Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Below the fold is footage of the last moments of Ireland's sail training vessel, the Asgard II, as she went down off the French coast on September 11, 2008. More than 950 people have now signed the petition to raise…

Just one week to go until the 25th Allianz Dublin Boat Show kicks off in the RDS Simmonscourt for five days jam packed with all the latest the marine leisure industry has to offer. The show is set to take…

The Irish Marine Federation (IMF) is to push for a national maritime policy at next week's Allianz Boat Show at the RDS. It is almost 12 months since the IMF called for its introduction but there is almost no progress…

RTE's marine correspondent Tom MacSweeney claims in his weekly log that a number of issues arise from not raising the vessel, one of which is that the cause of the sinking may never be positively ascertained. Government policy, on safety…

Green Dragon has announced two crew changes for Leg 5 of the Volvo Ocean Race from Qingdao to Rio, which starts on Saturday February 14th 2009. Navigator Ian Moore and helmsman/trimmer Anthony Merrington will stand down for the 12,500 mile…

Irish amateur voyages under sail to Africa and the Arctic were celebrated in Dublin on Friday February 6th at the annual awards ceremony of the Irish Cruising Club. It’s a thriving all-Ireland organization – the current Commodore is Peter Ronaldson…

Team USA 1 from the New York Yacht Club are the 2009 ISAF Team Racing World Champions, defeating the local AUS 1 team in the final in Perth, Australia to successfully defend the title they won two years ago. Ireland…

After waiting patiently over the weekend, the fleet managed to complete two races during today’s In Port race in Qingdao.  There was just enough wind to race (5 - 7 knots maximum), the teams also had to contend with very…

Following the hugely successful stopover there in June 2008, Cork has today been confirmed as an entry in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race. Cork will also be a host port after the final Atlantic crossing in the…

Two Irish yacht clubs, are among 20 from around the world who have accepted an invitation from the New York Yacht Club in the first-ever New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup. Anthony O'Leary and his crew will race for the…

MINISTER FOR Defence Willie O’Dea has been advised to commission the building of a replica Asgard II for the national sail training programme according to a Lorna Siggins report in the Irish Times this morning. The Minister has been advised…

The Sunday Independent reports today that Asgard II is to remain in its watery grave because of the salvage costs involved. Efforts instead will focus on identifying a replacement vessel. The exclusive report by Don Lavery quotes a source close…

Speaking yesterday in Brussels, the Commissioner for Maritime Affairs, Joe Borg has made the following statement on recent proposals on recreational angling. "The Commission has made no proposals to submit all recreational anglers to quotas like commercial fishermen. Let me…

With under two weeks to go, preparations are well underway for the highlight of the marine leisure calendar-The 25th Allianz Dublin Boat Show .This years show is smaller than the 07 show for obvious economic reasons but neverthless brimming with…

Tonight's edition of Seascapes features an item on Asgard and the Afloat petition to raise her. Listen in at 10.30 p.m RTE Radio 1. The petition has now reached nearly 800 signatures as the Irish boating commnuity signals its anger…

According to research just conducted by the Irish Marine Federation (IMF) at ast month's London Boat Show, buying a new boat in Sterling is not cheaper than buying a new boat in Euro. The survey conducted by the industry body…

Simon Coveney TD, a sailor and Fine Gael front bencher has added his voice to the Raise Asgard campaign but fears the worst for the brigantine, lost in French waters five months ago. "It looks like the Government is getting…

Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea will decide on Friday whether the national sail training vessel Asgard II will be salvaged, following its sinking off the northwest coast of France last year. Mr O’Dea told the Dáil that the board of…

The move is on to bring boats to Galway and organisers want boaters  to form an orderly queue for the best spots in the harbour. There's already been some decent chat about it here on the forum. The upshot is…

Friday the 13th may not be the best day to try adventure sports, that’s a given. However, watching adrenaline fuelled adventure films is the perfect way to safely spend the evening. Following the success of WAFF 2008, the organisers have…