News

Keep up to date on all the news about Volvo Dún Laoghaire Regatta – Ireland’s biggest and most popular sailing event!

Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2023 Is In Full Grip Of Northern Jetstream

Saturday 8th July 2023 07:25 UTC

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…

Potential Winners Emerging after Day Two

Friday 7th July 2023 22:38 UTC

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…

McCarthy and Green Lead after Day of Drama on the Water for Flying Fifteens

Friday 7th July 2023 22:18 UTC

“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…

O’Leary’s Antix Takes the Lead in the Cape 31 Nationals

Friday 7th July 2023 20:53 UTC

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,…

Jerry Dowling’s Bád/Kilcullen Leads the SB20s

Friday 7th July 2023 19:32 UTC

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

Friday 7th July 2023 18:48 UTC

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…

Johnston’s Prospect Tops Beneteau 31.7 Fleet

Friday 7th July 2023 18:27 UTC

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…

Gran Senor Tops Offshore Fleet in Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta’s First Race

Friday 7th July 2023 17:54 UTC

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…

Bird’s Eye View Film of Action Packed Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta

Friday 7th July 2023 17:38 UTC

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…

embed live stream

Friday 7th July 2023 16:52 UTC

Royal St. George Phantom Leads Dragons

Friday 7th July 2023 16:07 UTC

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…

Royal Irish’s Rockabill VI is Rocking It In Class 0 of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta

Friday 7th July 2023 15:59 UTC

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…

Champions Slug It Out In IRC 1 as Final Call II Takes The Lead

Friday 7th July 2023 15:40 UTC

Mike & Richie Evans’s well-starred J/99 Snapshot (Howth YC) got the best of it in today’s first race ahead of John Maybury’s frequently-winning J/109 Joker (RIYC), with northern star Final…

Royal Cork Half Tonner Swuzzlebubble Finds Mojo in IRC Two

Friday 7th July 2023 15:08 UTC

The tough first race of IRC Two at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta saw the rugged veteran X-302 Dux (Gore-Grimes family, HYC) loving it, but as things settled down a bit,…

VDLR 2023 Sponsors Lunch

Friday 7th July 2023 14:38 UTC

The sponsors and supporting companies are a vital part of making an event like Dún Laoghaire Regatta happen, and it was a pleasure to welcome some of them to the…

Beneteau 211 is Dismasted in Windy First Race

Thursday 6th July 2023 19:31 UTC

Joe Smyth’s Yikes from the Royal Irish Yacht Club won the breezy first race of the Beneteau 211 class of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta on Dublin Bay, but the…

RStGYC’s Owens and Morris Prepare to Defend Leinster GP14 Title at VDLR

Thursday 6th July 2023 19:10 UTC

With the 2023 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta starting for dinghies this Friday, the GP14 Ireland fleet will use the event as their 2023 Leinster Championships. This is not the first…

Dublin Port, DLRCoCo and Yacht Club Organisers Work Together for Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Success on the Water

Thursday 6th July 2023 18:49 UTC

Dublin Port Harbour Master Capt. Michael McKenna, Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Events Director Paddy Boyd and Dun Laoghaire Harbour Master Capt. Harry Duggan were at the opening of the Volvo…

NYC’s Galvin and Bradley Win First Flying Fifteen Race

Thursday 6th July 2023 17:21 UTC

The National Yacht Club’s Tom Galvin and Cormac Bradley were the winners of Thursday’s first Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta race in the Flying Fifteen class. As southerly winds topped 30…

Five Courses Cancel Racing on Blustery Opening Day

Thursday 6th July 2023 17:04 UTC

The first day of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta saw the cancellation of nearly all racing due to strong winds. Five of the six courses at Ireland’s largest sailing event were cancelled…

Amendments to the SIs 2023 – No 1 to 6

Wednesday 5th July 2023 22:48 UTC

The Sailing Instructions (SI’s) of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2023 are changed as follows: – Change No.1 – Addendum Collen Racing Area. Class Flags on Saturday 8th July are:…

