Displaying items by tag: Sweboat

21st September 2015

New Energy for Irish Marine Trade At Southampton Boat Show

Did Southampton Boat Show 2015 that ended yesterday mark the end of the recession for the Irish Marine trade? That depends on who you talk to but if numbers are any evidence to go by there was plenty more Irish faces among the 110,000 that enjoyed a taste of Britain’s biggest boating festival.

Irish show-goers made good use of the Flybe connections from Dublin and the sprinkling of Irish marine firms among the 500 exhibitors gave a great sense of pre-recessionary times.

Mid–week wet weather may have dragged down attendance numbers but it failed to dampen the mood at this year’s Show.

Trade bodies made good use of the opportunity for a useful 'heads-up' on numerous industry matters too. The Society of Maritime Industries, British Marine and the UK Chamber of Shipping signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to set out the basis for all three to work together.

On an international footing, there was a consensus that better promotional co-operation between member states could increase participation levels in EU boating. The recently rebranded British Marine Federation (now known as 'British Marine') are certainly doing their bit. Murray Ellis, Managing Director, British Marine Boat Shows said: “We have had yet another incredibly successful Southampton Boat Show with more than 10,000 visitors getting out on the water for free. Our attractions have been very popular this year with over 18,000 visits to our tall ship, the Earl of Pembroke, 5,300 rides on the Honda Boat Show Eye and over 27,000 visitors to the Show’s very own Aquarium.

David O'Brien (left) Chairman of the Irish Marine Federation, Howard Pridding, Chief Executive of the British Marine Federation (centre) and Mats Eriksson of Sweboat in Sweden.

Pride of place for Irish stands at Southampton went to the impressive MGM Boats brokerage stand excellently located at the top of the ramp to the show marina. It was an impressive display of boats using the latest digital screens to display boats specs and prices.

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The MGM Brokerage stand - the venue for boat sales as well as the Ireland v Canada Rugby match last Saturday

The stand had over €60m of boat stock on display and the full MGM boats crew headed by Martin and Gerry Salmon were kept busy with 'quality enquiries' for their used sail and power range. The Salmon brothers were joined by John O'Kane, Ross O'Leary, Alan Barton and John McDonald and the company's presence was noted on Sunseeker, Galeon, Aquador, Lagoon, Jeanneau and Prestige stands.

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Martin (left) and Gerry Salmon discuss new boat deals at the Sunseeker stand

The Show saw 23 boats make their world debut and over 330 of the world's leading sailboats and high-performance powerboats on the water.

Alan Corr Greystones harbour

Alan Corr from BJ Marine in Greystones in County Wicklow was on Beneteau's new GT 40 from Beneteau

Strong sales have been reported throughout the duration of the Show, with many companies reporting an increase on last year’s figures including multi-million pound deals. Some serious marine business has been conducted with contracts between the marine divisions of companies such as Rolls-Royce and Sunseeker International being signed.

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Mike Caplan (left), James Kirwan (centre) and Bernard Gallagher from BJ Marine on a new Oceanis 48 (show price £223,038) that will be coming to Dublin next season

'We have been delighted with our two weeks of boat shows in first Cannes and then Southampton. We secured deals for all offices, Greystones, Bangor, Pwllheli and Malta. Clients have been extremely interested in the price point of our new Beneteau GT 40, Fountaine Pajot's Saba 50 catamaran and Sea Ray's European built 355 Sundancer', James Kirwan of BJ Marine told Afloat.ie

Hugh mockler Dufour

Dufour's new 500 Grand Large was exhibited at Southampton by Cork Harbour's Hugh Mockler of Crosshaven Boatyard

Hugh Mockler of Crosshaven Boatyard was on board the Dufour 500 Grand Large. Mockler was imprerssed with the good turnout as well as a number of interested Irish parties in the new line–up. The Dufour 382 Grand Large was also afloat at the show. Crosshaven Boatyard was tweeting from the show about a new concept boat called the with a lifting keel designed for sailing schools. The brand new Dufour Drakkar 24 (below) is designed by Umberto Felci and it was unveiled at the French Grand Pavois, Boat Show in La Rochelle next week.

Drakkar dufour

Debbie Weldon and Dick Fanning from Howth were onboard both of X Yachts Xc 38 and Xc 45 models. Fanning says yhe Xc 38 is the model that offers superb performance in an easily handled package and is ideal for doublehanded sailing. This model was the second yacht in the Xcruising range to be named European Yacht of the Year in the Luxury Cruiser category, on its launch.

Ronan Beirne of Leinster Boats of Dun Laoghaire said his Euro priced boat brokerage list was well received at the show. Several new enquiries were logged for vessel inspections in the coming weeks.

