August has been another action-packed month for the Cruising Group, with memorable armadas, racing successes, and the announcement of an exciting guest speaker to kick off our autumn series of Monday meetings.
Upcoming Guest Speaker – Gráinne Costigan
Hot on the heels of the inaugural Women at the Helm event, we are delighted to welcome Gráinne Costigan as guest speaker at the Cruising Group meeting on Monday, 1st September.
Gráinne is preparing for the Mini Transat later this September, where she will make history as the first Irish woman to take on this iconic solo transatlantic challenge.
Her sailing journey is an inspirational one. Having first taken to the water as a child in Sutton before racing out of Howth, Gráinne went on to study physics and astronomy and is now based in Barcelona. There, she discovered the Mini 6.50 class and purchased her own boat, Sea Fever.
She completed the Round Trip Race from Les Sables d’Olonne to the Azores and back in 2024 and had an impressive 4th place finish in this year’s Mini Fastnet, alongside co-skipper Ceci Zori. The duo also won the Best Performance Prize for traditional bow boats.
Now, with just weeks to go before the Mini Transat start on 21st September, we are honoured that Gráinne will share her story with us. This promises to be an inspiring evening—one not to miss. More here.
Armada to Lambay – 16th August
The Cruising Group once again joined forces with the National Yacht Club for the annual Lambay Armada, which has become a true highlight of the summer calendar.
34 yachts took part, including 20 from Howth, 13 from the NYC, and even a Norwegian cruiser passing through en route to Howth. After a misty start, the skies cleared as the fleet reached Lambay, where the yachts settled into Talbot Bay under glorious sunshine. The scene was spectacular—rafts of boats at anchor, laughter carrying across the water, and crews enjoying lunch, swims, and good company.
Thanks were extended to Andrew Collins of NYC for leading their contingent, and Cruising Captain Sinéad Ryan marked the occasion with a presentation of Lambay Single Malt Whiskey to Admiral Collins. Read more and check out the photo gallery here.
Armada to Killiney Bay – 23rd August
A smaller but enjoyable outing saw boats make the trip to Killiney Bay on 23rd August. Another great day on the water for the group to mark the end of the summer Armadas. Read all about it and the story of Pucabán here.
Racing Success – Water Wag Victory
Congratulations to Cruising Group member Betty Hilliard and her crew on Penelope (No. 16) for their outstanding performance in the AIB DBSC Water Wag race on 20th August.
They led from the first weather mark, extended their advantage throughout the race, and crossed the finish line with a commanding lead.
Monday Meetings Resume – Autumn Programme
After a lively and fun-filled summer, the Cruising Group Monday meetings resume on 1st September with Guest Speaker Gráinne Costigan.
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