Fireball Dinghies Line Out for VDLR

Wednesday 5th July 2023 19:04 UTC

Sixteen Fireball dinghies are lined up to compete in the Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta this long weekend. The relatively large Fireball entry has taken even the class committee by surprise. It is clear now…

Closure of South Burford Traffic Separation Scheme

Wednesday 5th July 2023 17:26 UTC

To ensure the safety of all concerned and to facilitate the management of such a large sailing event, the South Burford Traffic Separation Scheme will be closed to all commercial…

Top Crews Arrive for IRC One Battle at VDLR

Wednesday 5th July 2023 14:49 UTC

Within 24 hours of the first races of Ireland’s biggest sailing event at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, Division One IRC gets hotter with the unconfirmed report that a Hong Kong…

NYC’s Gorman and Doorly are Flying15 Front Runners at VDLR

Wednesday 5th July 2023 11:45 UTC

The National Yacht Club takes the lion’s share of representation, understandably as this is where the bulk of the DL fleet is situated, but four boats (from seven) hail from…

British Olympic Ace Andy Beadsworth Joins the Swuzzlebubble Crew for VDLR

Wednesday 5th July 2023 09:11 UTC

Double British Olympic keelboat sailor Andy Beadsworth is on board Dave Dwyer’s Royal Cork Half Tonner Swuzzlebubble for an IRC Two contest in this week’s Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, where…

Change to the VDLR 2023 NOR – No 3

Tuesday 4th July 2023 19:23 UTC

The Notice of Race (NOR) of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2023 is changed with a small addition to 3.5.2 & 3.5.3

Griffin is a Favourite for ILCA 6 Honours at VDLR

Tuesday 4th July 2023 15:57 UTC

While Darren Griffin (MYC/RStG) must be a favourite on paper for the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta ILCA 6 dinghy title as he was top three at the ILCA 6 Master…

Southworth’s Quarter Tonner ‘Protis’ is the Star of the Show in IRC 3

Tuesday 4th July 2023 12:27 UTC

It turns out that next week’s Quarter Ton World Championships in Cork Harbour may well have a bearing on the overall results of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta’s IRC Three division. The reason is…

RIYC’s ‘Rockabill VI’ Eyes IRC Zero Prize at VDLR

Tuesday 4th July 2023 11:10 UTC

It may look like only half the size of the other IRC classes at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, but an 11-boat IRC Zero fleet is every bit as competitive as…

Visiting Cape 31s Tokoloshe and Shotgunn Arrive for VDLR

Tuesday 4th July 2023 09:12 UTC

The much-anticipated arrival of two of the world’s top Cape 31s for Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta on Dublin Bay this Thursday is underway.

Message from our Title Sponsor

Monday 3rd July 2023 21:19 UTC

As the proud sponsor of this incredible event, we wanted to take a moment to send our best wishes and good luck to each participant of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta.

RIYC Hosts Six Cape 31s Racing for National Honours at VDLR

Monday 3rd July 2023 15:38 UTC

Anthony O’Leary’s Antix will seek to defend his Cape 31 national title when the championship is run in conjunction with the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta this week on Dublin Bay. Racing will run from Thursday to Sunday,…

Met Éireann Forecasting Southerly Winds For VDLR

Monday 3rd July 2023 15:15 UTC

Met Éireann is forecasting southerly to south-easterly winds for Dublin Bay during the Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta this week. However, it cautions that the forecast is “more uncertain than usual for later this week,…

Can an A35 or J99 Dislodge Dominant J109s in Class One?

Monday 3rd July 2023 09:37 UTC

With the top three boats from 2019 all competing again, the outcome of this contest depends mainly on what conditions will prevail. Six days out, it looks like the Bay…

Will Half Tonners Steal the Show in IRC Class 2?

