Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
French Skipper Charles Caudrelier Wins First Ultim Challenge Solo Multihull Race Around the World
27th February 2024 Ultim Challenge
French sailor Charles Caudrelier has emerged victorious in the Ultim Challenge, the first-ever solo multihull race around the world. Caudrelier, skipper of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, crossed the finish line off the coast of Brest on Tuesday morning at…
Isle of Man Steam Packet Sailings Saw Cancellations Up 45% in Final Quarter of 2023
26th February 2024 Ferry
During this winter the number of cancelled ferry sailings operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company have increased for the third consecutive year. The new figures for the final there months of last year show that 46 sailings…
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has welcomed the outcome of its prosecution of Uisce Éireann (formerly Irish Water) for chemical discharges to the Ballymacraven River in Ennistymon, Co Clare in May 2023. At Ennis District Court on Friday 16 February, Uisce…
Flying Start to Season as Thousands Come Together in Farnborough for 2024 RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show
26th February 2024 Watersport
Farnborough International welcomed a vibrant celebration of small boat sailing and board sports at the weekend as thousands descended on the RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show supported by Sunsail (24-25 February). The much-loved season-opening show brought together passion, knowledge and…
A Welshman in his 50s has been found dead on his boat during an attempt to row solo across the Atlantic, as BBC News reports. Michael Holt had set out from Gran Canaria on 27 January with the aim of…
Blustery Day on the Water in Viking Marine DMYC Dinghy Frostbites at Dun Laoghaire Harbour
26th February 2024 DMYC
Sunday’s Viking Marine DMYC Dinghy Frostbites in Dun Laoghaire Harbour were a test for organisers and competitors alike. The forecast suggested a North Easterly breeze, produced on the day, though it was from an ENE direction. Wind strength had been predicted…
Last Hours at Sea for Ultim Challenge Leader Charles Caudrelier as Solo Multihull Round-the-World Race Victory Beckons
26th February 2024 Ultim Challenge
A tantalising three hundred miles from the finish line of the first Ultim Challenge solo round the world race, French skipper Charles Caudrelier spent his 50th birthday and his 50th day of racing since leaving Brest on Sunday, 7th January, keeping…
TG4 Focus on Dingle's Fishing Community in New Maritime TV Series 'Meitheal Mara Chorca Dhuibhne'
26th February 2024 Maritime TV
The Dingle Peninsula's fishing community takes centre stage in a new maritime television series set to air on TG4. The show, which begins on Tuesday, March 5th at 7.30 pm, follows the lives of the locals as they carry out…
Charlotte Borghesi's Team Kidzink Makes History as First UAE and Female-Led SB20 World Champions
26th February 2024 SB20
The recently concluded SB20 World Championship in Dubai witnessed a historic moment as Team Kidzink emerged as the new World Champions. The team, consisting of Charlotte Borghesi as helmswoman, Pippa Kenton-Page as strategist, Artem Basalkin as tactician, and Gonçalo Lopes…
Port of Waterford Makes History with Record-Breaking Cargo Delivery
26th February 2024 Ports & Shipping
The Port of Waterford made history over the weekend as it handled a cargo of a record-breaking scale. The port received a vessel load of 80-metre-long wide-turbine blades, the largest ever in size to be imported to Ireland. The blades…
The news of the death of Johnny Wedick at the age of 78 came as a devastating hammer blow to everyone who had the good fortune to know him. Devoted family man, businessman, sailor and proud Ringsender, Johnny was best…
A preliminary list of cruiser racing events on the Cork coastline lists the Kinsale YC Spring Series set for an Easter Monday start, April 1. At the RCYC in Crosshaven, evening racing is set for a start on Thursday, May…
Reminder of Requirements for Passenger Ship and Crew Transfer Tendering Operations
26th February 2024 Ports & Shipping
The Department of Transport advises ship owners, ship operators, shipmasters, harbourmasters and ships’ agents of the requirements for passenger ships engaged in the tendering of passengers between the ship and the shore and for the transfer of crew/technicians embarking or…
Caudrelier’s Ultim Challenge Finish is Expected to be Between Midnight and Noon
26th February 2024 Ultim Challenge
This Monday morning the Ultim Challenge leader Charles Caudrelier, the solo skipper of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, has about 455 miles to the finish line. But the conditions remain tough all the way to Brest and the leader is staying…
Australia claimed its first SailGP Season 4 win by triumphing over ROCKWOOL Denmark and New Zealand in an action-packed, three-boat Final on Sydney Harbour at the weekend. A dominant performance on home waters throughout the weekend saw the Aussies qualify…
Ben Greenhalgh comes from a Bangor Co Down sailing family, and he races an RS Feva at Port Dinorwic SC near the Welsh Bangor on the Menai Straits. Ben is the joint winner with Topper sailor, Jess Powell, of the…
The Department of Transport advises that it has re-established a panel of surveyors to conduct surveys of small fishing vessels of less than 15 metres in length, to check for compliance with the department’s Code of Practice for such vessels.…
Shannon Navigation: Clarendon Lock Closure for Planned ESB Outage
25th February 2024 Inland Waterways
Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that Clarendon Lock in Knockvicar, Co Roscommon will be closed this Wednesday 28 February from 9am to 5pm due to a planned ESB power outage in…
RYANI Discussing Options for Safe Disposal of Out-of-Date Flares
25th February 2024 RYA Northern Ireland
RYA Northern Ireland says it has been in discussions with British Marine and other stakeholders regarding the safe disposal of out-of-date flares. Marine flares have become increasingly difficult to dispose of in Northern Ireland in recent years, which RYANI recognises…
Funding for a study to identify risks from coastal flooding in south Galway has been approved by Minister of State for the Office of Public Works (OPW) Patrick O’Donovan. A sum of €108,000 has been approved for conducting a study…