Top award for Dún Laoghaire marina

The 820-berth marina received the five Gold Anchors award from the Yacht Harbour Association.
Photograph: David OBrien

DÚN LAOGHAIRE marina has become the first of the Republic’s 23 coastal marinas to receive the top award from the Yacht Harbour Association (YHA), an international body that promotes boating facilities.

The Five Gold Anchors award for high standard of operation was made following the first-ever YHA site inspection at Dún Laoghaire earlier this summer. The British-based YHA awards range from one to five Gold Anchors (five being the highest award).

Dún Laoghaire is just one of 50 marinas worldwide to be listed by the YHA as a a holder of the top award. Others on the Irish Sea include both Carrickfergus and Bangor marinas on Belfast Lough and Conwy Quays marina in North Wales.

Dun Laoghaire’s marina was established eight years ago and provides 820 berths, 30 of which are permanently reserved for visitors. It is the largest marina on the island of Ireland. It provides most of the berths for the staging of the biennial Volvo Dún Laoghaire regatta, the largest yachting regatta in Ireland that attracts 500 boats.

The YHA report accompanying the award highlighted the high standard of service on offer, especially the marina’s water taxi service and wireless internet for berth holders. The report also noted the excellent access to the sailing waters of Dublin bay. Lack of onshore space for car parking and boat storage facilities were seen as a drawback.

The Dún Laoghaire facility is privately owned by Marina Marketing and Management Ltd on a long lease from Dun Laoghaire Harbour company.

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times