Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Coast Guard, RNLI, and Water Safety Ireland Urge Caution for Easter Weekend Water Activities
28th March 2024 Coastguard
As the Easter weekend approaches, the Coast Guard, RNLI, and Water Safety Ireland are urging the public to take precautions to stay safe during water activities. With longer and brighter evenings, more people are expected to visit the coast or…
Galway Atlantaquaria Grants Call For Small Scale Conservation Projects
28th March 2024 Marine Wildlife
Galway Atlantaquaria is offering grants for five small-scale conservation projects related to marine and freshwater. Projects should focus on education and engagement, native species and habitats, or involving a local community or community group, with a special focus on marine…
A guide to assist fishing skippers to meet landing obligation requirements has been published by the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA). A waterproof copy of the guide has been posted to all vessel owners with an electronic logbook onboard. One guide…
Now that the Six Nations Rugby is over, the Waszp class is embarking on its Four Nations Cup. For the first time in Northern Ireland, one of the fixtures will be at Ballyholme Yacht Club on Belfast Lough. The others…
RS Super Series 2024 Wraps up with Big Breeze on the Final Day at Dun Laoghaire
28th March 2024 RS Sailing
The now annual RS Super Series ran over the winter of 2023/2024, with racing open to the Waszp, RS Neo and RS Aero classes. Unfortunately, the winds were never quite right for the Waszps, either too windy or not enough…
Hazards Of Discarded Unreported Fishing Gear Highlighted by MCIB After Yacht Lost off West Cork
27th March 2024 MCIB
The hazards of lost or discarded fishing gear has been highlighted in a Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) report into the loss of a yacht off Baltimore, Co Cork, last June. All five on board were rescued, after their yacht,…
Minister of State Jack Chambers to "Turn Sod" for New Coast Guard Station for Westport
27th March 2024 Coastguard
Minister of State with responsibility for the Irish Coast Guard Jack Chambers will turn the sod on a new Coast Guard station for Westport in south Mayo on Thursday (March 27). Members of the Coast Guard will join the junior…
The Marine Institute has published its Year in Review 2023, a snapshot of some of the organisation’s many highlights during what it says was a busy and productive year. Published on Wednesday (27 March), the 24-page document presents key achievements…
Ireland has announced the names of the athletes who will represent the country at the upcoming Rowing World Cup. The racing event is scheduled to take place from April 12 to April 14 in Varese, Italy. Antonio Maurogiovanni, the High-Performance…
There is now only one branch of the international Old Gaffers Association in all Ireland. But though it draws in its membership from every county, it continues to be known as the DBOGA, for it seems that the Dublin Bay…
Ferry Fiasco Continues as Scottish Shipyard Chief Sacked Amidst New Delays
27th March 2024 Shipyards
The chief executive of the Scottish government-owned shipyard Ferguson Marine, David Tydeman, who has been at the center of continuing concern over the escalating costs of an ongoing ferry fiasco, has had his contract terminated. The development comes after Mr.…
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Irish Sailor Tom Dolan and French Co-skipper Secure Fourth Place in Laura Vergne Trophy
27th March 2024 Tom Dolan
Irish sailor Tom Dolan and his French co-skipper Paul Morvan secured a commendable fourth-place finish in the Laura Vergne Trophy following a 270-mile offshore race that ended on Monday. Dolan and Morvan, who sailed Dolan’s Smurfit Kappa-Kingspan, held their own…
The chairman of the Isle of Man Steam Packet has said a "clear government statement" is needed on whether the firm can sell its current backup ferry. The Steam Packet outlined plans to sell the 26-year-old ropax Ben-My-Chree in its…
Sailing is in a very healthy state the President of Irish Sailing told the organisation’s annual general meeting in the Royal Cork Yacht Club at Crosshaven in Cork Harbour. “We’re growing the membership and participation on the water in Ireland…
Minister McConalogue Announces Appointments to the Board of the Marine Institute
27th March 2024 Marine Science
The Minister for Marine, Charlie McConalogue, has announced the appointment of Ms Pauline Cronin, Ms Kate Burns, and Prof. Tim McCarthy to the Board of the Marine Institute. The Minister said they have each been appointed for a period of…
Geographer Secures Funding for Irish Strand of "Blue Economy" Project
27th March 2024 Marine Science
A geographer has been awarded €300,000 in funding to lead the Irish stage of a European project aiming to boost the transformation towards a “climate neutral” blue economy. Dr John Morrissey, lecturer in geography at Limerick’s Mary Immaculate College, will…
The Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO) has called on Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue to distribute the additional mackerel quota negotiated at the December Fisheries Council as a matter of urgency. While the representative body said it was “highly appreciative” of the…
Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) at 'Connecting Europe Days' Brussels (2nd-5th April)
27th March 2024 Ports & Shipping
The Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) will be at the Connecting Europe Days 2024, Europe’s mobility flagship event, held at the Square in Brussels, Belgium. Representatives from the IMDO will be at stand 49 during the two days of the…
Viking Marine DMYC Dinghy Frostbites Close with Two Races in Contrasting Winds at Dun Laoghaire Harbour
26th March 2024 DMYC
The last Sunday of the DMYC Viking Marine sponsored Frostbites at Dun Laoghaire Harbour on Dublin Bay arrived with a forecast of contrasting conditions, blustery winds for the morning, followed by winds of between 5 and 7 knots during the…