Following a series of wonderful armadas around Dublin Bay and beyond over the summer months, Admiral Gerry O'Neill and Aideen Sargent led our final planned sail of the year — the Final Fling Armada to Loughshinney. Some boats anchored, others moored up, and a lovely day was had by all who participated. It was a perfect way to wrap up the 2025 cruising season. A heartfelt thank you to both Gerry and Aideen from all our members.
As we move into autumn and towards the festive season, planning is underway for our winter activities. Many of our members are now getting boats onto the hard, preparing for maintenance, upgrades, and winter weather — and getting ready for another exciting season next year.
Several members are also turning their attention to training and coursework with David Jerrard of Seacraft, who is running a number of excellent courses over the winter months at HYC, including ICC, VHF Radio, Day Skipper, and Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore. These highly recommended courses run on Monday and Tuesday evenings and are a great way to upskill for next season.
Find out more about Seacraft courses here.
Upcoming Talks & Events
We’re delighted to announce a great line-up of guest speakers for our monthly meetings, and all HYC members are warmly invited. Come along for refreshments, good company, and plenty of sailing inspiration on these dark evenings — meetings start at 7pm.
November 3rd – Michael Harpur of eOceanic
Michael has developed eOceanic, a superb resource transforming Ireland’s coastline and the UK’s south coast into detailed “Free Roaming Coastlines.” Based in County Wexford, Michael and his family have mapped over 25 meticulously detailed havens, complete with routes, tidal information, and practical cruising guidance. It’s a treasure trove of information to make boating easier, safer, and more enjoyable.
December 1st – Mark Sweetman on Cruising Norway
Mark will share his experiences and insights on exploring the spectacular Norwegian coast, offering useful information and practical tips for anyone considering cruising in northern waters.
January 6th – John Leahy (CAI)
John will discuss his new book, highlighting key lessons and advice to support our Cruising Group members in their future sailing adventures.
Annual Awards Dinner – December 6th
Our Annual Awards Dinner takes place on December 6th, and the Cruising Group Committee (our wonderful volunteers!) are already busy planning what promises to be a fantastic and celebratory evening.Members will soon receive details about submitting nominations for our Cruising Group Awards, including Best Log and Photo of the Year. It’s always inspiring to see the amazing photos and videos shared in our WhatsApp group — capturing everything from our cruising adventures to our involvement in wider HYC initiatives such as Women at the Helm.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As we wrap up the year, we’d love to hear from our members. Your feedback helps shape our plans for 2026, and we’ll be sharing a short survey in the coming weeks ahead of our End of Year Wrap on December 1st. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts and ideas — your voice really matters in shaping what comes next for our Cruising Group.
