Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
A restored Galway Hooker has been named after two south Connemara brothers who built the vessel originally. The Meaircín Joe returned to the water last week, marking what has been described as “a significant milestone in preserving Ireland's rich maritime…
For the first time the interior of the new £78m flagship ferry of the Isle of Man Steam Packet has been revealed. The newbuild Manxman which was built at a shipyard in Asia, can accommodate 950 passengers and crew, is…
The Marine Institute’s Explorers Education Programme has announced that six Explorers marine-themed Continuing Professional Development (CPD) five-day teacher-training courses (July 3-7) have been approved by the Department of Education and Skills and are now available to book with education centres…
New Glenarm Nursery Set to Release 800 Million Oysters To Clean Up Local Waters
25th May 2023 Northern Ireland Waters
Native oysters are set to flourish once more along the Glenarm coast with the creation of a new native oyster nursery at Glenarm Marina. The restoration initiative, led by Ulster Wildlife, could see up to 800 million oyster larvae released…
The organisers of Tóstal na Gaillimhe in Galway’s Salthill say the revived event earlier this month was so successful that they intend to invite more traditional Irish rowing clubs and teams from home and abroad next year. A “tight” senior…
Baltimore Wooden Boat Festival Says Conor O'Brien Could Be the Focus for Developing Maritime Education
24th May 2023 Tom MacSweeney
Wooden boats will dominate Baltimore Harbour this weekend when the West Cork village welcomes back the annual gathering of traditional vessels. Like many other events the Baltimore Wooden Boat Festival, which had been held annually for seventeen years from 2002,…
Dublin Bay Sailing Club Race Officer Tadgh Donnelly set a windward/leeward course of three rounds for the DBSC Water Wag race on (Wednesday evening, May 24th) at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. 20 boats competed in an 8-10kt NNW breeze but only after a…
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is urging anglers and the general public to report sightings of Pacific pink salmon in Irish rivers over the coming months. In 2017, 2019 and 2021, this non-native fish species unexpectedly appeared in unprecedented numbers in…
Upper Lough Erne: Crom Jetty Closed Until Further Notice Due to Fire Damage
24th May 2023 Inland Waterways
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterways users on the Erne System in Northern Ireland that Crom jetty on Upper Lough Erne is closed until further notice. This is due to fire damage being sustained at the jetty, while…
Fast Pace for Leading IMOCA Trio in The Ocean Race Leg 5 — But Low Pressure System Looms
24th May 2023 Ocean Race
It’s been a bumpy ride for the past two days of The Ocean Race as winds in the 25-30 knot range interact with the currents of the Gulf Stream to make an uncomfortable and unpredictable sea state. Despite that, the…
The 2023 European Rowing Championships begins tomorrow morning in Bled, Slovenia. All ten of the crews from Ireland will race tomorrow in the heats. The PR2 Mix2x of Katie O'Brien and Steven McGowan will first hit the water at the…
On Sunday, one of the newly-launched hot favourites for the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s (RORC) 50th Rolex Fastnet Race in July, Ino Noir, had its boat christening ceremony at RORC, Cowes. The liquid crimson 45ft monohull will catch the eye…
Cruising Association Launches Updated 'Orca Information and Reporting' Portal
24th May 2023 Cruising
The Cruising Association (CA) has launched an updated online portal and web pages for orca information and reporting, resulting from a year-long effort to gather and analyse data on orca interactions. The updates to the portal and web pages reflect…
Ireland’s Pam Lee Ready for First Big Racing Challenge on Course to Transatlantic Jacques Vabre
24th May 2023 Transatlantic Jacques Vabre
Less than three months after being selected for the "Cap sur Elles" initiative - which provides support for a pair of young female sailors to take part in the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre double-handed race to Martinique –…
The 50th-anniversary edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s flagship event, the Rolex Fastnet Race, will set sail in just under two months’ time on Saturday, 22nd July, from Cowes to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin in northern France via Ireland's Fastnet Rock. The…
Russian and Belarusian Competitors to Return to Competition as 'Individual Neutral Athletes'
24th May 2023 World Sailing
Following the Mid-Year Meeting of the World Sailing Council, the World Sailing Board has met to consider the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in response to guidance for International Federations from the International Olympic Committee. All Council…
The fish-eating Osprey, which became extinct here 150 years ago, are to be reintroduced to Ireland this summer. Minister of State Malcolm Noonan said that the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is “ready to move forward” by reintroducing the…
Johnny Devitt Memorial Regatta: Dinghy Sailors from the 80s & 90s Remember Their Fallen Friend at Malahide
24th May 2023 Malahide YC
As those who sail will know, sailing is a pastime from which deep and long-lasting friendships are often formed. One such example of this can be found at Malahide Yacht Club, where a friendship between a group of kids who…
A man in his 40s has died in hospital after an incident involving a jet ski in Carlingford Lough on Monday evening (22 May), as RTÉ News reports. The man and a woman were recovered from the water following reports…
First staged in 1904, Howth YC’s annual Lambay Race claims to be unique in offering keelboats of all types a taste of the offshore racing experience while remaining within safe coastal limits. It could be argued that the race round…