Invitation
We invite all CAI members to join a short cruise in company on the East coast next month.
OLD NEWS…
This initial invitation has been replaced by a more comprehensive event page where you can learn more, book and pay.
Itinerary
| Tuesday 22 June | Muster in Dun Laoghaire | |
| Wednesday 23 June | Sail to Wicklow | 20M |
| Thursday 24 June | Sail to Arklow | 15M |
| Friday 25 June | Sail to Greystones | 20M |
| Saturday 26 June | Sail to Howth | 17M |
| Sunday 27 June | Sail to Skerries | 13M |
| Sunday 28 June | Sail to Malahide | 10M |
| Tuesday 29 June | Disperse from Malahide |
Variations
Most boats will participate in the whole cruise, but it’s common for individual boats to make alternative plans. That’s fine, but for safety and efficient administration please tell us your plans as early as possible. Here are some examples…
Skip Arklow: Stay two nights in Wicklow then join the fleet in Greystones.
Skip Skerries: Stay two nights in Howth then join the fleet in Malahide.
Weekend only: Join us in Greystones for Friday night, sail to Howth, then go home on Sunday.
Southside only: Leave the fleet on Saturday in Greystones.
Northside only: Join the fleet in Howth on Saturday.
Precautions
We shall comply with current Covid-19 pandemic guidelines. In particular:
- Indoor gatherings are not allowed
- Up to 15 people may gather outdoors
- Up to 6 people may share a table outdoors
We are trying to make collective catering arrangements at each stop. This might not always be possible, and each boat’s crew should be prepared to organise food and drink independently.
Before the start of the cruise, we shall designate catering groups of up to six people, and these groups will be fixed for the whole of the cruise. Groups should not mix, and nobody may transfer from one group to another. We hope that these groups will emerge naturally during the booking process, and the organisers will help where necessary.
Port arrangements
We have appointed a port coordinator for each stop, and we are working on detailed arrangements for berthing and catering. This is what we’re proposing now (late May), but these plans are subject to change.
Dun Laoghaire
We hope that one of the yacht clubs will look after us with outdoor dining ashore and berthing at their pontoons. In any case the marina can accommodate the fleet and there are plenty of places to eat and drink in the town.
Wicklow
We’ll berth alongside the pier, forming rafts with bigger boats on the inside. To go ashore you must climb a vertical ladder.
Wicklow Sailing Club has an outdoor dining area on the roof which we may be able to use.
Arklow
We’ll moor on the long pontoon in the river, forming rafts if necessary. The river was dredged recently, and depth is not a problem. There may also be space in the marina. The pontoons in the dock on the South side are no longer managed by the marina and we don’t expect to use them.
Arklow Sailing Club has space in front of the clubhouse where we can dine outside. The club bar will be open, and a professional catering service will provide a barbecue.
Greystones
Greystones Harbour Marina has plenty of room for us. New pontoons were installed this year, with no depth restrictions.
The Beach House can provide outdoor dining and drinks, but a group booking might not be possible. There are several takeaway food services at the harbour.
Howth
We shall berth in the marina.
Howth Yacht Club has plenty of space outside and can provide dinner ashore for everyone.
Skerries
The fleet will anchor along the beach for the night. The harbour is exposed from North to East and we’ll only stay if the weather is benign; otherwise, we’ll stay in Howth or go to Malahide early.
Skerries Sailing Club is hospitable, and operates a launch service, but we have not yet made arrangements for dining ashore.
Malahide
Malahide marina can accommodate the fleet with plenty of depth but there are tidal restrictions in the entrance channel.
We hope to mark this last night of the cruise with some gathering ashore, perhaps in collaboration with Malahide Yacht Club. No details are available yet.
What next?
If you know you won’t be participating, then do nothing. Otherwise, even if you’re not sure, please make a provisional booking by completing the online form to help us with our detailed planning. You won’t have to pay the €20 administration fee just yet, but we will ask you to confirm or cancel the booking a week before the cruise.