date.

Alan Cowley, MD for Volvo Car Ireland added "We are delighted to once again be the title sponsor of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, an incredibly well-run event we have partnered with since 2007. The Volvo brand is globally recognised within the sailing community, from local events to international competitions like the Ocean Race, making VDLR a perfect fit for us in Ireland. What we believe in and what we do at Volvo goes beyond cars. Everything we do begins with people, from our commitment to safety, through to innovation, and we see the value of supporting local organisations, especially those that foster community engagement"

The VDLR is kindly supported by:

Volvo Cars Ireland in partnership with Spirit Motor Group (Title sponsor)
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council
The Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire
Helly Hansen
Dubarry of Ireland
Hyland Shipping

For all the latest VDLR 2025 news click here

Published in Volvo Regatta, Coastival

Published in Volvo Regatta

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Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta

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Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta

From the Baily lighthouse to Dalkey island, the bay accommodates six separate courses for 21 different classes racing every two years for the Dun Laoghaire Regatta.

In assembling its record-breaking armada, Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta (VDLR) became, at its second staging, not only the country's biggest sailing event, with 3,500 sailors competing, but also one of Ireland's largest participant sporting events.

One of the reasons for this, ironically, is that competitors across Europe have become jaded by well-worn venue claims attempting to replicate Cowes and Cork Week.'Never mind the quality, feel the width' has been a criticism of modern-day regattas where organisers mistakenly focus on being the biggest to be the best. Dun Laoghaire, with its local fleet of 300 boats, never set out to be the biggest. Its priority focussed instead on quality racing even after it got off to a spectacularly wrong start when the event was becalmed for four days at its first attempt.

The idea to rekindle a combined Dublin bay event resurfaced after an absence of almost 40 years, mostly because of the persistence of a passionate race officer Brian Craig who believed that Dun Laoghaire could become the Cowes of the Irish Sea if the town and the local clubs worked together. Although fickle winds conspired against him in 2005, the support of all four Dun Laoghaire waterfront yacht clubs since then (made up of Dun Laoghaire Motor YC, National YC, Royal Irish YC and Royal St GYC), in association with the two racing clubs of Dublin Bay SC and Royal Alfred YC, gave him the momentum to carry on.

There is no doubt that sailors have also responded with their support from all four coasts. Running for four days, the regatta is (after the large mini-marathons) the single most significant participant sports event in the country, requiring the services of 280 volunteers on and off the water, as well as top international race officers and an international jury, to resolve racing disputes representing five countries. A flotilla of 25 boats regularly races from the Royal Dee near Liverpool to Dublin for the Lyver Trophy to coincide with the event. The race also doubles as a RORC qualifying race for the Fastnet.

Sailors from the Ribble, Mersey, the Menai Straits, Anglesey, Cardigan Bay and the Isle of Man have to travel three times the distance to the Solent as they do to Dublin Bay. This, claims Craig, is one of the major selling points of the Irish event and explains the range of entries from marinas as far away as Yorkshire's Whitby YC and the Isle of Wight.

No other regatta in the Irish Sea area can claim to have such a reach. Dublin Bay Weeks such as this petered out in the 1960s, and it has taken almost four decades for the waterfront clubs to come together to produce a spectacle on and off the water to rival Cowes."The fact that we are getting such numbers means it is inevitable that it is compared with Cowes," said Craig. However, there the comparison ends."We're doing our own thing here. Dun Laoghaire is unique, and we are making an extraordinary effort to welcome visitors from abroad," he added. The busiest shipping lane in the country – across the bay to Dublin port – closes temporarily to facilitate the regatta and the placing of six separate courses each day.

A fleet total of this size represents something of an unknown quantity on the bay as it is more than double the size of any other regatta ever held there.

Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta FAQs

What is Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Dun Laoghaire Regatta is Ireland's biggest sailing event. It is held every second Summer at Dun Laoghaire Harbour on Dublin Bay.

