Sailing to Madeira, 100 years later…

It all begins with a great idea.!

100 years ago Irishman Conor O Brien was the first person to circumnavigate the world passing under the 3 Great Capes in a small yacht. To celebrate this centenary the Irish Cruising Club ‘Saoirse Rally’ of 40 yachts are sailing into Madeira on the exact same day, July 3rd, that O Brien made his first landfall there, only a hundred years later.

The Madeirans have really welcomed us with open arms and as part of the programme are organising an art competition for the 15 island schools on the theme of ‘Ventos Cruzados’, or ‘Crosswinds’.

Leszek from our Copper House is helping with the organisation and so we are donating prizes of Fine Art Prints for the schools, every one of which will be celebrated and acknowledged for their contributions to the competition.

The beautiful image of O Brien’s vessel the AK ILEN is by and copyright of Dermot Lynch. Fabulous shot Dermot!

Madeira is the most wonderful island with an amazing landscape and every sort of adventure you could wish for. There are incredible mountain hikes, whale watching trips and voyages to the ‘Deserted Islands’…

There’s even a crazy wicker toboggan ride down the ‘iron road’ above Funchal.

Check it all out here at Visit Madeira