Up to 100 boats are expected to gather in ports around southern Ireland for a cruise in company to explore the Emerald Isle. The Gathering Cruise starts at Dun Laoghaire on 17 July and port-hops to Dingle in the south west arriving on 1 August.

The highlight of the cruise is a 600-strong party in Kinsale, ‘gourmet capital’ of Ireland on 24 July 2013.

The flotilla departs from Dublin Bay from 18 July and travels south, being joined by visiting boats and by Irish boats from various marinas and clubs located along the coast before meeting again in Kinsale on 24 July.

After Kinsale, yachtsmen will then have an opportunity to explore the coastline of West Cork and Kerry for a week of unscheduled cruising. Gathering Cruise ‘ambassadors’ will be on standby to welcome boats as they arrive.

After the cruise there will be a ‘scattering’ where all boats will have the option to continue in a northerly direction in the company of other cruise participants

The rally is part of Gathering Ireland, a national tourism initiative to welcome friends and family from all over the world to Ireland during 2013.
The Gathering Cruise is organized by the ISA (Irish Sailing Association) and the IMOA (Irish Marina Operators Association) with support from the Cruising Association of Ireland, the Irish Cruising Club and the Gathering Ireland.

To join go to www.thegatheringcruise.ie
See Yachting Monthly July for our Cruising Ground special on southern Ireland