When is Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Dun Laoghaire Regatta is held every two years, typically in the first weekend of July.

Where is Dun Laoghaire Regatta held?

As its name suggests, the event is based at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Racing is held on Dublin Bay over as many as six different courses with a coastal route that extends out into the Irish Sea. Ashore, the festivities are held across the town but mostly in the four organising yacht clubs.

How big is Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Dun Laoghaire Regatta is the largest sailing regatta in Ireland and on the Irish Sea and the second largest in the British Isles. It has a fleet of 500 competing boats and up to 3,000 sailors. Scotland's biggest regatta on the Clyde is less than half the size of the Dun Laoghaire event. After the Dublin city marathon, the regatta is one of the most significant single participant sporting events in the country in terms of Irish sporting events.

How old is Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

The modern Dublin Bay Regatta began in 2005, but it owes its roots to earlier combined Dublin Bay Regattas of the 1960s.

How many boats compete at Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Up to 500 boats regularly compete.

How many yacht clubs are represented at Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Up to 70 different yacht clubs are represented.

Where do the yachts come from to compete at Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

The Channel Islands, Isle of Man, England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland countrywide, and Dublin clubs.

How many boats are visiting boats at Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Nearly half the sailors, over 1,000, travel to participate from outside of Dun Laoghaire and from overseas to race and socialise in Dun Laoghaire.

What type of yachts race in Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

21 different classes are competing at Dun Laoghaire Regatta. As well as four IRC Divisions from 50-footers down to 20-foot day boats and White Sails, there are also extensive one-design keelboat and dinghy fleets to include all the fleets that regularly race on the Bay such as Beneteau 31.7s, Ruffian 23s, Sigma 33s as well as Flying Fifteens, Laser SB20s plus some visiting fleets such as the RS Elites from Belfast Lough to name by one.

What famous sailors race in Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Some sailing household names are regular competitors at the biennial Dun Laoghaire event including Dun Laoghaire Olympic silver medalist, Annalise Murphy. International sailing stars are competing too such as Mike McIntyre, a British Olympic Gold medalist and a raft of World and European class champions.

How much does it cost to enter Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

There are different entry fees for different size boats. A 40-foot yacht will pay up to €550, but a 14-foot dinghy such as Laser will pay €95. Full entry fee details are contained in the Regatta Notice of Race document.

Where can spectators view Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Spectators can see the boats racing on six courses from any vantage point on the southern shore of Dublin Bay. As well as from the Harbour walls itself, it is also possible to see the boats from Sandycove, Dalkey and Killiney, especially when the boats compete over inshore coastal courses or have in-harbour finishes.

How does Dun Laoghaire regatta compare to international regattas?

Very favourably. It is often compared to Cowes, Britain's biggest regatta on the Isle of Wight that has 1,000 entries. However, sailors based in the north of England have to travel three times the distance to get to Cowes as they do to Dun Laoghaire.

Why is Dun Laoghaire Regatta so unique?

Dun Laoghaire Regatta is unique because of its compact site offering four different yacht clubs within the harbour and the race tracks' proximity, just a five-minute sail from shore. International sailors also speak of its international travel connections and being so close to Dublin city. The regatta also prides itself on balancing excellent competition with good fun ashore.

Who organises Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

The Organising Authority (OA) of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta is Dublin Bay Regattas Ltd, a not-for-profit company, beneficially owned by Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club (DMYC), National Yacht Club (NYC), Royal Irish Yacht Club (RIYC) and Royal St George Yacht Club (RSGYC).

What does Dun Laoghaire Regatta contribute to the local economy?

The Irish Marine Federation launched a case study on the 2009 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta's socio-economic significance. Over four days, the study (carried out by Irish Sea Marine Leisure Knowledge Network) found the event was worth nearly €3million to the local economy over the four days of the event. Typically the Royal Marine Hotel and Haddington Hotel and other local providers are fully booked for the event.