Bobby Nash of Kinsale was exhibiting his range of 3D Nautical charts displaying a selection from the British Isles, the Mediterranean and the Pacific. County Antrim based Red Bay Boats were also displaying their acclaimed range of Ribs. Both Gary Fyffe and Tom McLaughlin from the Cushendall firm were in attendance at the show.

debbie weldon x yachts

Howth's Debbie Weldon (above) on the Danish built Xc38 and Dick Fanning (below) on the Xc45 from X–Yachts

dick fanning x-yachts

A number of key Irish ports and marinas were also promoting their wares. Aoife McHale was on hand at the Visit Derry stand continuing the promotion of Northern Ireland's maritime assets on Lough Foyle. McHale explained the city is also gearing up to welcoming the return of the Clipper Round the world race next year to the Malin coast.

Irish Sea interests were promoted by British Marine Wales where Ireland is seen as a key market.

welsh group southamptonlo

David Reed of Visit Wales, Gerry Salmon of MGM Boats, Alan Morgan of British Marine Wales, David O'Brien of the Irish Marine Federation and David Pougher of British Marine Wales

Published in Marine Trade

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National Yacht Club Facilities

Facilities include a slipway directly accessing Dun Laoghaire Harbour, over eighty club moorings, platform parking, pontoons, fuelling, watering and crane-lifting ensure that the NYC is excellently equipped to cater for all the needs of the contemporary sailor. Berths with diesel, water, power and overnight facilities are available to cruising yachtsmen with shopping facilities being a short walk away. The club is active throughout the year with full dining and bar facilities and winter activities include bridge, snooker, quiz nights, wine tasting and special events.

National Yacht Club History

Although there are references to an active “club” prior to 1870, history records that the present clubhouse was erected in 1870 at a cost of £4,000 to a design by William Sterling and the Kingstown Royal Harbour Boat Club was registered with Lloyds in the same year. By 1872 the name had been changed to the Kingston Harbour Boat Club and this change was registered at Lloyds.

In 1881. the premises were purchased by a Captain Peacocke and others who formed a proprietary club called the Kingstown Harbour Yacht Club again registered at Lloyds. Some six years later in 1877 the building again changed hands being bought by a Mr Charles Barrington. and between 1877 and 1901 the club was very active and operated for a while as the “Absolute Club” although this change of name was never registered.

In 1901, the lease was purchased by three trustees who registered it as the Edward Yacht Club. In 1930 at a time when the Edward Yacht Club was relatively inactive, a committee including The Earl of Granard approached the trustees with a proposition to form the National Yacht Club. The Earl of Granard had been Commodore of the North Shannon Y.C. and was a senator in the W.T.Cosgrave government. An agreement was reached, the National Yacht Club was registered at Lloyds. The club burgee was created, red cross of Saint George with blue and white quarters being sky cloud, sea and surf. The Earl of Granard became the first Commodore.

In July of 1950, a warrant was issued to the National Yacht Club by the Government under the Merchant Shipping Act authorising members to hoist a club ensign in lieu of the National Flag. The new ensign to include a representation of the harp. This privilege is unique and specific to members of the National Yacht Club. Sterling’s design for the exterior of the club was a hybrid French Chateau and eighteenth century Garden Pavilion and today as a Class A restricted building it continues to provide elegant dining and bar facilities.

An early drawing of the building shows viewing balconies on the roof and the waterfront façade. Subsequent additions of platforms and a new slip to the seaward side and most recently the construction of new changing rooms, offices and boathouse provide state of the art facilities, capable of coping with major international and world championship events. The club provides a wide range of sailing facilities, from Junior training to family cruising, dinghy sailing to offshore racing and caters for most major classes of dinghies, one design keelboats, sports boats and cruiser racers. It provides training facilities within the ISA Youth Sailing Scheme and National Power Boat Schemes.

Past Commodores

1931 – 42 Earl of Granard 1942 – 45 T.J. Hamilton 1945 – 47 P.M. Purcell 1947 – 50 J.J. O’Leary 1950 – 55 A.A. Murphy 1955 – 60 J.J. O’Leary 1960 – 64 F. Lemass 1964 – 69 J.C. McConnell 1969 – 72 P.J. Johnston 1972 – 74 L. Boyd 1974 – 76 F.C. Winkelmann 1976 – 79 P.A. Browne 1979 – 83 W.A. Maguire 1983 – 87 F.J. Cooney 1987 – 88 J.J. Byrne 1988 – 91 M.F. Muldoon 1991 – 94 B.D. Barry 1994 – 97 M.P.B. Horgan 1997 – 00 B. MacNeaney 2000 – 02 I.E. Kiernan 2002 – 05 C.N.I. Moore 2005 – 08 C.J. Murphy 2008 – 11 P.D. Ryan 2011 – P. Barrington 2011-2014 Larry Power 2014-2017 Ronan Beirne 2017 – 2019

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