Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
#StarWars - Tourism chiefs’ “cultural rebranding” of Skellig Michael on the back of its appearance in the new Star Wars film threatens to push visitor numbers to “unsustainable levels”, says An Taisce. According to The Irish Times, Ireland’s national trust…
#IMERC - Documents seen by the Irish Examiner show that the Naval Service was against the shutting of the Irish Marine and Energy Research Cluster (IMERC) earlier this year. A joint marine research initiative of CIT’s National Maritime College of…
Westport’s rising sailing star Joan Mulloy visited her home town of on Wednesday December 20th with legendary sailing veteran Enda O’Coineen, and delivered a fascinating talk at the invitation of Mayo Sailing Club reports Afloat.ie’s Clew Bay Correspondent. Seeking sponsorship,…
#P&O@180 – Before another year sails by, it should be highlighted P&O's 180th anniversary took place during this year, with celebrations marking the world famous shipping company that was founded in 1837, writes Jehan Ashmore. Operating 20 ferries and employing…
State Broke EU Rules Over Seafarer Qualifications Says High Court
23rd December 2017 Ports & Shipping
#Training - A marine notice issued earlier this year on accreditation for seafarers qualifications has “no legal basis” and must be quashed, says the High Court. According to The Irish Times, the court has also directed Transport Minister Shane Ross…
MAPFRE Hopes To Reach Melbourne Before Christmas In Volvo Ocean Race’s Third Leg
23rd December 2017 Ocean Race
#VOR - With just over 400 nautical miles to go to the finishing line off Melbourne, MAPFRE is on a final push to draw first blood on the double-point scoring Leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race. Before they can…
#RNLI - A man who slipped into the water alongside Wexford Quay was rescued by Wexford RNLI after clinging to the quay wall for several hours. The man, in his late 30s, was spotted by gardaí before 4am on Friday…
Irish Australian Skipper Jim Cooney is Tipped for Sydney-Hobart Success in World's Fastest Super Maxi
22nd December 2017 Sydney to Hobart
Ireland has a direct connection to the fastest and most modern super–maxi yacht in the world, thanks to its new owner Jim Cooney, a fourth generation Australian of County Meath descent. Cooney, who hails from the town of Ballivor in…
Irish Sailors are Favourites for Sydney-Hobart Line Honours & Overall Win
22nd December 2017 W M Nixon
It is one of the world’s classic offshore races. And its timing plumb in the middle of the Christmas holidays make it an essential safety valve for serious sailors being smothered in festive cheer in the Northern Hemisphere. For although…
Proposed International Shipping Services Centre to be Based in Cork Docklands
22nd December 2017 Port of Cork
#ShippingCentre -According to Irish Maritime Development Office, there is a proposal to create a world-class cluster of international shipping services orientated companies (ISSC) based in Cork Docklands. The proposed maritime cluster would also be a major urban regeneration scheme led…
Revised Plan to Be Filed Today for Bulloch Harbour, Dalkey Development
22nd December 2017 Dublin Bay
#BullochPlans - Today, new plans are to be filed for a residential and commercial development in picturesque Bulloch Harbour, Dalkey, 10 months after a similar, controversial scheme was refused permission. As The Irish Times writes, Bartra Capital Ltd, founded by…
Does ‘Cool Route’ Have Its Figures Right In Moves On Superyacht Market?
22nd December 2017 Superyachts
#CoolRoute - The growing superyacht market is a target audience of the new Cool Route initiative, which is pitching the string of coastal marinas between Ireland and Norway as a top-tier cruising destination. But is the project’s research up to snuff?…
#MarineWildlife - Four marine wildlife organisations will share in €2.56 million in funding for animal welfare throughout the State, as announced yesterday by Marine Minister Michael Creed. Seal Rescue Ireland in Courtown, Co Wexford receives €12,000 for its efforts in…
#Watersport - Canoeing, rowing, angling and waterskiing are beneficiaries in regional allocations under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme. Sport Minister Shane Ross and Minister of State for Sport Brendan Griffin announced €4m in allocations for regional projects yesterday (Thursday 21…
The Bureau of Meteorology has given the 2017 Rolex Sydney Hobart fleet an early Christmas present - speaking at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia this morning, Bureau of Meteorology's Manager, Weather Services NSW, Jane Golding, delivered a forecast that…
#CorkHarbour - Independent.ie reports that firefighters have extinguished a blaze that broke out last night (Thursday 21 December) at the Naval Service base on Haulbowline Island. The incident began around 9pm in a disused warehouse next to the officers’ mess…
The east Cork port of Youghal will soon have its own Harbour Master following the recent advertisement posted by Cork County Council on its website. The local authority is seeking a 'full-time and pensionable' Harbour Master for the port that…
A one day symposium will be held by Irish Sailing in January to seek ways in which sailing clubs could all collectively support each other, in collaboration with Irish Sailing, to increase participation in the Sport. Facilitated ‘by volunteer club members,…
Kinsale Yacht Club's Busy Season as Round Britain & Ireland Race & Mini Transat Head for South Coast Port
22nd December 2017 Kinsale
Kinsale Yacht Club has its annual ‘Gunsmoke Bell’ race scheduled for St.Stephen’s Day. First Gun will be fired to start the race at 1325 on the Charles Fort Line. It will be an All-In Race under the ECHO handicap system writes…
Irish Sailing is encouraging yacht and boat clubs who won over €1.1m in Sports Capital grants in November to try to spend the money in Ireland. In the interests of 'supporting the Irish Boating industry', Irish Sailing has appealed to…
