Dun Laoghaire Marina, Ireland's largest marina and the 'gateway to Dublin city', welcomed two impressive Sunseeker motor cruisers at the weekend.
Firstly, a Manhattan 56 model that was in transit on the Irish Sea stopped for fuel, one of the few places boats of this size can fuel–up. A second 75–foot yacht is in port to avail of the services of the local Sunseeker dealer, MGM Boats.
The arrivals are the first of the summer's big visitors. At the end of the month a 115–foot Swan will also visit the 800–berth Dun Laoghaire Marina.
Unfortunately, Dun Laoghaire Harbour missed out on a weekend call from Superyacht Lady M, that was on a tour of the Irish Sea and the Western Isles of Scotland.
At 65 metres in length and 9.5 metres wide Lady M is far too heavy for the town marina facility but could be accommodated elsewhere in Dun Laoghaire harbour if there was a plan to attract such vessels. The yacht instead visited Whitehaven Marina in Cumbria and Belfast.
Lady M super yacht at Whitehaven in Cumbria. At 65 metres and 9.5 metres wide Lady M is far too long to fit through the sealock in Whitehaven under normal conditions so the marina staff lowered the sea level in the marina to allow both sets of gates to be opened and let the vessel through on free flow. The sealock is 30 metres long and 13 metres wide; with only a couple of metres leeway the captain expertly manoeuvred through the lock before swinging round to the berth on Sugar Tongue. The owner and his family enjoyed a fantastic day out exploring the Lake District.
