Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

#VOR - Dongfeng Race Team and Team AkzoNobel claimed the first bragging rights of Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race, three days into the sprint to Hong Kong, as their bid to punch further offshore paid dividends. Both teams,…

It will take some time to fully assess the many damaging effects of Storm Eleanor, which this week barrelled into Galway Bay in a very focused tunnel of extreme winds just as an exceptionally high Spring Tide was hitting the…

#FerryNews - According to the Edinburgh News, a ferry company has said it is willing to enter talks with the Scottish Government about a new ferry route between Scotland and Scandinavia. P&O Ferries said it was “always looking for new…

Royal St. George's Michael O'Connor, John Malone and Ed Cook are 15th overall after day two of the SB0 pre-Worlds regatta that has provided competitors with two exhilarating races on Hobart’s River Derwent today. The World Championships start on Sunday and…

Spain reigned supreme as the 2017 420 World Championships drew to a close today, 3 January 2018, in Fremantle, Australia, having secured gold, silver and bronze in the 420 Open Fleet and gold in the U17 fleet. There was no…

Four lucky teenagers from across the island of Ireland are on their way to New Zealand to take part in a once in a lifetime 10-day youth development tall ship voyage on the stunning Spirit of New Zealand. The Atlantic…

#Ports&Shipping - Arklow Venus, the newest ship of the fleet that was launched in October is currently undergoing sea trials on an estuary along the Dutch-German border, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 89m Arklow Venus is part of the continues upgrading…

The Irish Cruiser Racing Association (ICRA) is running a workshop to examine the future role of ICRA this month. ICRA has issued an invitation to clubs and individuals that are key to the development of cruiser racing with a view…

Howth has long been a popular gathering port for the fishing fleet from near and far as they berth their craft securely for the Christmas-New Year break, as it has all facilities ashore, and full protection in the fish dock…

#Angling - Inland Fisheries Ireland has launched its Sponsorship Fund for 2018 which will support angling events and initiatives across the country. The fund supported 79 events and initiatives across 19 counties to the tune of €30,000 in 2017, with…

#InlandWaters - The Waterways Ireland 2018 Event Programme is open for 2018 and welcoming applications from waterways and waterside communities seeking support to start and grow sustainable events. Taking place annually for the past 12 years, the programme has supported…

2017 was the best season for Irish Sea offshore racing (ISORA) in many years with 68 boats taking part in the 15-race series writes ISORA Chairman Peter Ryan. In 2016, 54 boats took part. To put these numbers in context, in…

#Jobs - The closing dates for applications are approaching for number of temporary research and administrative vacancies with the Marine Institute. A self-motivated, enthusiastic and experienced Administrative Assistant (Executive Officer) is being sought to ensure high quality, timely and accurate reporting…

Few international sporting events gives a stronger sense of the cohesive nature of the Irish diaspora than the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Race writes W M Nixon. For there were certainly sailors of Irish descent in the first race of…

Irish Beneteau dealer BJ Marine is back on the water early in 2018 after a strong run of boat sales brought 2017 to a buoyant close for the County Wicklow firm.  As Afloat.ie reported earlier, last Autumn's Cannes and Southampton…

#Coastguard - The Irish Coast Guard saved 335 lives and assisted more than 3,300 people in 2017, as RTÉ News reports. Among the details of its end of year review, the coastguard said its volunteer units and helicopter SAR crews…

#StormEleanor - Just days after Storm Dylan swept across the north of Ireland, winter storm number five is set to move in off the Atlantic later this afternoon (Tuesday 2 January). Met Éireann has issued a Status Orange weather warning…

#NorthSails - North Sails Ireland is looking back on a record-breaking year in 2017 for the global sailmaker's offshore clients, all of whom were using its 3Di performance sails. Last January, Armel Le Cleác’h sailed Banque Populaire VIII around the world…

#FerryNews - Irish Continental Group (ICG) parent company of Irish Ferries, is to invest in a €165.2m cruise ferry that will be the world's largest in terms of vehicle capacity when completed by German shipbuilder Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesselschaft (FSG). The cruise…

#VOR - Overall Volvo Ocean Race leader MAPFRE was at the head of the fleet off the starting line as the boats raced up Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay immediately after the start for Leg 4 to Hong Kong earlier today…