Wally’s latest bespoke sailing creation has just passed a crucial construction milestone with the demoulding of the hull. The sleek carbon hull of the new 101-foot cruiser-racer was lifted out of its female mould. She is the fourth Wally for an experienced owner and inspired by the Wallycento box rule.

It is rare for one-off yachts at this scale to use female moulding, which is time-consuming to build. But the company says it was the right decision because a female mould ensures a near-perfect exterior finish. As a result, very little filler was needed to fair the hull, further eliminating unnecessary hull weight – a critical part of the owner’s brief.

It is still a heart-stopping moment in any big full-carbon boatbuilding project when the hull is revealed for the first time. The lines and exterior form are seen at last, and the quality of the construction is laid bare for all to see. Being a Wally, with minimal, flowing lines and easy power in its DNA, the new 101 was under intense scrutiny – something she bore with ease.

“This is the moment in the birth of a boat when her concept takes material shape for the first time and you get a glimpse of the vessel she will become. It is thrilling to watch,” says Wally Managing Director Stefano
de Vivo. “In this case, her purposeful bow and powerful lines promise exhilarating performance and spellbinding looks.”

Built using advanced pre-preg carbon fibre in a sandwich composite, the Wally 101 weighs just 56 tonnes.

That is some 20 per cent less than yachts of similar size and capabilities and comes in spite of a host of labour-saving technology. This includes Wally’s Magic Trim and Magic Traveller hydraulic systems.

Astonishingly, 40 per cent of her weight is from the lifting keel alone, promising eye-watering performance.

After demoulding, the hull was laid in a cradle and moved back undercover for the next stage of its transformation. Shipwrights are already installing the bulkheads that will divide up the interior space, with wiring, piping, tanks and other engineering foundations while the lightweight carbon deck is currently in mould.

Wally the Arctic walrus looks to be on his way back to home waters after he was spotted in Iceland at the weekend.

Seal Rescue Ireland confirmed the sighting after examining photos with British Divers Marine Life Rescue, who had tracked Wally’s whereabouts in the UK during his spring and summer jaunt from Wales to Cornwall.

This was after the walrus was spotted many hundreds of kilometres from his Arctic home on the Kerry coast back in March.

More recently, Wally had returned to Irish waters following an excursion that took him as far as northern France.

The hefty marine wildlife, estimated to weigh some 800kg, left a trail of destruction in his wake as he accidentally caused damage to boats he sought out as resting spots — prompting a campaign by Seal Rescue Ireland to procure a ‘floating couch’ pontoon for the likely exhausted animal.

Wally was last seen at the end of August, and after more than three weeks with no confirmed sightings, Seal Rescue Ireland said: “We were starting to lose hope of ever seeing the young, wandering walrus again.”

However, Monday (20 September) brought news that a walrus matching Wally’s description was sighted the previous day in Iceland — more than 900km from his last known location in West Cork.

“We are absolutely over the moon that he's not only still alive and well, but he is well on his way home to the Arctic,” the animal rescue charity added.

“He was seen swimming back out to sea last night [Sunday] — and even managed to avoid sinking any boats while he was there!”

Seal Rescue Ireland also expressed their gratitude to members of the public “who have shown support and love for this walrus by giving him a safe place to rest and gather his strength while visiting our shores ahead of this magnificent journey.

“Thanks to his ability to feed and rest, he has successfully made the long stretch and will hopefully reunite with his own kind again soon. Please always remember to give wildlife space, and put their safety and welfare first!”

The Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform has urged ‘walrus watchers’ along Ireland’s South Coast to “cop on” and observe Wally the walrus from a distance.

The Arctic walrus was first spotted in Ireland off the coast of Valentia Island in March. After voyaging to Wales and as far as northern France, he returned to Ireland’s shores earlier this month.

He’s since left what’s been described as a trail of destruction in his wake as he makes his way westwards along the Cork coast — sinking at least two boats as he searches for places to rest.

It prompted Seal Rescue Ireland to launch an appeal to procure materials for a ‘floating couch’ pontoon that’s ready to deploy wherever he shows up next.

The wildlife charity also appealed for curious walrus spotters to keep their distance from the animal, who is many thousands of kilometres from his usual waters and may be in distress.

In a statement today (Thursday 19 August), Minister Malcolm Noonan has echoed that warning. “While it’s understandable that many people are excited about the presence of a walrus on the Irish coast, we must remember that this is a wild animal and it should be respected,” he said.

“I’m appealing to everyone not to get close and only view it from a distance. This is for the animal’s sake, but also for your own, as there may be risks from a water safety perspective where large numbers of people are congregating on the water.

“Walruses are not a protected species under the Wildlife Act, it’s basically the same as a fox or rabbit under the law, so it’s up to people to cop on and have consideration for this poor wild animal, which is a long way from home. Leave it alone and if you must go and see it, use binoculars.”

Wally the Arctic walrus’ trail of destruction along the South Coast may be curbed by the provision of a ‘floating couch’ for the large marine mammal, as the Irish Examiner reports.

Following his return to Irish shores earlier this month after a lengthy excursion via Wales and northern France, Wally has made his way steadily westwards from Waterford into Cork.

Boats moored at harbours and marinas along the way have become his primary resting spots, but his sheer size — estimated at some 800kg — has meant he’s sunk at least two vessels and cost thousands of euros of damage.

Now, after an appeal for donations of equipment, Seal Rescue Ireland says it has secured a pontoon that resembles a floating couch — similar to one deployed for Wally off the Isles of Scilly earlier this summer.

And it’s ready to go upon any reports of Wally messing about in boats — in the hopes he’ll choose the way of the couch potato over the juvenile delinquent.

In the meantime, curious walrus-spotters have been urged to keep their distance — at least 100m — from the animal “as this is crucial to his survival and welfare”, the animal rescue charity says.

The Irish Examiner has more on the story HERE.