Monday 3rd July 2023 09:12 UTC

Overall, this 20-boat class has a wide range of cruisers studded with a few stand-out racers who can run away with the prize if they come prepared with a decent…

RIYC’s Rockabill VI is Lyver Trophy Race Winner

Sunday 2nd July 2023 14:36 UTC

Royal Irish Yacht Club’s Paul O’Higgins sailing Rockabill VI won Saturday’s 12-hour Lyver Trophy Race from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire. The line honours winner in the tough test across the…

Event Director Paddy Boyd On a Harbour Transformed (Podcast)

Sunday 2nd July 2023 12:59 UTC

Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2023 event director Paddy Boyd spoke to Wavelengths about the week ahead, starting with Coastival opening on July 1st.

Checkmate XX is a Coastal Division Favourite at VDLR

Sunday 2nd July 2023 09:11 UTC

Two Irish hopes in this month’s prestigious Rolex Fastnet Race from Cowes will compete first this week in a 20-boat Coastal Class at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta (VDLR). Pundits say the pre-event favourite must…

VDLR To Bring Sailors And Townsfolk Together

Saturday 1st July 2023 11:24 UTC

A week of maritime-related festivity is underway today (Saturday) as Coastival gets going in Dun Laoghaire, with the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta from next Thursday through to Sunday contributing mightily…

Dún Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club Social Programme

Friday 30th June 2023 16:07 UTC

Dún Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club is laying on a special social programme for the Volvo Dún Laoghaire Regatta – All the crew are Invited!

VDLR Fleet Stands at 371 Boats: Here’s The Last Call for Entries

Thursday 29th June 2023 12:27 UTC

At 371 boats and still counting, next week’s Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta (VDLR) 2023 is certainly living up to its pre-event billing as Ireland’s largest sailing event. With visiting entries already sailing…

Royal St George Social Programme

Thursday 29th June 2023 08:49 UTC

From the front door to the Quarter Deck will be alive over the four day Volvo Regatta, with something for everyone from Boardwalk breakfast to late night DJs. See you…

RORC Lyver Race Starts Royal Dee Offshore Championship Series

Wednesday 28th June 2023 19:42 UTC

Saturday’s Lyver Trophy Race Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire Offshore Race marks the arrival of competitors from across the Irish Sea for next week’s big one, the 350-boat Volvo Dun Laoghaire…

Sailing Instructions are Published for Next Week’s Biggest Irish Sailing Event

Wednesday 28th June 2023 07:19 UTC

Over 350 boats will prepare to race across 40 divisions in one week’s time as Ireland’s largest regatta on Dublin Bay gets underway.

National Yacht Club Social Programme

Monday 26th June 2023 14:16 UTC

The National YC are delighted to publish the entertainment programme for the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2023. With 450 entries in total, there will be plenty of action on the…

Skippers’ Update

Monday 26th June 2023 09:02 UTC

Just 10 days to go to the first gun of the 2023 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta. We look forward to welcoming over 350 boats in 40 divisions to what will…

RIYC Social Programme

Friday 23rd June 2023 13:48 UTC

The Royal Irish Yacht Club is laying on a busy social programme for the Volvo Dún Laoghaire Regatta – All the crew are Invited!

Dun Laoghaire Harbour Prepares for Classic Parade of Sail

Tuesday 20th June 2023 12:43 UTC

In July, a new classic boat/yacht parade is planned for Dun Laoghaire Harbour. This event is being arranged in association with Dun Laoghaire’s Coastival Festival, a week-long series of events…

Dún Laoghaire Launches Programme for Inaugural ‘Coastival’ Maritime Festival

Wednesday 14th June 2023 12:25 UTC

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has launched a digital event brochure for its inaugural Coastival Festival that coincides with Ireland’s largest sailing regatta, the VDLR, from July 6th. The flipbook…

Coastival Event Programme

Monday 12th June 2023 18:25 UTC

Our partners in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council have created a fantastic interactive guide and events programme for Coastival, which they will keep updated over the coming weeks as more…

Cape 31s Confirm Irish Nationals for July’s Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta

