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Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
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Waterways Ireland has extended the public consultation on proposed bye-law changes for the canals and Shannon Navigation, with a second phase of public consultation also added to facilitate further engagement with the public and stakeholders. The initial consultation period (phase…
Racing over three consecutive weekends, from August 30th to September 1st, the Royal Irish Yacht Club will stage the ICRA Nationals 2024, then the Key Yachting J-Cup Ireland 2024 and conclude with the IRC European Championships 2024 on 10th to 15th September
The Royal Irish Yacht Club will capitalise on its position as the leading Dun Laoghaire Harbour keelboat club when it hosts three major keelboat regattas in September 2024. Racing over three consecutive weekends, from August 30th to September 1st, the…
Maritime trade union Nautilus has been meeting members to gauge their feelings amid an ongoing dispute at the Isle of Man Steam Packet over seafarers living on board new flagship Manxman.
A trade union has raised worries in keeping ferry workers living on board the Isle of Man Steam Packet’s new flagship, Manxman, as part of proposed new conditions to their employment will affect the local economy and disband communities. The…
Some of the organisers and volunteers pictured in the Claddagh Hall during the Galway Docklands Festival were, back row, from left: Phil McArdle, Ewa Pilarska, Colm O'Maille, Michael Flanagan (Ability West) and Loretta Croake. Middle row: left to right: Gina Gardiner and Clodagh Durkan. Front row: left to right: Collette Furey, Anna Oliver, Mary Cunningham and Maria Buckley
Galway Docklands Festival has become an established event on the west coast maritime calendar, after a successful event last weekend. Restoration work on various vessels, knot-making, and walking tours of the Claddagh area were among the themes of the three-day…
Pamela Lee (above) will be sailing the Transat Jacques Vabre from October 29 with French co-skipper Tiphaine Ragueneau
“Offshore sailing is a mechanical sport, and it is an intellectual sport. More than using physical abilities and power, you can use your head to get the boat to work for you.” That piece of advice could, it seems to…
There are a few key differences between Asymmetric spinnakers designed for offshore racing and those that are optimised for windward-leeward races inshore. One of these is the mid-girth measurement, which tends to be shorter for offshore sails because they are often used at tighter wind angles
A-sail design principles are often misunderstood. Top sailmakers explain... To explain the thinking that goes into designing asymmetrical spinnakers, UK Sails Ireland interviewed three sail designers from UK Sailmakers: lead designer Pat Considine, UK Sailmakers Chicago; Geoff Bishop, UK Sailmakers…
British yachtswoman Pip Hare (49) was an entrant in the 2020 Vendée Globe round-the-world yacht race
Pip Hare picked up a magazine one day to read about the BOC challenge, which was the forerunner to the Vendéé Globe. “And all of a sudden, there is Isabelle Autissier, absolutely kicking arse and being written about in the…
Frank Healy, Sam Agnew and Jack Healy from Larne RNLI
The volunteer lifeboat crew from Larne RNLI in Northern Ireland will feature in the new series of popular TV show Saving Lives at Sea on BBC Two at 8pm next Thursday 12 October. Featuring footage captured on helmet and boat…
Garmin was also awarded five Product of Excellence awards in the multi-function display (MFD), autopilot, multimedia entertainment, automatic identification system (AIS) and safety categories
Marine electronics manufacturer Garmin has been named Manufacturer of the Year in the large manufacturer category for the ninth consecutive year by members of the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) in the United States. The awards were announced at the…
The Melges 15 & ILCA ‘8-Race Championship’ will be hosted by the Royal St. George Yacht Club at Dun Laoghaire this weekend
The Royal St. George Yacht Club is running an inaugural Melges 15 'Sprint' championship this Saturday with ILCA/Laser dinghies invited to the Dun Laoghaire Harbour event. The Grant Thornton sponsored Melges 15 & ILCA ‘8-Race Championship’ is open to Laser Standard (ILCA…
The Irish Aquaculture sector produces high-value finfish and shellfish worth around 40,000 tonnes and employs approximately 1,800 people, mostly in rural areas
The Marine Minister, Charlie McConalogue T.D, has announced the launch of the National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development (NSPSA) 2030. The NSPSA aims to support a diverse consumer and market base, which aligns with the recognition of Irish aquaculture's…
Clydeside shipyard Ferguson Marine, has said the number of ferry passengers had to be cut to meet safety regulations for the Arran route bound newbuild twins, Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa.
The considerably delayed newbuilds for Scotland ferry operator, Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) which are being built at Ferguson Marine shipyard, Port Glasgow, will it has emerged carry fewer passengers than first envisioned. As STV reports, the reduction in passenger capacity of…
Next season starts now. For a limited time until October 31st, save 15% on all Inshore One Design sails. Unleash your performance potential with North World championship-winning sails. To dominate the competition - Go North. Terms & Conditions: Promotion is…
UK Maritime Minister Baroness Vere of Norbiton, Charlotte Vere, and the dynamic XOcean team with the Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) at Bangor Marina on Belfast Lough
Many assorted vessels visit Bangor Marina, but the XOcean Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) may be the most unusual. Last week, Harbour Master Kevin Baird and his team, MCA staff and Belfast Coastguard welcomed the UK Maritime Minister Baroness Vere of…
Viking Marine of Dun Laoghaire Harbour is now the Irish agent for these Australian-made PSA ILCAs, that has become a favourite among top-level sailors
Viking Marine of Dun Laoghaire Harbour is proud to announce its latest partnership as the exclusive dealer of PSA (Performance Sailcraft Australia) ILCA dinghies on the island of Ireland. This exciting collaboration brings the highly anticipated PSA ILCA dinghies to…
A forty-plus fleet enjoyed glorious sunshine and pleasant wind conditions to start them off on their journey to the Kish lighthouse in Dublin Bay. Pictured above are G&S O'Shea's Superseal 26 Gung-Ho and Frank Bradley's Ruffian 23 Ripples racing past the Norwegian Star cruise liner moored on Dublin Bay on the outward bound leg to the Kish lighthouse
The forced postponement of the Kish Race, with sponsorship from Leinster Boats, from the last Sunday of September to the first Sunday of October was completely vindicated with a forty-plus fleet who enjoyed glorious sunshine and pleasant wind conditions to…
Tom Harding was legendary amongst the Tall Ships fraternity
Tom Harding was legendary amongst the Tall Ships fraternity. Bosun on the Asgard and on the Jeanie Johnston, Tom was a man who revelled in being a seafarer, a sailor, whose pride in the craft of seamanship was immense. His…
A fire in Falmouth, Antigua's Caribbean 600 Race Harbour, resulted in the closure of a number of surrounding businesses, such as restaurants and cafes
A fire erupted in Falmouth, Antigua's Caribbean 600 Race Harbour, resulting in the closure of a number of surrounding businesses such as restaurants and cafes. The Antigua Yacht Club (AYC) was not affected by the blaze and no injuries were…
Boats moored on the Shannon Navigation at Carrick-on-Shannon
Waterways Ireland advises masters that the winter mooring period for public harbours on the Shannon Navigation and Shannon-Erne Waterway will commence on Wednesday 1 November and will end on 31 March next year. Masters wishing to avail of winter mooring…
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Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels that Locks 9 to 14 on the Shannon-Erne Waterway will be out of service on Thursday 5 October from 9.30am to 4pm due to a planned ESB power outage. No lock passage…

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