Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Hello and welcome to my weekly Podcast …. Tom MacSweeney here …. As Winter approaches and onshore activity at clubs begins to focus on annual meetings, conversation topics, I find, seem to focus on perennial issues about the state of…

#Lighthouses - The Research and Radionavigation team (R&RNAV) that supports the three General Lighthouse Authorities (GLAs) of the UK and Ireland - Irish Lights, the Northern Lighthouse Board and Trinity House will now be known as GLA Research and Development (GRAD).…

Christmas is less than six weeks away — but no need to fret, as Viking Marine has many wonderful gift ideas for all the sailors in your life. Whether they’re only starting out or an ‘ancient mariner’, a dinghy enthusiast…

Parasailing and kiteboarding have been added to the list of events at the 2019 RYA Youth Championships to take place in Weymouth next spring. Entries are now open for the new-look regatta from 12-19 April 2019, which also welcomes the…

Viking Marine is currently looking to recruit some hard-working and experienced sailing enthusiasts to work full time and part time as sales assistants in its Dun Laoghaire store. If you are an experienced sailor with dinghy and yachts knowledge and…

After two races of the DBSC Turkey Shoot Series, it is Dublin Bay newcomer 'Hot Cookie' that that leads the 72–boat fleet in the pre-Christmas seven–race fixture sponsored by Citroen. The John O'Gorman skippered Sunfast 3600, that will collect the best…

#Ports&Shipping - In Dublin, the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine will meet today (Tuesday, 13th Nov.) to discuss the impact of Brexit on agriculture, food and fisheries. Representatives from the British Irish Chamber of Commerce and the…

Viking Marine in Dun Laoghaire has something special in store for this year’s Black Friday sales. Be sure to visit next Friday 23 November for exclusive savings and major discounts on clothing, safety equipment, boat hardware and more. And be…

Jonny Fullerton chats with Boat Builder Nathan Batchelor at Ovington Boats regarding the development of the Flying Fifteen and the future prospects for the class. The Flying Fifteen is described as ‘the original sportsboat’ although unlike today’s modern sportsboats, it…

#Ferry- Ferries from Ireland, BBC News reports, could bypass Welsh ports and the UK entirely if it leaves the EU without a deal, a body representing Ireland's trucking industry has said. Verona Murphy, the President of Irish Road Haulage Association,…

Warrenpoint Port has commissioned a new crane and has commenced the refurbishment of two other cranes following a major £3 million capital investment. The new crane, built and supplied by Finnish manufacturer Konecranes, will significantly improve efficiency at the Port…

Lough Ree RNLI assisted two people on a barge that had run aground in Hudson Bay. At 6.03pm yesterday (Monday,12 November) Lough Ree RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew were tasked by the Irish Coast Guard in Malin Head to a barge,…

Lough Derg RNLI’s new lifeboat, the Atlantic 85 B911 Jean Spier arrived at the Station yesterday.  On Saturday, November 10, the Naming Ceremony for the new lifeboat, the Jean Spier, took place at the RNLI Lifeboat College at Poole in…

#Ports&Shipping - The Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) the State agency responsible for the development, promotion and marketing of the shipping and services sector, have produced a report, "Implications of Brexit on the Use of the Landbridge". Published online yesterday…

Following Saturday's agm and prizegiving dinner at the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire, ISORA has published its 2019 fixtures calendar but it is in 'draft' form until matters at Holyhead can be settled following the break up of the Welsh…

When we’d flash floods pestering the country recently with wayward downpours, Gary MacMahon went to check out the beloved Ilen in Limerick docks, and found the old girl sitting serenely under her own private rainbow writes W M Nixon But…

Chris Johnston's Beneteau 31.7 has won Dublin Bay Sailing Club's Newsom Cup for the best one-design boat in the club's 2018 Summer sailing season. It is one of six premier awards to be made by the club at the end…

The Flying Fifteen class Mitsubishi Frostbite series continued over the weekend with Race 7 and 8 at the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire on Dublin Bay. Twelve boats made it to the start line including visitors Stuart and Tim…

The winter mooring period has begun and with it a number of changes to the operation of Waterways Ireland’s moorings. Winter mooring is available on Waterways Ireland moorings on the River Shannon for the 5 month period 1 November –…

Fenit and Kilrush RNLI were involved in a major multi-agency search and rescue operation last night for a windsurfer who was missing at sea for seven hours. Fenit RNLI was requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat at 5.34pm yesterday evening…