Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

#AmericasCup - Hanuman rebounded from a false start to claim victory in the first round of the America’s Cup Superyacht Regatta in Bermuda yesterday (Tuesday 13 June). Optimised for expected light conditions, the J Class fleet leader was quick despite…

One of Jack Roy’s priorities for his presidency of the Irish Sailing Association (ISA) is to get more women involved in sailing. As he wrote for Afloat.ie in April, the ISA wants to encourage greater female participation via a two-pronged…

Even with leading contenders Aurelia (J/122) and Jacana (J/115) scratching (the former with rigging problems, the latter with logistics difficulties), J/Boats still might have it all the way in the remaining fleet of 43 boats in the National YC’s 275-mile…

#EntersService – The new custom-built car ferry Spirit of Rathlin has finally entered service with a first scheduled sailing today on the Rathlin Island link with Ballycastle on the Antrim mainland, writes Jehan Ashmore. Spirit of Rathlin built by Arklow…

A 43–boat fleet are expecting an upwind start and winds gusting to 25–knots for tonight's 7pm Dun Laoghaire–Dingle Race at the National Yacht Club. At start time, winds are expected to shift from a southerly to a south westerly direction…

While everyone who enters the Rolex Fastnet Race dreams of winning or doing well, the event's stature as the world's largest offshore yacht race, means this is often not the only reason for taking part writes James Boyd. Around 400…

#OpenTallships - As one of the world’s largest tallships from the Spanish Royal Navy is visiting Dublin Port, Afloat also highlights a former sail trainee from the Iberian nation that is the centrepiece of a Scottish museum, writes Jehan Ashmore.…

The Volvo Ocean Race will switch from a 3-year to a 2-year cycle after the upcoming 2017-18 edition, a change that will provide more continuity and more commercial value for professional sailing teams, sponsors and Host Cities. It's the latest…

#BantryBay - MS Prinsendam of Holland America Line made her maiden call to Bantry Bay Harbour writes West Cork Times on what was to be the first visit of a cruise liner to Bantry in almost 30 years. Carrying more…

As Ireland's sole representatives, Howth Yacht Club's Laura Dillon with Jonathan Bourke, Rita Gonçalves, Antonio Gois lie just outside the top third of the Dragon World Championships after three races sailed in Cascais, Portgual. As Afloat.ie noted in its daily e–news…

B21S - 1. ISOLDE (B MULKEEN & J MARTIN), 2. BILLY WHIZZ (P SHANNON), 3. VENTUNO (R FOGARTY) COMBINED CRUISERS TUESDAY - 1. D-Tox (P McSswinet et al), 2. Jalapeno (P Barrington et al), 3. Windjammer (L Casey & D…

#Rowing: Margaret Cremen and Aoife Casey have been chosen to represent Ireland at the World Junior Championships in August in Lithuania. The junior double, which took silver at the European Junior Rowing Championships in Germany last month, tops the list…

Mark Pollock, Commonwealth Medal Winner in Rowing, Round Ireland Sailor, Adventurer and Cure for Paralysis activist has launched the inaugural Watersports Inclusion Games, organised by the Irish Sailing Association. The Games is a free event which will allow people of…

#NewFlagship- The latest addition to Cruise & Maritime Voyages fleet of new flagship Columbus as previously referred on Afloat was named at a glittering ceremony held at the London Cruise Terminal in Tilbury. The Godmother to Columbus, who named the…

#Cruising - Leisurely cruising isn’t all that’s on the agenda when the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School’s Elan 36, Beaufort Venture, sails the South East Coast this July. INSS cruising instructor Gary Curran will lead each cruise in a…

Dublin sailors Laura Dillon from Howth Yacht Club and Dun Laoghaire sailor Jonathan Bourke lie 18th after the first race of the  2017 Dragon World Championship in Cascais, Portugal yesterday. The sole Irish entry 'Cloud' is also crewed by Rita Gonçalves and Antonio…

#MarineNotice - Shell E&P Ireland advises that inspection and engineering tasks will take place at the Corrib Gas Field and related offshore infrastructure from this month. The work, due to commence in mid June and last for around 40 days,…

#RNLI - Volunteers from Lough Ree RNLI had a successful training exercise with the Sligo-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 118 yesterday (Sunday 11 June). The lifeboat and helicopter crews came together for a joint training exercise at Lough Ree…

#RNLI - Clogherhead RNLI in Co Louth officially launched the station’s €150,000 Shannon lifeboat appeal on the final day of the Drogheda maritime festival yesterday (Sunday 11 June). The total cost of Clogherhead’s new Shannon class all-weather lifeboat will be…

#Amundsen - A unique exhibition on Roald Amundsen’s expedition to the South Pole was officially opened at NUI Galway by Seán Kyne TD, Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources, on World Oceans Day (Thursday 8 June). A…