Press Coverage
Every year the Volvo Dún Laoghaire Regatta generates great interest in both the traditional broadcast and print media as well as the newer online publications and on social media.
100 and Counting: #VDLR2025 Sees Strong Early Entries
Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2025 are celebrating early entries for July’s regatta with a diverse fleet ready to compete in the expected 400-boat turnout on Dublin Bay
New Introductory Class at #VDLR2025
Boats that do not usually race from Dun Laoghaire, Howth, Greystones, Malahide, Poolbeg and Bray are the focus of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta’s (VDLR) new ‘introductory class’ this July.
Dublin Bay To Stage Biggest Irish Classics Regatta Of 2025
A third of the classes lined up for the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2025 from 10th to 13th July would qualify as wooden-built Classics, even if a couple of them have seen some owners going over to the Dark Side by taking up a glass-fibre construction option!
ICRA Conference to get Updates on Key Irish Dates for 2025
ICRA Commodore Denis Byrne will introduce delegates from the ISORA series, Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, Calves Week, the Volvo D2D race, the Sovereigns Cup, which will incorporate the ICRA National Championships, and WIORA week. All will attend the East Pier pow-wow at the National Yacht Club this Saturday morning (February 15th) from 10:30 am.
Irish Sea Nations Cup 2025 – Notice of Race Here!
Scheduled for May and July, the Nations Cup will coincide with several major regattas: the IRC Welsh Championships in Pwllheli, and the Scottish Series in Tarbert, before the spotlight shifts to the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta from 10th to 13th July, and concluding with the IRC Northern Ireland Championships in Bangor.
Details Revealed for the 2025 Irish Sea Nation’s Cup
Organisers have formally announced details of the 2025 combined regatta initiative for teams from Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, England and Ireland. Following an inaugural meeting last December, four 2025 regattas in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland and Wales have combined.
Irish Flying Fifteens Prepare for East Coast Championships at #VDLR2025
Already, four Flying Fifteens are signed up for Dun Laoghaire with a fleet of 20 plus ultimately expected, making it one of the biggest one-design fleets at Ireland’s biggest sailing event from July 9-13.
Cruiser 2B Class Leads #VDLR2025 Non-Spinnaker Entries
The non-spinnaker Cruiser 2B class leads the entry count in the four non-spinnaker classes for July’s Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta. Three local boats plus a Beneteau Oceanis 37 from Arklow Sailing Club comprise the four-boat fleet to date, including Colin O’Brien’s Spirit, a Jeanneau 39DS and Paul Conway’s Contessa 32, Cevantes, both from the Royal St George Yacht Club.
Xaviera Wins Early Entry Incentive at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta
Xaviera, an X4 owned by Jonathan Anderson, was the name drawn from the hat in January to win back her entry fee in this year’s Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta’s early entry incentive.
Entered in the coastal class, Xaviera sails under the burgees of the Clyde Cruising Club and the Royal Irish Yacht Club.
As Afloat readers will recall, Xaviera was on form in Belfast Lough at Bangor Regatta in 2024 but she makes her Dun Laoghaire Regatta debut on Dublin Bay this July.
Prospect of Jamie McWilliam Entering Danish BB10 Keelboat
The overseas prospect of ace helmsman Jamie McWilliam of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club would add extra spice to the Cruisers One division of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta next July. McWilliam is considering entering Ireland’s biggest sailing regatta in his recently acquired BB10 one-design keelboat, Pelikanen.
#VDLR2025 Attracts Top Contenders Before Year-End Entry Deadline
The potential to have a “free” entry into the 2025 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta has attracted some serious contenders before the closing date of December 31st. The opportunity to win back the entry fee ends at midnight on New Year’s Eve, and the draw results will be announced shortly afterwards, according to organisers.
IRC European Champion J109 ‘Outrajeous’ Enters #VDLR2025
IRC European Championship winner Johnny and Suzie Murphy’s J109 Outrajeous from Howth Yacht Club is one of the first entries into what is expected to be the hotly contested Class Zero (B) of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta.
Excitement Builds for #VDLR2025 with New Features and Early Bird Draw
The countdown is on for the 2025 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, which will take place from July 10 to 13. Entries are now open. Next year’s event promises to be more exciting than ever, featuring several innovative updates to enhance the experience for participants and spectators alike.
Scottish and Welsh Big Boats Among First Entries for Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2025
Although the first race of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta (VDLR) is still seven months away, six entries have already been submitted for Ireland’s largest regatta in 2025. July’s grand prix is expected to attract an estimated fleet of 350 to 400 boats, including some of the fastest yachts across Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England.
First ‘Irish Sea Nations Cup’ Set for 2025
A 2025 Nations Cup competition between six teams bordering the Irish Sea is just one of the positive outcomes of Wednesday’s (December 2nd) high-level inaugural meeting of Irish Sea Regatta organisers at Dun Laoghaire Harbour.
