Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

There are two interesting changes planned in Cork Harbour racing this season, for cruisers and dinghies. Two separate Cobh-Blackrock Races are planned, and the Cork Harbour Cruiser Joint Clubs league will be reintroduced. The Cobh/Blackrock Race is a big traditional…

It’s the middle of a foggy night in the North Atlantic. The breeze is fickle and there is nary a star or land sight to guide the yacht. It’s the sort of weather that drives helmspeople insane as they chase…

Regional management of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is due to be discussed at a conference in Dublin Castle today. Key speakers at the event will include Charlina Vitcheva, the European Commission’s director-general for maritime affairs and fisheries, along…

The Irish Sailor of the Year Award will be presented on Friday, March 22nd, at the Irish Sailing Awards in Howth Yacht Club, Co. Dublin. One of the highlights of the evening will be the announcement of the 2023 winner, chosen…

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and users of the Erne System in Northern Ireland that the St Patrick’s Illuminated Flotilla will take place in Enniskillen this Saturday evening 16 March. The event runs from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, starting at…

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Lower Bann navigation in Northern Ireland that the installation of new lock gates at Movanagher Lock has been completed as of Wednesday 13 March and the navigation is…

The Scottish Government’s Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill that would have forced marinas and other mooring providers to charge a levy on visitor accommodation — including mooring and berthing for boats — has now been amended. As previously reported on Afloat.ie,…

Mayo’s Achill island is first stop on a tour of Ireland’s holy wells for a new documentary series on TG4. “As islanders we have a special draw to the sea, the sea attracts people and has kept us alive,” the…

Dun Laoghaire's "Living Streets" programme to pedestrianise parts of the town adjoining the harbour moved a step closer following a marathon council meeting. As RTÉ and The Irish Times report, councillors voted in favour of the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County…

We have had a very busy winter period getting your sails serviced, repaired and ready for 2024. Over 800kg of sails and covers sent to laundry are now back. We were delighted to get so many sails and covers this…

Good news – there is a sustained trend towards improvement in fish stocks in Irish waters, the Marine Institute’s new chief executive, Dr Rick Officer says. Speaking to Wavelengths, he says “huge credit” is due to Irish fishers for weathering…

The 2023 Cruising Club of America (CCA) awards ceremony was held at the New York Yacht Club on Friday, March 1, highlighted by the presentation of the Blue Water Medal to solo round-the-world sailor Kirsten Neuschäfer. The prestigious Medal was…

The best laid plans often go awry - despite what was set to be a great turnout for the annual Howth Yacht Club Round the Island Race last Saturday at Howth, the weather gods didn't play ball, and a decision…

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has opened the second draw for anglers wishing to catch and keep salmon from Cork’s Lower River Lee in 2024. ‘Brown tag’ regulations came into force on the river from 1 February and will remain in…

Steady entries are coming in for the Irish Sailing League with the inaugural event coming over the weekend of 20-21 April, as Kenneth Rumball writes. We are delighted to welcome two more clubs to the entry list who committed over…

Volvo Cork Week 2024 entries have been steadily climbing with a huge variety of boats and sailors from Ireland and all over the world expected to be competing at the Royal Cork’s famous regatta from 15-19 July. The championship fleet…

The early bird entry for the Waterman Kelly Irish Sailing Youth Nationals 2024 is closing later this week at midnight on Friday 15 March. This year’s event will be hosted by the the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven from…

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Greenlink Interconnector Ltd is proposing to develop an electricity interconnector to allow for offshore cable installation and burial at a later stage. A pre-lay grapnel run (PLGR) will be performed along the planned interconnector route…

Waterways Ireland advises arrangements have been made for Iarnród Éireann to open the lifting bridge at Newcomen Bridge on the Royal Canal in Dublin on the following dates and times, if there is demand: Sunday 5 May, 9am-1pm (Low water…

Despite a horrible forecast of wind which caused Howth’s Round the Island Race to be cancelled (on the Saturday) and huge seas in Dun Laoghaire on Saturday, the DMYC dinghy Frostbites, sponsored by Viking Marine took place on Sunday afternoon…