Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
A Great Week of Racing for National Yacht Club Sailors in 29ers, Fireballs and Flying Fifteens
27th October 2023 National YC
At home... Last weekend provided plenty of action on the back of a stormy Friday, with many club sailors enjoying a great weekend of training and racing. Fireballs blast along on Dublin Bay at the end of season regatta The…
As part of the third annual Irish Port Safety Week, Dublin Port Company welcomed over 100 children from St Patrick’s Girls’ National School, Ringsend, and St. Joseph’s Co-ed Primary School, East Wall, to the Pumphouse for a Colouring Competition Award…
Boat owners and watersport enthusiasts have expressed concern over proposed new bye-laws for Ireland’s inland waterways, according to RTÉ News. Afloat.ie previously reported on the public consultation over the proposed bye-law changes for the canals and Shannon Navigation, which closes…
Time Flies: IFI Displays Salmon Flies Collection in Cork 121 Years After First Exhibition
27th October 2023 Angling
Traditional Irish salmon flies commissioned 121 years ago for the Cork International Exhibition in 1902 will now feature in a new museum display on the same site in Cork. Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), custodians of the vintage collection, released an…
Restrictions Lifted at Lough Neagh Beauty Spot After Discovery of Suspected Wartime Munition
27th October 2023 Northern Ireland Waters
Restrictions have been lifted at Oxford Island in Co Armagh after the discovery of a suspected wartime munition. The object has since been made safe after its examination by specialist PSNI officers at the Lough Neagh beauty spot and nature…
Following a recent MCIB report into a serious deck accident aboard a fishing vessel in Dingle Bay last year, the Department of Transport has published a Marine Notice reminding mariners of the dangers of fishing alone. The MCIB report explains…
Yachts From Sligo and Waterford Will Race in Bumper Dublin Bay DBSC Turkey Shoot Series
26th October 2023 Turkey Shoot
Yachts from Sligo and Dunmore East will race in this year's popular DBSC 'Turkey Shoot' Winter Sailing Series that starts on Dublin Bay in less than a fortnight. With over a week before entries close, the popular event already has 45…
Warrenpoint Harbour Authority this week welcomed students from St. Louis Grammar School in Kilkeel, Co. Down as they took a tour of the port estate before boarding a Seatruck Ferries-freight ship that operates on the Irish Sea. The young students…
Government Sets Up InterDepartmental Steering Group on Coastal Change
26th October 2023 Coastal Notes
The Government says it has set out a long-term strategy for dealing with coastal change with establishment of an interdepartmental steering group. A report of the interdepartmental group on national coastal management strategy has been published by Minister for Housing,…
Artemis Technologies at Europort 2023 Maritime Exhibition (3-7 November) Rotterdam
26th October 2023 Electric Outboard Engines
David Tyler of Belfast Harbour based Artemis Technologies, will present the 'Artemis eFoiler®: Decarbonising Maritime Transport' at the Europort 2023 Maritime Exhibition held in the major Dutch port of Rotterdam. At the Europort’s Green Stage (Hall 4) is where David…
Ireland's Transition to Renewable Energy Will Cost At Least 129 Billion Euro - Davy Group Report
26th October 2023 Power From the Sea
Ireland’s transition to offshore renewable energy and other energy measures will cost at least €129bn in investment between 2024 and 2030, a report by the Davy Group estimates. This equates to over €18.5bn investment per year or 6.8% of modified…
Manx Flagged Cargo Ship - Search Called off For Survivors Following Collision
26th October 2023 Isle of Man
A 91m cargo ship registered in Douglas, the Isle of Man, the Verity has sank off the German coast on Tuesday (24 Oct) reports Manx Radio. The 2,601 gross tonnes Verity had collided with the larger 190m bulk-carrier Polesie as…
Orcas Targeting Yachts May Be a "Behavioural Fad" - London Review of Books
26th October 2023 Marine Wildlife
Widespread characterisation of orca whale interactions with yachts as “attacks” is “heavily loaded and highly contestable”, according to an article in The London Review of Books. Over the past three years, a number of yachts have been sunk in encounters…
Mark Mansfield of Quantum Sails Ireland goes through the major changes that will affect IRC racing boats in 2024. This comes after the recent IRC Conference when many of these changes were voted through. The 2022 IRC conference decided on…
Over Half of Ireland's Waste Water Discharges Not Meeting EU Standards - EPA
26th October 2023 Marine Wildlife
Waste water continues to harm the quality of many of Ireland’s rivers, estuaries, lakes and coastal waters, a report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says. Over half of Ireland’s waste water discharges are not meeting EU standards set to…
Zodiac, a well-known international brand in RIBs with over 125 years of experience, has renewed its partnership with the Vendée Globe, one of the most renowned ocean races in the world. As an official partner of the 2024 Vendée Globe,…
RS Aero Sailing - There Has Never Been a Better Time to Get Involved This Winter!
26th October 2023 RS Aero
There is a bumper-packed calendar for the RS Aero class, the rapidly growing singlehanded dinghy class; the RS Aero is the most technically advanced boat in its sector, which explains why it’s the most exciting and best-selling modern single-hander. And…
A public consultation will soon commence on the Loughs Agency’s draft Climate Action Plan, which outlines how the organisation aims to reduce its carbon emissions in the coming years. The consultation, which will run for 12 weeks from Wednesday 8…
Irish Ruffian 23s Win Golden Jubilee International Inter-Port in Hong Kong
25th October 2023 Ruffian 23
A highlight throughout our 2023 sailing season has been the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the much-loved Billy Brown-designed Ruffian 23, which became an almost continuous and very friendly party of shared enthusiasm, friendship, racing and cruising-in-company. It began on Strangford…
At 2100 CEST on Wednesday, 25 October, the 44th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race winner was announced as the Italian Wally 93 Bullitt, skippered by Andrea Recordati. The announcement was made shortly after the double-handed entry Red Ruby…