23/01/2025
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FLIGHT OF FANTASY with John Leahy & Winkie Nixon
The 1986 Round Ireland Boeing 737 Flight - for Sailors only!
John Leahy , one of our members, will recount the extraordinary tale of the once famous “Round Ireland “ flight he piloted to coincide with the June 1986 CDG race of the same name. With a veritable who’s who of Irish Sailing onboard it was a unique event!
The talk will take place on Thursday 23 January 1930hrs in the Drawing Room and is free to attend for RIYC Members and their guests. Optional supper following the talk, €38 per person book with [email protected]
According to John , the plan was hatched in early June, for a flight around the 26 Counties, clockwise, in a Boeing 737, to coincide with the Round Ireland Race on the 21st June. The idea was to meet the fleet as they rounded the Fastnet, at dawn. A great and even noble idea, but one that was not possible - many thought. Too many Authorities would need to agree and anyway the organisation would take months. And it would cost the earth.
John recounts “Within two weeks, we had our 737, 100 passengers from the Waterfront clubs and at £50 per ticket we got airborne from Dublin at 08:00 on Sunday 21 June. Two hours later, at 10:00 hrs we landed after a 500 nm flight which took in Glandore, the Fastnet, the Round Ireland Fleet (via VHF) the Skelligs, Mt Brandon, Loop Head and the Aran Islands before heading home via the just opened Knock Airport. And we did rendez-vous and chatted via VHF with the leading boats as they rounded the Fastnet.”
The flight almost never took to the air, and only happenstance ,a bit of good luck, a lot of organisation, and good will & help from so many , allowed it to take place.
As the years rolled by such flights were made impossible as regulation and even attitudes changed. So it was never done before and will never be repeated.
Some of the “hundred” are no longer with us but many current members were aboard. There will be an optional supper following the talk, €38 per person
Reserve Your Seat Here
Thursday 6th February “Tara” – Madeira, Mindelo, Martinique, Miami, Maine and more, by Bob and Bairbre Stewart
Built by Alden Yachts in Portsmouth, Rhode Island and brought to Ireland in August 2005 ‘Tara’ finally embarked on her long and hugely enjoyable journey home to the United States in May of 2023.
Lots has changed since her first transatlantic trip, but the cruising adventures are as great as ever.
Bob and Bairbre Stewart had always wanted the time to get back, to properly explore the east coast of the US with ‘Tara’, and were not disappointed.
There are lots of photos, new things learnt and stories to hear. There will be an optional supper following the talk, €38 per person.
Reserve your seat here
This photo is one of the crew preparing to hoist our courtesy flags on the morning of April 8th 2024 as we approached Port Everglades in Florida and US landfall.