Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
#RNLI - Baltimore RNLI carried out a medevac on Sunday night (6 August) for a student on Cape Clear Island off the coast of West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew were tasked to launch their all-weather lifeboat at 10.11pm to…
Sailing for Ireland in Rio but switching to Team GB for Tokyo, Dun Laoghaire sailor Saskia Tidey has notched up a string of top results in her firstseason with scottish helmswoman Charlotte Dobson. Last week the Royal Irish Yacht Club…
The arrival earlier than expected of a fresh nor’wester in the Bay of Biscay in the final approaches to Les Sables d’Olonne at the finish of Stage 2 of Transgascogne 2017 last night put paid to Ireland’s Tom Dolan’s chances…
With just 19 miles to the finish in Les Sables d’Olonne tonight, Ireland’s solo sailor Tom Dolan is currently leading the Mini 650 Class in Stage 2 of the Transgascogne 2017 from Aviles in northwest Spain writes W M Nixon.…
The Rolex Fastnet Race 2017 fleet leader, the MOD 70 trimaran Concise 10 owned by Tony Lawson and skippered by Ned Collier Wakefield, rounded the Fastnet Rock at 15.18hrs this afternoon in a nor’west breeze writes W M Nixon. But…
With many ISORA boat competing in the Fastnet race, a smaller than normal fleet of ten came to the start line in Dun Laoghaire on Saturday 5th August, with useful points in all three classes up for grabs writes Mark Thompson.…
Royal Cork's Kenefick Dismasted in Fastnet Race, Class 40 Entry Retires to Weymouth
7th August 2017 Class40
Royal Cork David Kenefick's Fastnet Race ambitions lie in ruins this evening after a dismasting on his class 40 entry. It's a disappointing outcome because Kenefick was in the mix in the top five of the ultra competitive Class 40…
Another top result for Royal Cork's Mark Mansfield in the Etchells Class this week as he took a podium in Cowes Week, racing as tactician,with Robert Drake. Counting three race wins in the 7 race series they finished with a…
Overnight the fleet in the Rolex Fastnet Race has been made solid progress upwind, tacking on shifts and dipping in and out of the land according to whether or not the tide is favourable. At 0900 Tony Lawson's MOD 70…
Current Youth Sailing Champion Ewan McMahon may be in the superstar role in Irish junior sailing, but the Sutton, County Dublin family who sail out of Howth Yacht Club have a new wave of talent coming along. This was shown…
The GP14 British Nationals got underway yesterday at Looe in Cornwall and two Sutton Dinghy Club crews on the start line. Traditionally the first day sees a practice race followed by the first of nine Championship races. Hugh Gill &…
Tom Dolan Fighting a Tactical Battle for Lead in Stage 2 of Transgascogne 2017
7th August 2017 Tom Dolan
Ireland’s Mini Transat entrant Tom Dolan has had to make some tough tactical decision in the 245-mile Stage 2 from Aviles in Spain back to les Sables d’Olonne in the Mini Transgascone 2017 writes W M Nixon. Although an anticipated…
Record Fleet in Fastnet Race 2017 Face More Windward Work from Land’s End to the Rock
7th August 2017 Fastnet
After beating every inch of the way down the English Channel from yesterday’s spectacular start in the Solent, Rolex Fastnet Race mono-hull leader on the water Rambler 88 (George David) has this morning been facing lighter airs and much slowed…
#MarineWildlife - Wildlife watchers have been baffled by the sighting of an Arctic seal in West Cork, as the Irish Examiner reports. Bearded seals, marked by their pale pelt and distinctive long whiskers, are usually found between the far north…
#RNLI - At 11.36am yesrerday (Sunday August 6), Lough Derg RNLI were diverted from exercise after a motorboat fouled its propellers on a line and suffered engine failure. The 25ft boat with six people on board was reported to be…
Following months of meticulous preparation for crews and organisers alike, a record-breaking edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race is underway and in some style. The largest fleet in the race’s 92-year history, comprising 368 yachts from 29 countries, were treated…
'I Stopped Breathing & Passed Out': Royal Cork's Johnny Durcan Recovering in Hospital After Capsize Accident at 29er Worlds
6th August 2017 29er
Royal Cork's top youth sailor Johnny Durcan has been involved in a serious incident competing at the 29er world championships where he was trapped under his skiff dinghy during a capsize. The top Laser sailor is recovering in hospital in…
It’s classic Fastnet Race Day One evening conditions, with the fleet plugging to windward along the coast of Dorset, and the tide about to turn foul at Portland Bill writes W M Nixon. With the relatively rapid progress westward through…
East coast sailors emerged top of the three Laser divisions after a very tricky day at sea at the Rush Sailing Club hosted Leinster Championships writes our special correspondent. Three races sailed bringing in a discard. Overall results, subject to protest,…
#Mirror - Caolan Croasdell and Alexander Farrell of Lough Ree Yacht Club were the best of the Irish at the Mirror Worlds in Falmouth this week, placing 13th overall in the 51-boat fleet. Highlights for the Irish contingent over the…
