Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
#Diving - As Limerick-raised entrepreneur Greg Wixted prepares to open the first of a new chain of diving resorts in Gran Canaria, he tells the Limerick Post that he hopes to someday bring the business to the Wild Atlantic Way.…
Setback for Foiler Rory Fitzpatrick in Race Two of Moth Worlds, David Kenefick Lying 14th
28th March 2018 Moth
Dublin foiling supremo Rory Fitzpatrick did not start the second race of the Bacardi Moth World Championship in Bermuda yesterday when 30–knot gusts hit the 33–boat fleet. It means the National Yacht Club and Royal Irish Yacht Club sailor now…
In recent years, asymmetric sails have become much more popular. If you have a boat with a sprit you will likely have 100% asymmetric downwind sails. If you have a boat with a pole, it is likely you will (or…
#CoastalNotes - During Afloat's visit to Wicklow Port this day last week, seemingly Sammy the Seal made a fleeting appearance when alongside a departing cargoship, writes Jehan Ashmore. The departure that afternoon of Burhou-I involved the curious 'Sammy' or a…
#VOR - Six crews in the Volvo Ocean Race fleet are facing challenging conditions as they race towards Cape Horn, still 900 miles and two days away. The seventh team, Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag, is working to recover from the tragic…
Vasilij Žbogar Joins Irish Sailing’s High Performance Squad As Laser Coach
27th March 2018 Tokyo 2020
#Tokyo2020 - Three-time Olympic medallist Vasilij Žbogar has joined Irish Sailing’s high performance squad to coach the men’s Laser team. Žbogar will take over coaching for Finn Lynch and Liam Glynn’s Tokyo 2020 aspirations on a team set to be…
Volvo Round Ireland Has 37 Entries Already, But Early Bird Discount Ends on Friday
27th March 2018 Round Ireland
With just over 13 weeks to go to the start of the 2018 edition of the Volvo Round Ireland Yacht race, 37 boats have already taken advantage of the Early Bird entry rates writes W M Nixon. But the Early…
#FerryNews - A first for P&O Ferrymasters as the logistics supplies-chain operator opened a warehouse facility in the UK located in the Port of Liverpool. According to MultiModal, P&O Ferrymasters has further expanded its supply chain network by opening the…
Welcome to my weekly podcast…. That question – where is sailing going? - has been in my mind since Emirates Team New Zealand media information came to me this week about the yacht they intend to race at the next Americas…
Thirty Children Drowned in Ten Years; Supervise Your Child Near Water this Easter
27th March 2018 Water Safety
Thirty children aged fourteen and under drowned in ten years, reflecting the need for constant, responsible supervision of children near water. Half a million primary school children are currently on Easter Holidays and may find themselves playing near water yet…
#Ports&Shipping - UK ports operator, Associated British Ports (ABP) celebrated a milestone as the Port of Hull’s two £10.5 million cranes built in Ireland, served their first container shipment. The fully assembled 600 tonne cranes arrived on the Humber estuary…
#ClipperRace - Day 4 of Race 9 (Tuesday 27 March) has been a case of ‘Groundhog Day’ as the light winds that had been a feature of the previous 24 hours continue to frustrate the Clipper Race teams. Despite not…
Heysham Port's New £10m Ro-Ro Ramp Linkspan Berth Installed for Growing Irish Sea Freight
27th March 2018 Ferry
#FerryNews - Heysham Port in recent weeks has had a new ro-ro ramp linkspan installed bringing to three berthing facilities serving the growing Irish Sea trade through the Lancashire port, writes Jehan Ashmore. The £10m investment by the Peel Ports…
#VOR - Richard Brisius, president of the Volvo Ocean Race, has this morning (Tuesday 27 March) issued a statement on Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag crew member John Fisher, who went overboard from the team’s yacht in the Southern Ocean yesterday: This…
Isle Of Man Approves Millions For Port Development To Attract Cruise Liners & Yachts
27th March 2018 Cruise Liners
#IsleOfMan - A new deepwater berth for visiting cruise liners is on the cards for the Isle of Man, following the green light for an £80 million (€91.1 million) project to develop the Irish Sea island’s ports. IBI Plus reports…
Bray Sailing Club’s instructor team for the 2018 sailing season recently spent a day learning about inclusion in sailing with Irish Sailing’s Inclusion Officer, Ciarán Murphy. This training course for the club’s instructors followed last year’s “Try Sailing” courses run…
The Irish National Sailing School and Powerboat School are assisting Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club (PYBC) in Dublin city centre with Easter Sailing Courses. PYBC will offer Easter Sailing and Watersports Courses for children aged 7-17 years.The the success of our programmes is 'rooted…
Rob McConnell's 'Fool's Gold' Signs Up for Howth Yacht Club's Wave Regatta
26th March 2018 Wave Regatta
With under a week remaining before the early bird entry deadline for Howth Yacht Club's Wave Regatta 2018, the latest entry for the June Bank Holiday weekend regatta at the north Dublin venue is planning a highly competitive campaign including…
Viking Marine has taken over the Northern Ireland dealership for Topper Sailboats after Wiclif McCready's retirement from his Hollywood, County Down Chandlery Shop. Topper sailboats offer a wide range of best selling and favourite dinghy boats. The collection includes the…
Isle of Man ISORA Racer for Round Britain & Ireland Race Challenge
26th March 2018 Rd Britain & Ireland
A regular ISORA competitor will take on the marathon Round Britain and Ireland Race double handed class starting on Sunday 12th August, a feat that follows in the wake of Liam Coyne's National Yacht Club First 36.7 Lulu Belle that took double–handed honours…
