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Displaying items by tag: Hebridean Island Cruises

#COASTAL CRUISING – The world's smallest 5-star luxury cruiseship, Hebridean Princess (1964/2,112grt) is nearing the end of a 7-night 'South from Cork' fly-cruise, visiting locations only along the south-west coastline, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Accommodating just 50 guests in opulent surroundings styled as a 'country house party atmosphere', Hebridean Princess is a far cry from her previous career as a humble ferry serving in the Scottish western isles.

On her Irish cruise, she has called so far to Schull, Bantry, Glengariff, Castletownbere, Slea Head near Dingle and Kinsale.

What makes this cruise itinerary unusual is that the area covered is confined to a region. Normally other operators visiting Ireland, asides those just calling to one or two city ports, would visit ports stretching along the western seaboard. Also different is that this fly-cruise departs and returns from the same Irish port.

The final night of the cruise will be spent on board the vessel tonight, with the ship moored at North Custom House Quay, beside the Port of Cork Company building in the heart of the city docklands.

Prices for the cruise operated by Hebridean Island Cruises started from £3,400 per person which includes two gala dinners and return scheduled flights from selected UK airports to Cork.

Hebridean Princess will remain in Cork until tomorrow when she begins a 9-nights 'Gaelic Explorer' cruise with calls to Kinsale, Dublin, Isle of Man and Northern Ireland before returning to home waters in Scotland.

Published in Cruise Liners

SB20 (formerly Laser SB3) information

Designed by Tony Castro, the SB20 is a British-built strict one-design 6.15m keelboat conceived as a wide appeal, affordable, competitive sportsboat for teams of three or four sailors. It is also, arguably, the most successful sportsboat in the world with 800 owners competing regularly in a programme of exciting local, national and international events.

Originally known as the Laser SB3, the SB20 continues to deliver on its pioneering promise: a boat that is fun, fast and easy to sail by anyone of any age; the best value-for-money sportsboat in the market.

The Laser SB3 was designed by Castro and launched in 2002. In 2007 the Laser SB3 was awarded ISAF Recognised Status and the first World Championships were held in Ireland in 2008. In 2012, Tony Castro appointed a new builder, Sportsboat World. At this time, the Laser SB3 was renamed the SB20 and building was returned to the UK from Malaysia. The ethos of the class continues.

The boat is a strict one-design class, economic to buy and campaign, easy to sail with a simple deck layout and electric downwind performance delivered by the generous sail plan. The boat has a lifting keel, can easily be launched from a slipway and towed behind a family car.

Previous SB20 World Champions

2008 GBR: Geoff Carveth, Roger Gilbert, Roz Allen & Sarah Allan

Host National Yacht Club, Dun laoghaire, Ireland

2009 GBR: Craig Burlton, Stephen White, Adam Heeley

Host Clube Naval de Cascais, Cascais, Portugal

2010 GBR: Jerry Hill, Grant Rollerson, Joe Llewellyn

Host Circolo Vela Torbole, Lake Garda, Italy

2011 GBR: Geoff Carveth, Andy Ramus, Ian Mills & Emma Clarke

Host Royal Torbay Yacht Club, Torquay, UK

2012 GBR: Geoff Carveth, Lesley Dhonau, Roger Hudson & Asenathi Jim

Host Hamilton Island Yacht Club, Queensland, Australia

2013 GRB: Craig Burlton, Stephen White, Adam Heley Host COYCH Club, Hyeres, France