Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Galway RNLI's volunteer crew were requested by the Irish Coast Guard to assist a 30-foot motorboat, with five people on board, in difficulty off Blackhead in County Clare late on Friday evening. The lifeboat launched at around 8.30 pm with…
Discovery That Basking Sharks are Warm Bodied Like "Finding Cows Have Wings" - TCD Scientists
22nd July 2023 Marine Wildlife
Researchers have discovered that basking sharks are as warm-bodied as great white sharks, in spite of having a more sedentary lifestyle. An international team led by scientists from Trinity College, Dublin, says the “surprising” discovery has implications for the conservation…
Sixteen yachts raced at Kinsale Yacht Club on Friday night (July 21) for the Bertoletti Trophy. This race commemorates the late KYC steward Mario Bertoletti who served at the club from the 1970s for over 30 years. John Godkin and…
Ireland’s Fastnet Rock Could Become Only Remaining Feature Of Original Fastnet Race Course
22nd July 2023 W M Nixon
Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that prediction can be a dodgy business as it involves the future. And when that future is reckoned to include – as it does for today (Saturday’s) Fastnet Race start in the Solent –…
ISORA 26-Mile Course for Saturday's Viking Marine Coastal Series Race 13 Maybe Shortened
22nd July 2023 ISORA
ISORA has announced Saturday's Race 13 course of its Viking Marine Coastal Series off the Dublin and Wicklow coasts, but a morning of race notice from Race Organiser Peter Ryan warns the course may be shortened. "The forecasts are most…
Youghal RNLI came to aid of a sailor onboard a broken-down 17ft pleasure boat that suffered engine failure some two-and-a-half miles south east of Youghal Lighthouse in East Cork. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their Atlantic 85 inshore…
Momentum is building towards tomorrow afternoon’s start of the 50th Rolex Fastnet Race. More and more boats are arriving in Cowes and to moorings and berths across the Solent. Meanwhile, an armada has left from Cherbourg and numerous ports around…
Baltimore RNLI were called out to a medical emergency on Thursday evening (20 July) to Heir Island off the coast of West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 5.06pm following a request from the Irish Coast…
420s and Fireball Dinghies Race for Leinster and Munster Honours at Killaloe Sailing Club
21st July 2023 Fireball
An inaugural joint event will see the Fireball Munster Championship and International 420 Leinster Championships 2023 come together on the waters of lower Lough Derg. Over 30 double-handed performance dinghies, including Fireballs and International 420s, are expected from July 22…
Two Belfast Lough sailors are racing in the 50th Anniversary Rolex Fastnet Race, which starts on Saturday from Cowes on the Isle of Wight and finishes in Cherbourg. Ewan Finlay is racing as foredeck crew on Mark Emerson’s A13 Phosphorus II,…
Seven boats will contest this Saturday's (July 22) ISORA Coastal Race 13 from Dun Laoghaire Harbour, part of the association's 2023 Musto Offshore Series. The fleet's smaller size this weekend is likely a result of the clash with Saturday's record-breaking…
The South Coast Offshore Racing Association (SCORA) has cancelled the Kinsale-Fastnet Race scheduled for July 28. SCORA Commodore Daragh Connolly said: "We have a huge number of sailors from the South Coast competing in the Rolex Fastnet Race, and we…
Three Irish Crews are into the A/B Semi-finals at U23 World Rowing Championships
21st July 2023 Rowing
Day two (Thursday) finished up in Plovdiv at the U23 World Rowing Championships, and three Irish crews are into the A/B Semi-finals. Konan Pazzaia and Brian Colsh were first up on the water for the Heat of the Men's Double.…
The scene is set for this year’s Topper World Championships in Crosshaven as the Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC) has said this year’s competition is set to be the biggest yet, with 5,000 people set to attend the prestigious five-day…
Over 100 Boats Compete at National Yacht Club's Junior Regatta and Fun Day at Dun Laoghaire Harbour (Photo Review)
20th July 2023 National YC
Some sunshine and gentle sailing breezes on Dublin Bay allowed a full programme of three races for Wednesday's (19th July) National Yacht Club Junior Regatta sponsored by Sia Partners NextGen Consulting. Over 100 boats contested the regatta in an in-harbour…
Tim and Richard Goodbody's J109 White Mischief was the winner of a fine turnout of ten boats in Dublin Bay Sailing Club's IRC One Thursday night AIB Summer Series. Light southerly winds with occasional bursts of fresh energy from numerous…
Aran Islands RNLI carried out a medical evacuation on Wednesday afternoon (19 July) after a visitor had a biking accident. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat at 3.31pm and proceed to the pontoon at Kilronan on…
Following last weekend's action at the Cork-hosted Irish rowing championships, there’s more rowing action with the Home International Regatta taking place in Lough Rinn, Co. Leitrim, this coming weekend. Rowing Ireland and Leitrim County Council will welcome teams from England,…
University of Limerick is the Stand Out Club at Irish Rowing Championships at Farran Woods
20th July 2023 Rowing
The highly anticipated 2023 Irish Rowing Championships took place last weekend in the National Rowing Centre at Farran Woods, Cork. Despite temperamental weather conditions and having to rejig the weekend schedule, all events were run with no championship races being…
Kayakers and Swimmer Among Special Olympic Athletes Honoured by Mayor of Galway
20th July 2023 Kayaking
Kayakers Michelle O’Keane and Liam Hynes and swimmer Patricia Larkin were among Special Olympic athletes honoured by Mayor of Galway City Eddie Hoare at a reception earlier this week (July 17). Also invited to the mayoral reception held on their…
