Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Humpback Whale "Hookie" Tracked from Ireland to Bermuda to Newfoundland
14th January 2024 Marine Wildlife
A Bermudan whale researcher has confirmed that a humpback photographed in Bermudan waters is “Hookie”, which has been spotted in Irish waters. As The Royal Gazette reports, Andrew Stevenson of Whales Bermuda said this was not only the first match…
American Argo Takes RORC Transatlantic Race Multihull Line Honours in Grenada
14th January 2024 RORC Transatlantic
Jason Carroll’s MOD70 Argo (USA) crossed the finish line outside Port Louis Marina, Grenada, on Saturday, 13th January 2024, at 22:34:30 UTC to take Multihull Line Honours in the 10th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race in an elapsed time…
Passing through the Doldrums at speeds of the 22-24kts, Ultim Challenge leader SVR Lazartigue sailed by Tom Leperche looked set to be first to cross the Equator into the southern hemisphere early this evening. The 26 year old has opened…
Seagrass Habitat and Nature Restoration Law Among Themes of Coastwatch Seminar
13th January 2024 Marine Wildlife
Coastal nature protection, management and restoration is the theme of a Coastwatch seminar later this month. The seminar on January 24th in Trinity College, Dublin will focus on seagrass habitat and the Nature Restoration Law. It will also discuss progress…
Kinsale Yacht Club will start their Winter Frostbite Series of dinghy and Squibs racing on Sunday, January 28. It will run for six weeks for Squibs, Lasers, 420s, Toppers, and Mixed Dinghies, concluding on March 3. Racing will be on…
“Views of the sea affect our soul”, and Irish people are drawn to coastal houses in spite of climate change factors, a new TG4 maritime television series finds. 'Tithe Cois Uisce' is an eight-part series that follows on from the…
Third National Seafarers' Conference Programme for Limerick Announced
13th January 2024 Maritime Festivals
“Realising Ireland’s maritime ambition” is the theme of the third annual national seafarers’ conference in Limerick next month. The event on February 22nd - hosted by the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) and sponsored by the Simply Blue group…
The Optimists Spring Series will begin at the Royal Cork Yacht Club on Saturday week, January 20. The IODAI describes the series as “a support to club winter training programs by giving sailors access to competition through the colder months.…
New Seabed Geomorphology Map ‘Will Support Marine Science and Offshore Development’
13th January 2024 Marine Science
The Marine Institute has released a new high-resolution geomorphology map on Ireland’s Marine Atlas for most of the Irish continental shelf to support ocean science, environment and biodiversity management and offshore renewable energy development. Geomorphology is the scientific study of…
94% of Lough Sheelin Trout Anglers Now Catch and Release More Fish, IFI Survey Says
13th January 2024 Angling
A survey of Lough Sheelin anglers has found that 94 per cent are now releasing more of the trout they catch back into Lough Sheelin than they did when they started fishing. The Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) research involved 132…
There’s something about the annual 628-mile Rolex-Sydney Hobart Race that lends it to endless angles of speculation and re-analysis long after the event. We’re already a fortnight clear of the final postings of the results, yet the real anoraks and…
World’s Largest Container Operator Hopes for Better Times Amid Red Sea Houthi Airstrikes
12th January 2024 Ports & Shipping
Global container line, AP Moller-Maersk hopes the presence of naval forces in the Red Sea in addition to political action will allow vessels to resume transiting the Middle East waterway, a major international link between the Indian subcontinent, Asia and…
The battle for Multihull Line Honours in the RORC Transatlantic Race is expected to be decided on Saturday, 13th January. MOD70 Argo holds the advantage, but Zoulou is closing in on the race leader. Ranking 12 January at 1500 UTC:…
Preparations By Isle of Man Steam Packet to Start Ferry Trials at New Liverpool Terminal
12th January 2024 Ferry
Preparations by the Isle of Man Packet Company reports 3FM are to see the ferry operator start trials and safety training at their new terminal in Liverpool. The infrastructure built by a UK arm of the Irish contractor, John Sisk…
Europe’s Ports Welcome EU Agreement on TEN-T Regulation On Inclusion of Energy Ports
12th January 2024 Ports & Shipping
The EU Parliament and Council on 18 December reached a deal on the review of the TEN-T Regulation, setting the requirements for all transport nodes and modes being part of the TEN-T network. The new Regulation revises the original Regulation…
Seas off Wexford Designated as Proposed Special Protection Area for Birds
12th January 2024 Marine Wildlife
The seas off Wexford have been designated as a proposed new special protection area (SPA) for birds by Minister of State for Heritage Malcolm Noonan. The new SPA adjoins eight existing SPAs designated for this area and will cover over…
Promoted
Dun Laoghaire Harbour yacht broker MGM Boats offers a used Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 469 at € 229,000 inc VAT. In 2014, a stunning Sun Odyssey 469 yacht was commissioned, featuring top-of-the-line specifications that are sure to impress any boating enthusiast.…
“Seal meat tastes strong and is best eaten, we found, with plenty of onions and curry”. You better believe it. For it comes from an even more reliable source than the proverbial horse’s mouth. It’s one of the many conclusions…
Promoted
Beneteau Oceanis 35, Hallberg Rassy 342, Jeanneau Sun-Odyssey 36i-performance and Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 349: Cruising Yacht Specials For Sale From Leinster Boats
12th January 2024 Leinster Boats
Irish East Coast Yacht broker Leinster Boats offers many cruising yachts on its brokerage listing, of which here is a selection ready to sail away. Click on these links below for details of each yacht pictured above: Hallberg-rassy-342 Jeanneau-sun-odyssey-36i-performance Jeanneau-sun-odyssey-349…
Once a Fast Food of Dublin Bay, Oysters May Return - David Lawlor of the Green Ocean Project (Podcast)
11th January 2024 Wavelength Podcast
Diver, sailor and coffee distributor David Lawlor is not that mad about oysters – he’ll eat them out of politeness – but he is mad about what they can do as keystone species in stabilising marine habitats. That’s why he…