Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Bouncing back after what he termed the 'disappointment' of January's World Cup top half result in Miami, the National Yacht Club's Laser ace, Finn Lynch was on the podium at Andalusian Week in the Bay of Cadiz this week. After six…
#Navy - It is expected the Government is to announce next Tuesday to agree to send two Naval Service ships to the Mediterranean in an effort to help the European Union’s mission to rescue migrants and reduce people-smuggling . If…
#RNLI - Baltimore RNLI were called out on Monday afternoon (26 February) to a fishing trawler that had broken down 50 miles south of Baltimore in West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 2.12pm after the…
Postponed: Glenua Presentation “From the Aegean to the Fastnet Race 2017"
28th February 2018 Coastal Notes
#CoastalNotes - “Even Dermot Cronin, just home from competing in the 2018 Caribbean 600 in stormy conditions more typical of the Fastnet Race, can’t compete with “The Beast from the East”! Consequently, the weather forecast for tomorrow (Thursday 1 March)…
As expected 'The Beast from the East' arrived through the night and forecasters now say this severe winter weather is considered very likely to last a week or longer. It's time to check the boat and avoid the five most common…
The world’s oldest original operational lighthouse at Hook Head has been developing a series of unusual events. To mark the “beginning of Spring” it celebrates Ireland’s ‘Fire Goddess', by staging the first Imbolc Festival to be celebrated at the 800-year-old lighthouse.…
#Rowing: The year 2018 is set to be big one for Rowing Ireland. The National Rowing Centre will host a festival of rowing over three weeks in July. The Irish Championships, with an anticipated entry of over 1,100 crews, is…
#Rower of the Month: The Afloat Rower of the Month for February is Paul O’Donovan. The Skibbereen quartet of Mark O’Donovan, Shane O’Driscoll, Paul O’Donovan and Gary O’Donovan warmed slowly to their task in competing in the New Zealand Rowing…
Team AkzoNobel Holds Off Late Charge To Win Epic Volvo Ocean Race Leg 6 Into Auckland
27th February 2018 Ocean Race
#VOR - Team AkzoNobel has won Leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race, racing 6,344 miles from Hong Kong to Auckland in 20 days, 9 hours and 17 minutes and 26 seconds. The result came after an epic final 24…
Last Sunday, Wexford Sub Aqua Club, presented the Kilmore Quay branch of the RNLI, with a cheque for €1,000. The presentation was done just before the crew went out for their scheduled morning training exercise. This money was raised by…
Trinity Sailing Club Race at RYA BUSA Ladies Team Racing National Championships
27th February 2018 Team Racing
Last weekend (24/25 February), Dublin University Sailing Club Women’s Team travelled to Glasgow to compete in the annual RYA BUSA Ladies Team Racing National Championships. It was the first time in years that Trinity has sent a team to this…
Bord Pleanala Defers for Tenth Time on Cork Harbour's Ringaskiddy Incinerator
27th February 2018 Cork Harbour
Bord Pleanala has deferred for a tenth time a decision on the Ringaskiddy Incinerator in Cork Harbour. A decision, originally due by July 2016, following nine subsequent deferrals was listed for 28 February 2018. Bord Pleanala now say that a…
#Ports&Shipping - The Scottish south-western Ports of Ayr and Troon has been further reinforced by the completion of upgrades at Troon harbour, another project aimed at positioning the port for future growth. According to Associated British Ports (ABP) following extensive…
The loss of young sailors to the sport is an issue that has been identified by many clubs around the country and at national level. Other sports can be more attractive to younger age groups, particularly it seems as teenagers…
Arranmore RNLI Welcome Onboard New Volunteers & Honorary Station President
26th February 2018 RNLI Lifeboats
#RNLI - Arranmore RNLI has just announced some new recruits to the lifeboat station, including an honorary president and three volunteer lifeboat crew. Majella O’Donnell has been appointed station president. Majella met with the lifeboat crew last Tuesday 20 February at…
There's an unexpectedly icy welcome for the Dragon fleet in Cannes, this week where the 'Beast from the East' is making its presence felt earlier in the South of France than it is in Ireland. Unseasonably low temperatures and high winds…
Last week's RORC Caribbean class winner Conor Fogerty, skipper of the Jeanneau Sunfast 3600 BAM!, has given a thumbs up to his new sail wardrobe from North Sails Ireland. The race was very windy with Fogerty, the Irish Sailor of the…
#VOR - The finish of Leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race is shaping up to be a nail-biter after Team AkzoNobel emerged from Stealth Mode on the public tracker on Monday holding the narrowest of leads with just under…
Ron Holland has Former Shipmate Johnny McWilliam to Help Him in Australian Launch of Memoirs
26th February 2018 Book Review
International yacht designer Ron Holland of New Zealand became renowned in 1973 when he won the Quarter Ton Worlds in England with the 24ft Eygthene, which he’d designed himself and then skippered to success writes W M Nixon. The first…
After the zephyrs of last week, the breeze was back yesterday for the DMYC Frostbites and another fleet of 26 boats made the effort to get out and enjoy a brisk afternoon on the water. The wind was projected to…