Tuesday 23rd May 2023 15:18 UTC

Following a successful outing for Irish Cape 31 interests at the Vice Admiral’s Cup on the Solent last weekend, there is confirmation this week that the 2023 Irish National Championships…

Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Continually Changes To Stay The Same

Saturday 20th May 2023 10:09 UTC

There’s a remarkable inherited experience of staging regattas in Dun Laoghaire, reinforced by the shared skill in running races of appropriate type and length, which comes through from the unrivalled…

Tributes Paid to Retiring Volvo Regatta Organiser Ciara Dowling

Saturday 20th May 2023 09:15 UTC

Tributes have been paid to outgoing Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta administrator Ciara Dowling, who has retired after 16 years.  Regatta Chairman Don O’Dowd made a special presentation at last Wednesday’s launch.

Cathaoirleach Launches Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2023

Friday 19th May 2023 08:10 UTC

Sailors, sponsors and volunteers launched Volvo Dún Laoghaire Regatta 2023 in fine style at the National Maritime Museum of Ireland on Wednesday night. This ninth edition of the regatta event promises to…

Almost 300 Yachts Already Entered as VDLR 2023 Launches

Tuesday 16th May 2023 07:58 UTC

Volvo Ambassadors Amy Huberman, Author and Actress, and Dermot Bannon, Architect, were ‘onboard’ to help launch the ninth Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, Ireland’s largest regatta.

A Rising Tide for The Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta

Tuesday 16th May 2023 07:49 UTC

Volvo Ambassadors Amy Huberman, Author and Actress, and Dermot Bannon, Architect were ‘onboard’ today to help launch the 9th Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta

VDLR now one of Northern Europe’s Greatest Shows on Water

Monday 15th May 2023 22:22 UTC

Volvo Ambassadors Amy Huberman, Author and Actress, and Dermot Bannon, Architect were ‘onboard’ today to help launch the 9th Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta

Will Cape 31s Race for National Honours at VDLR? 

Wednesday 10th May 2023 09:44 UTC

It’s all go for the brand new Cape 31 class with the word on the street that Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta could now play host to the Irish National Championships this…

Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Features in Scotland’s RC35 Cruiser Racer Class Calendar

Friday 28th April 2023 09:19 UTC

Scotland’s RC35 cruiser-racer class has published its 2023 calendar for its 2023 RC35 Series and 2023 Celtic Cup, and Ireland’s Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta features in both.

VDLR Opt for Sportity Infoboard App

Thursday 27th April 2023 12:41 UTC

With news that Ireland’s largest regatta is closing in on a 300-boat entry with two and a half months yet to go to the first gun, Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta organisers say…

14 J109s are Force to be Reckoned With as Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta IRC One Fleet Hots Up

Thursday 27th April 2023 07:18 UTC

With 25 entries already in two months before the first gun (compared to 26 racing in 2019), Class One IRC Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta (VDLR) looks like it’s going to…

Second Canting Keeler to Contest Key Irish Offshore and Coastal Fixtures This Summer

Friday 7th April 2023 09:17 UTC

A second canting keel 50-footer is set to contest June’s Volvo Dun Laoghaire to Dingle offshore yacht race. Afloat sources say the Elliott 57 has been purchased by an as-of-yet-unnamed…

With 240 Entries Already in, VDLR Extends Early Bird Deadline to April 16th

Wednesday 5th April 2023 11:05 UTC

240 entries have been received for this year’s Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta as of March 31st 2023, and organisers are reported ‘pleased’ with the take up to date both across…

Early Bird EXTENDED – Win a €500 Volvo Collection Voucher

Wednesday 5th April 2023 08:42 UTC

We are DELIGHTED to extend the early bird closing date to midnight Sunday April 16th. All entries received by this time will be entered in to a draw with the…

RS21s Available for Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Charter

Sunday 2nd April 2023 09:12 UTC

The 2023 RS21 Cup season will see events in Scotland, Ireland and England as teams compete in a three-regatta venue, including Dun Laoghaire Harbour in July. To ensure sailors, new…

