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Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Busy Geeps in the Frostbites at Howth. With a new Howth-based Melges 15 fleet increasingly evident on the horizon, the long-established GP14s have boats from several clubs doing their thing in the current Howth Spring Frostbites
Spring was very much in the air - for the time being anyway - as the intriguing selection of boats in a growing fleet took to the water in glorious sunshine in the HYC Dinghy Frostbites on Sunday, with theprospect…
New DNA: More than £12.7m in funding has been secured for the Derry~Londonderry on the North Atlantic (DNA) Museum in Ebrington Square on the banks of the Foyle. The museum will play an important role in celebrating the rich maritime heritage of the North-West region, and highlighting the strategic importance of the city down through the centuries with trade and industry.
It has been warmly welcomed by members of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Business and Culture Committee on the news that final Letters of Offer have been received from funding partners for the new Derry~Londonderry on the North Atlantic…
The National Inshore Fishermen’s Association (NIFA) outline how shellfish markets have collapsed, margins have tightened, there are new restrictions on catching pollack, and many boats have had no earnings for the past two months
Inshore fishermen are due to state their case about the crisis experienced by their members to TDs and senators later this month (Feb). Members of the Dáil and Seanad have been invited to hear the delegation from the National Inshore…
The Carroll Brothers Elan 40, Chancer from the host club pictured above starting the inaugural 2022 Inishtearaght Race are entered for May's 2024 240-mile offshore race from Kinsale Yacht Club
Online entry has opened for May's 2024 Inishtearaght Race, and Kinsale Yacht Club is reporting a strong south coast entry for the 240-miler. As well as the defending champion, Cinnamon Girl, the Sunfast 3300 was sailed by Cian McCarthy and…
The Irish RS Feva Championships will be staged on Ballyholme Bay on the south coast of Belfast Lough from August 16th to 18th
The RS Feva class has been growing steadily in Northern Ireland in recent years, and to the satisfaction of Northern Ireland's Ballyholme Yacht Club, the club will host the Irish Championships, designated a 'GP 1' event, on the weekend of…
Inland Fisheries Ireland green tags for larger salmon and sea trout
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is inviting expressions of interest from suitably qualified individuals to become or continue to be members of Fishery District Committees. The Fishery Districts where commercial fisheries exist comprise Lismore, Cork, Kerry (SWRBD), Ballinakill (WRBD Galway), Bangor…
ILCA 7 campaigner Ewan McMahon reaches a new high at 25 in the world rankings in his independent 'Green Rebel' campaign from Howth Yacht Club
As the second trial for the Irish Paris 2024 nomination was becalmed in Greece today at the ILCA7 European Championships, the February World Rankings reveal both Irish trialists are in the top 25. Finn Lynch (National Yacht Club), who finished…
The ILCA 6 European Championships dinghy park in Athens after a light air start to the regatta
Ireland's Paris 2024 qualified Eve McMahon opened her account at the ILCA 6 European Championships in Athens, Greece, today with a 21st place.  With several top rivals absent, the Howth Yacht Club teen has an excellent opportunity to build on her already impressive…
Armel Le Cléac'h’s Ultim Challenge Race technical stopover lasted a little more than two days since it began on Friday in Rio
After a little more than 48 hours of technical stopover in Rio de Janeiro, Ultim Challenge skipper Armel Le Cléac'h and his ULTIM Maxi Banque Populaire XI have returned to the race track. He docked out from Rio at a…
RNLI lifeguards Nick Doran and Dearbhaile McNeill at Portrush in 2021
The RNLI is on the lookout for budding lifeguards to launch their lifesaving careers on some of the most popular beaches in Scotland, Northern Ireland and elsewhere in the UK. Recruitment for this season’s lifeguard team has started nationally in…
File image of Wicklow RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat
Three days after the rescue of three fishermen last Saturday afternoon, Wicklow RNLI launched lunchtime on Tuesday (13 February) to assist three more fishermen after their vessel experienced mechanical problems. Under the command of coxswain Ciaran Doyle, the all-weather lifeboat…
RNLI Lifeboats Howth and the Irish Underwater Search and Recovery Unit receiving the fantastic funds raised by the All in a Row Liffey Challenge 2023 at Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club
Dubliners came together early last December for the All In A Row Liffey Challenge, with the aim of raising funds for RNLI Lifeboats and the Irish Underwater Search & Recovery Unit. The challenge for the rowers and paddlers was to…
Ballyholme Yacht Club's Colin Leonard from Belfast Lough in Northern won a Silver medal at the ILCA 7 World Championships in Adelaide, Australia
Ballyholme Yacht Club's Colin Leonard from Belfast Lough in Northern Ireland achieved a significant milestone in his 23-year journey in the Laser dinghy by winning a silver medal in the Apprentices at the ILCA 7 Worlds in Adelaide this month,…
Ultim Challenge race leader Charles Caudrelier may slow down to optimise his timing to account for a complicated low-pressure weather situation at the end of next week
After having to pitstop in Rio because of the loss of two of his rudders, third-placed Ultim Challenge skipper Armel Le Cléac'h is hopeful of returning to the race course sometime today. At the end of the day yesterday, the boss…
Ireland’s climate could become similar to Iceland, Fianna Fáil senator Thomas Byrne has warned
A key Atlantic ocean circulation system regulating temperature is “on route to tipping”, a new study warns. The European climate is greatly affected by the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC), and research by Dutch scientists indicates that it is already…
Blessington Sailing Club's Cora McNaughton and  Sean Cronin (left) were the overall winners of the 420 dinghy Munster Championships at Kinsale Yacht Club
Blessington Sailing Club's Cora McNaughton and Sean Cronin emerged as the victorious duo, clinching the top spot with a lead of four points in the 420 Munster Championships held at Kinsale Yacht Club on Saturday. The championships, which attracted a…
The first of twin newbuilds for Scotland west coast ferry operator, Calmac, saw MV Glen Sannox for the Arran route, conduct shipbuilder’s sea trials on the Firth of Clyde. After four days tests, the duel-fuelled vessel reached top speed, completing successful results and is seen here just after starting sea trails with a tug in attendance.
A massively delayed ferry built in Scotland to serve CalMac, the MV Glen Sannox had carried out first sea trials which have been hailed as "overwhelmingly positive" by shipbuilder Ferguson Marine following four days of tests on the Firth of…
Second-placed Ultim Challenge solo skipper Armel Le Cléac’h has docked in Rio de Janeiro for a rudder repair
Since Friday afternoon (UTC), second-placed Ultim Challenge, solo skipper Armel Le Cléac’h has been docked in Rio de Janeiro. He should be overtaken today by Thomas Coville (3rd), who is progressing off the Brazilian coast and was 225 miles south…
An MGM Boats  Lagoon 52 catamaran departs Dun Laoghaire Harbour
Ireland's MGM Boats, a leading boat broker, is all set to celebrate its 15-year partnership with French yacht builder Lagoon Catamarans. The year 2024 will be extra special for the boat builder as it marks 40 years of production. In…
After taking RORC Transatlantic Race Multihull line honours in Grenada in January, Jason Carroll’s MOD70 Argo (USA) will once again be on the Caribbean 600 line
Antigua Yacht Club is buzzing with excitement as the 15th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 approaches. With less than two days to go, conversations around the dock revolve around one topic - the weather. For weeks, the tradewinds have…

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