Inaugural Melges 15 Championships to be Staged During VDLR2025
The inaugural Melges 15 European Championships will take place in Dún Laoghaire on Dublin Bay from July 10-13, 2025, as a highlight of the Volvo Dún Laoghaire Regatta, Ireland’s largest sailing event.
Volvo Returns as Title Sponsor for 2025
Ireland’s largest regatta will take place from Thursday, July 10th, to Sunday, July 13th, 2025. Volvo Car Ireland has been the title sponsor of Ireland’s largest sailing event since 2007 and is again joined by Spirit Motor Group, Volvo dealership.
Phil Smith RIP
A former Commodore of Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club and member of the Royal Irish Yacht Club, Phil’s contribution to Dublin Bay sailing was immense over a long number of years through his roles in the Dun Laoghaire Combined Clubs (DLCC) organisation and his successful chairing of Ireland’s biggest sailing event, the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, in 2009, when the combined fleet tipped 500 boats.
Volunteers Needed for Ireland’s Largest Sailing Event
The VDLR is calling for expressions of interest from volunteers, both within and outside the sailing community, to contribute to Race Management, Safety, Communications, Accommodation, On-Water logistics, Shore logistics, Branding fulfilment, Volunteer management, Prizes and Prizegiving, Results, and Entertainment.
Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2023 Is In Full Grip Of Northern Jetstream
Some decidedly rugged racing yesterday (Friday), though with rapidly improving conditions, managed brilliantly to pull the wind-battered VDLR2023 back into line. But there’s no doubting the fact that it is all being achieved with weather that is a little bit too interesting for many folk.
Potential Winners Emerging after Day Two
Winds gusting up 20 knots put Ireland’s biggest sailing event back on schedule at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta on Friday, with Dublin Bayu dishing up a full programme of testing racing for nearly 400 competing boats.
McCarthy and Green Lead after Day of Drama on the Water for Flying Fifteens
“Rewarded” is used judiciously as the fleet gathered in the National Yacht Club to initiate the recovery process! Nobody offered to “get the party going”, such was the physical challenge on the water. As one very experienced Fifteener said, that was like a day at a World Championship, and I should know!
O’Leary’s Antix Takes the Lead in the Cape 31 Nationals
The O’Leary Antix crew defending their Irish crown in style after the first day of racing in tough Dublin Bay conditions at the Cape 31 Irish Nationals at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta. Antix, who were the UK’s top Corinthian Cape 31 crew at Royal Lymington in June, are counting a 2,2,1 to be on five points and three points clear of Howth’s Dan O’Grady sailing Aja.
Jerry Dowling’s Bád/Kilcullen Leads the SB20s
Royal Irish Yacht Club Commodore Jerry Dowling leads the SB20 fleet at the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta with three straight wins scored in blustery conditions on Friday.
Craig’s Puffin Leads Water Wag Fleet
Royal St. George’s Sean and Heather King sailing Puffin have three wins from three races in the Water Wag class of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta. Racing inside Dun Laoghaire Harbour, the husband and wife duo are six points clear of Guy and Jackie Gilroy in Swift in the 13-boat fleet.
Johnston’s Prospect Tops Beneteau 31.7 Fleet
Sailing on the North Course, the national champion commanded the nine-boat fleet from the off in the strong wind conditions. His only slip from a perfect scoreline was in this afternoon’s third race when clubmate Michael Bryson took the gun and moved into third overall. Johnston’s arch-rival Levante (Power/Leahy) is four points off the lead in second place.
Gran Senor Tops Offshore Fleet in Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta’s First Race
Scotland’s leading offshore skipper Jonathan Anderson seems to have gone native in Dun Laoghaire, as he registers himself and his J/122 El Gran Senor as racing for the Royal Irish YC in the crack Offshore Class of the 2023 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta with 25 top-level boats battling for the honours.
Bird’s Eye View Film of Action Packed Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta
Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta organisers released a bird’s eye view film of an action-packed day two of sailing on Dublin Bay. Ireland’s largest yacht racing event was captured by drone by Dun Laoghaire sailor Mark Nolan of Lotus Media when southerly breezes topped 20 knots.
Royal St. George Phantom Leads Dragons
The local crew of Hegarty with David, Hillary and Emma Williams scored 2,1,1 in the three races on the Salthill course to lead the national champions Cameron Good, Henry Kingston and Simon Furney sailing Little Fella from Kinsale overall by four points.
Royal Irish’s Rockabill VI is Rocking It In Class 0 of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta
You’ll sometimes hear complaints that the impressive JPK range from France are marginally under-canvassed boats, but what’s not to like about that when racing on Friday’s slowly easing rough and tumble?