New J112 is Part of Strong Class Zero Forming for July

Sunday 26th March 2023 07:48 UTC

Seven of the nine entries so far in the big boat class at July’s Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta (VDLR) are visitors, but a brand new J112e from the home port…

Dubarry Holdall and Backpack Up for Grabs in Latest Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta ‘Early Bird’ Draw

Thursday 23rd March 2023 10:10 UTC

With less than a week to go until the reduced early bird entry fee for July’s Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta expires, you could be in with a chance to win…

VDLR Early Bird Entry Raffle Prize at Ireland’s Largest Regatta

Monday 13th March 2023 10:46 UTC

The early bird entry discount for Ireland’s largest regatta at Dun Laoghaire closes on March 31st, and Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta organisers will raffle off a great high-capacity Duffel Bag…

Helly Hansen draw for Early Entry

Friday 10th March 2023 17:25 UTC

Clothing and apparel partner Helly Hansen have given us this great high-capacity Duffel Bag to be raffled between all paid-up entries who we receive before midnight Sunday March 19th.

ICRA Hears of Robotic Buoys as VDLR Seeks 400-Boats

Saturday 4th March 2023 13:42 UTC

New VDLR Event Director Paddy Boyd has been in charge of some new developments for 2023 and told ICRA that there would be 36 competing VDLR classes ranging from small…

Dragons and Sigma 33s Lead the Early Bird One Design Entries at VDLR 2023

Wednesday 1st March 2023 10:32 UTC

Of the 30 different one-design classes registered for Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, the Dragon and Sigma 33 classes currently lead the entries for Ireland’s largest regatta in 2023.

Courtown Quarter Tonner Champion ‘Snoopy’ Enters VDLR

Wednesday 1st March 2023 10:30 UTC

Martin Mahon’s Wexford campaign boat (with Royal Ulster connections) became the ICRA Divison 3 National Champion at the first attempt last September after a superbly sailed series on Dublin Bay in 2021.

Cape 31s Prepare for ‘Awesome’ VDLR 2023

Wednesday 1st March 2023 10:28 UTC

According to class social media, the class is gearing up for an ‘awesome’ Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta to be followed by the Irish National Championships on the Irish capital’s waters. 

First Northern Ireland Boats Enter July’s Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta

Wednesday 11th January 2023 11:41 UTC

The first Northern Ireland boats to enter the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta in July are Stuart Cranston’s Ker 32 from Strangford Lough Yacht Club and John Minnis’s Final Call II,…

Welsh Champion J109 is one of the First Entries VDLR2023

Friday 6th January 2023 11:04 UTC

North Wales ISORA champion Mojito is one of the first entries into July’s Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta.

‘Information Evening’ Called for VDLR Classes

Monday 2nd January 2023 08:35 UTC

After opening its online entry system, Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2023 organisers have called competing classes to an information evening at the Royal Irish Yacht Club next week.

Coastival – 1 to 9 July 2023

Sunday 1st January 2023 15:14 UTC

A new week-long festival celebrating Dún Laoghaire’s Maritime heritage which will be organised by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

VDLR Sponsors are Confirmed and Notice of Race is Published

Tuesday 20th December 2022 07:58 UTC

Volvo Car Ireland will continue as sponsors of next July’s Dun Laoghaire Regatta, and the Notice of Race (NOR) has now been published.

What Will 2023 Bring for Sailing In Ireland?

Saturday 26th November 2022 06:43 UTC

Did we really manage it? Did we really cram all those major special and routine regular sailing events into the one season of 2022? Yes, it was the Bounce-back Summer…

Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2023 is Part of RS Elite Open Tour

Monday 7th November 2022 11:48 UTC

Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta has proved popular with RS Elite, particularly since the UK National Championship was held there in 2019. The regatta organisers have confirmed that they will provide…

New Event Director Appointed for 2023

Wednesday 17th August 2022 18:30 UTC

Ireland’s biggest sailing regatta has appointed a new Event Director for its next edition. Highly regarded international sailor and administrator Paddy Boyd has taken over the running of the 2023…

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