Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Armel Le Cléac'h Back on Ultim Challenge Race Track after Rio Pit Stop
18th February 2024 Ultim Challenge
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 On the Lookout for New Beach Lifesavers in Scotland and Northern Ireland
18th February 2024 Water Safety
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…
Wicklow Lifeboat Launches to Assist Three More Fishermen on Boat With Engine Failure
18th February 2024 RNLI Lifeboats
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…
All In A Row Liffey Challenge Raises €20,000 for RNLI Lifeboats and the Irish Underwater Search & Recovery Unit
18th February 2024 River Liffey
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…
Colin Leonard's Silver Medal from ILCA 7 Worlds in Australia is Applauded at Ballyholme
18th February 2024 Laser
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: The Optimism of Le Cléac’h, the Prudence of Caudrelier
18th February 2024 Ultim Challenge
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…
Key Atlantic Ocean Circulation System "On Route to Tipping", Dutch Scientists Forecast
18th February 2024 Marine Science
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 420 Duo are Munster Champions at Kinsale Harbour (Photo Gallery)
17th February 2024 420
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…
Considerably Late Ferry For CalMac's Firth of Clyde Route Has Sea Trials: ‘Overwhelmingly Positive’ – Ferguson Marine
17th February 2024 Shipyards
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…
Ultim Challenge Race: Le Cléac'h Stopped. Caudrelier Dodges Bullet. Coville Should Move to Second Place
17th February 2024 Ultim Challenge
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…
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MGM Boats Celebrate Lagoon Catamaran 40th Birthday With 'Exclusive Days' Display in Bordeaux
17th February 2024 MGM Boats
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…
Records May Fall as MOD70s are Favourites for Multihull Line Honours in Monday's RORC Caribbean 600
17th February 2024 Caribbean 600
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…
Marine Environment and Water Quality Among Research Projects Approved Under EPA Funding Round
17th February 2024 Marine Science
Research into nature-based solutions for water quality and ecology and “digital twins” for coastal areas are among topics the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is funding under a 14.3 million euro round. The funding of 33 new research projects covers research…
A spectacular fleet of 70 boats, ranging from 29ft (9m) to 82ft (25m), will take the start of the 15th edition of the 600 nautical miles 2023 RORC Caribbean 600 on Monday, 19th February 2024. Crews from around the globe,…
Irish Cruising Club Celebrates Four Years Of Success With David Beattie As Commodore
17th February 2024 W M Nixon
Last night’s Annual General Meeting of the 1929-founded Irish Cruising Club in Dublin was more than the usual agenda-guided review of a year of activity afloat, a time-honoured long look at twelve months of varied cruising and voyaging on waters…
Loughs Agency to Lead €1.6m Europe-Wide Project Monitoring Marine Life
16th February 2024 Marine Science
The Loughs Agency is set to lead a major marine tracking project after €1.6m of EU funding was secured by the European Tracking Network (ETN). The successful bid came following an open call for funding by the EU’s Biodiversa+ scheme,…
UAE Team Kidzink Win SB20 World Championships Title as Dubai Crews Take Top Places
16th February 2024 SB20
The SB20 Triple Sailing Championships came to a close after five days of exciting races with Team Kidzink winning the final title. The championship was held at the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club (DOSC) from 29th January to 2nd February 2024.…
Le Cléac'h Heads into Rio de Janeiro Technical Stopover in Ultim Challenge After Damage to Two Rudders
16th February 2024 Ultim Challenge
Second placed skipper on the Ultim Challenge Race Armel Le Cléach is a few miles from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil early this Friday afternoon, set to meet members of his shore team at the start of a technical stopover which is…
The Irish Coast Guard has released images of the new livery for its next generation of search and rescue aircraft. The livery has been designed for the AW189 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, which will be provided under the new ten-year…
Union Hall RNLI Rescue Paddle Boarder in Difficulty at The Warren Beach
16th February 2024 RNLI Lifeboats
On Thursday, the 15th of February, Union Hall RNLI in West Cork responded to a report of a swimmer in trouble at The Warren Beach, Rosscarbery, in West Cork. The call was made to Valentia Coast Guard at 2.44 pm.…