Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Falmouth Celebrates 50th anniversary of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s Departure in 1968 Golden Globe Race
15th June 2018 Golden Globe Race
Fifty years to the day after Sir Robin Knox-Johnston set out from Falmouth UK in his rugged 32ft yacht Suhaili to become the first man to sail solo non-stop around the Globe, the British master mariner returned yesterday to lead…
Enniskillen Lifeboat Rescues Two After Boat Breaks Free From Jetty During Storm Hector
15th June 2018 RNLI Lifeboats
#RNLI - Enniskillen RNLI rescued two people on Lower Lough Erne after their 42ft cruiser broke free from its jetty during Storm Hector yesterday morning (Thursday 14 June). Belfast Coastguard requested the launch of the inshore lifeboat at 6.42am, with the volunteer…
#Rowing: Athlone Regatta has been cancelled. The weather forecast for Saturday in the area was for strong winds with gusts. The regatta is in its 49th year and this is the third time it has been cancelled for weather reasons.…
#NavyNews - On visit to Cork Harbour writes the Irish Examiner, the Prince of Wales discovered that piloting a ship is like riding a bike – you never lose the knack. More than 40 years after he commanded a British…
Cruiser 0 IRC: 1. Rockabill VI, 2. Wow, 3. Lively Lady Cruiser 0 ECHO: 1. Wow, 2. Rockabill VI, 3. Lively Lady Cruiser 1 IRC: 1. White Mischief, 2. Juggerknot, 3. Bon Exemple Cruiser 1 ECHO: 1. White Mischief, 2.…
#VOR - Skipper Bouwe Bekking led his Team Brunel to a win in Leg 10 of the Volvo Ocean Race over Xabi Fernández’s MAPFRE squad, who claimed second place less than two minutes behind. Brunel crossed the finish line at…
Bray Sailing Club welcomed members of Lakers (a sport and recreation club for children and adults with an intellectual disability) back to the club this week to kick off the “Lakers at Sea” sailing programme. “Lakers at Sea” is a…
2020 Fireball World Championships For Howth Yacht Club's 125th Anniversary Year
14th June 2018 Fireball
The 2020 Fireball World Championships have been awarded to Howth Yacht Club in Dublin. As David O'Brien in the Irish Times Sailing Column reveals here, the top-flight dinghy event will bring competitors from as far as Africa and Australia to…
Brunel Shoots Into The Lead As Intensity Builds Towards Photo Finish In Gothenburg
14th June 2018 Ocean Race
#VOR - Bouwe Bekking’s Team Brunel shot past most of the fleet over the past 24 hours, eventually eking ahead of MAPFRE on Thursday morning (14 June) and taking the lead in Leg 10 of the Volvo Ocean Race. But…
Conall Morrison’s HotelPlanner.com Takes Seventh In Clipper Race New York Leg
14th June 2018 Clipper Race
#ClipperRace - The Clipper Race team of HotelPlanner.com led by Conall Morrison were in excellent spirits as they entered Liberty Landing Marina after taking seventh place in Race 11: Nasdaq Race from Panama to New York. Greeted dockside by supporters…
#StormHector - One sorry yacht owner felt the wrath of Storm Hector today (Thursday 14 June) when their vessel was founded beached near Waterville in Co Kerry, as RTÉ News reports. The Hanse yacht, named Seabiscuit, broke its mooring in…
#Ports&Shipping - The European Commission has drawn up proposals for developing maritime links between Ireland and continental Europe as part of contingency plans for a possible 'no deal' Brexit outcome. As RTE News reports, Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada…
Light winds and strong tides may have made for a difficult first half to the Royal Ocean Racing Club's combined IRC European Championship and Commodores' Cup, but Hampshire Tourist Board conditions graced the Solent for day four of racing where…
#FerryNews - The National Transport Authority (NTA) which regulates sea travel to and from Ireland has said it is examining whether thousands of passengers impacted by Irish Ferries cancelling its summer sailings on the WB Yeats are entitled to compensation.…
UK Needs English Channel Trade Reality Check Looks to Irish Sea Solutions
14th June 2018 Ports & Shipping
#Ports&Shipping - UK trade with continental Europe is likely to be gridlocked when Britain leaves the customs union without a fundamental rethink of English Channel roll-on roll-off (RoRo) services. Peel Ports [a UK ports group incl. Liverpool] is calling on…
#FerryNews - Trying to help people is Britanny Ferries with those who booked with Irish Ferries WB Yeats, but may not be able to accommodate many because they are nearly full for July and August. As the Irish Examiner writes, Brittany…
Taking place soon after the Midnight Race that finished on Saturday afternoon, the ISORA crews of most of the boats had just enough time to take part in the generous hospitality of Douglas Yacht Club’s BBQ and reception before preparing…
The Midnight Race from Liverpool to Douglas, Isle of Man, was being run for the 99th time on Friday 8th June. This is an evening race with the start at 19.30 provided by Commodore of Liverpool Yacht Club, Paul Pratt.…
The operations of the Naval Service at its Headquarters on Haulbowline Island in Cork Harbour are to be reviewed, reports Tom MacSweeney. This follows on the approval by Bord Pleanala of planning permission for the controversial hazardous waste incinerator at…
#VOR - Spanish team MAPFRE shot into the lead of the penultimate Volvo Ocean Race leg as the fleet rocketed round the coast of Scotland on Wednesday (13 June). The painfully light and fickle winds that dogged the seven teams…
