Saoirse Cruise to Madeira departs Dublin Bay
by Leszek Wolnik 26 Jun 2023 14:13 UTC
Conor O Brien's Grandneices and Grandnephew, with Charlotte Delamer and her son Alex 3rd from right who is crewing to Madeira © Leszek Wolnik
The Irish Cruising Club and Royal Cruising Club are hosting a rally in Madeira to celebrate the centenary of Conor O Brien's voyage aboard the yacht Saoirse.
June this year will mark the centenary of the departure from Royal Irish Yacht Club of Member Conor O Brien on his momentous circumnavigation of the world in his yacht Saoirse in 1923. Members of O Brien's family joined ICC, RCC and RIYC members for a celebratory lunch before the departure of Ilen which is following Saoirse's first leg 100 years ago.
It was a big day in Dublin Bay on the 17th of June with Conor O Brien's AK Ilen (restored Falkland Islands packet boat) departing to lead the Irish Cruising Club 'Saoirse' cruise to Madeira that some OCC boats are joining.
The Ilen is crewed by ICC members for this passage but her usual day job is working for the 'Sailing into Wellness' charity which is linked below. It was wonderful to see so many direct descendants of Conor O Brien aboard Ilen before she left and entrancing to hear some of the more outrageous stories that didn't get into his 'Across Three Oceans' book.
The ICC and RCC have released a new edition of the book which is available via amazon worldwide in hardcover and paperback.
For more about the ILEN's work and to support them check out www.sailingintowellness.ie
This article has been provided by the courtesy of the Ocean Cruising Club.