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Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Robert Dickson and Seán Waddilove competing in 2023’s Semaine Olympique Française
The world’s best Olympic sailors have made Hyères on the French Riviera their meeting spot each April for more than 50 years. And this year the stakes are even higher, as the 55th edition of Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères…
Net seized by fisheries officers at the Grand Canal near Monasterevin on 27 May 2023
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has secured convictions against two men for illegal netting, with fines and costs reaching €8,000. Valiulis Dalius and Bloslanas Dzapbarovas, both of Kilnamanagh in Dublin 24, were prosecuted for using a net to capture fish in…
File image of a brown trout caught and released at Lough Sheelin
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has secured convictions against three men in two separate cases of illegal angling on Lough Sheelin. Jason Bennett of Blue Ball, Co Offaly and Thomas McCarthy of Tullamore, Co Offaly were prosecuted for trolling — where…
Aran island lifeboat coxswain Aonghus Ó hIarnáin and the O'Connell family - Daniel, Lena, Lena's mother Margaret Gill, and Jack and Olive (their younger brother Eoghan had left for a match)
An Aran island family with several generations of volunteering with the RNLI lifeboat are featured in the first episode of a special series of RTÉ Radio 1’s Seascapes to mark the RNLI’s bicentenary. The three-part series also carries an interview…
The Ocean Protector is one of three EFCA offshore patrol vessels (OPVs)
An offshore patrol vessel with the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) has berthed in Dublin to mark the 20th anniversary of the North Western Waters Advisory Council and the Pelagic Advisory Council. The Ocean Protector is one of three EFCA…
LÉ George Bernard Shaw (P64) is to sail into Dún Laoghaire Harbour for the St Patrick’s weekend. The crew will also be taking part in the town’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, on Sunday at 11am. The Naval Service Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) will be open to the public for guided tours by crew from 12–3 p.m. on Saturday 16th and 1.30-4pm on Sunday 17th. They are free of charge, no booking is required, & last approx. 20 minutes. AFLOAT adds that this is the fourth and final of the P60 class which entered service in 2016, and has a crew of 44, including six officers.
Dún Laoghaire Harbour this Friday is to welcome the Naval Service OPV LÉ George Bernard Shaw (P64) ahead of the St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations. The Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) is named after the renowned playwright George Bernard Shaw, who had…
Green Rebel Marine in the USA -  Tadg Murphy, CTO Water Technology Ltd and Kieran Ivers, CEO Green Rebel with former Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi
Irish offshore energy survey company Green Rebel is among the Irish companies that are scaling rapidly and are showcasing their products in the United States this week as part of Enterprise Ireland's trade mission. Green Rebel is attending events in…
Fast-ferry Manannan during berthing trials at the new Isle of Man Steam Packet Terminal in Liverpool. According to the IOM Government, the start date of the first scheduled public sailing to arrive at the new terminal will follow the completion of the trials and be confirmed by the Steam Packet in due course.
The Isle of Man Steam Packet’s fast-ferry Manannan made its first berthing trials on Merseyside’s new £70 million ferry terminal at Liverpool, from where they will connect Douglas. The 1998 built Manannan, which operates seasonal services, undertook the exercise yesterday…
'A Climate-resilient Path for Ireland's Marine Protected Areas' - pictured are Jack O’Donovan Trá, Fair Seas Communications Officer; Dr Donal Griffin, Fair Seas coordinator; and Grace Carr, Marine Advocacy Officer for The Irish Wildlife Trust
Irish marine areas that can promote biodiversity in the face of worsening climate change have been identified in a new report by Fair Seas, a coalition of leading environmental NGOs and networks. The report commissioned research to determine the areas…
Finishing the Ultim Challenge Race round the world course is a major triumph for Péron
Éric Péron sailing ULTIM ADAGIO crossed the finish line of the Ultim Challenge at 14 h 44 27" to finish in fifth position, the final skipper to complete the 22, 460 nautical miles course which started on Sunday 7th January. His…
A new rating is expected to promote non-spinnaker racing in Dublin Bay, offering a fair opportunity for all class members
Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) has recently announced the introduction of a new non-spinnaker rating for CR4 and CR5 to promote white sails racing in Dublin Bay. The move comes following the success of the VPRS rating system in the…
George Radley Jrs' Skipper 70 Pat Mustard crew on their way to an overall IRC win of the Moonduster Trophy in Cove Sailing Club's 2023 Cobh to Blackrock Race in Cork Harbour
There are two interesting changes planned in Cork Harbour racing this season, for cruisers and dinghies. Two separate Cobh-Blackrock Races are planned, and the Cork Harbour Cruiser Joint Clubs league will be reintroduced. The Cobh/Blackrock Race is a big traditional…
Constantin Claviez' Swan 44 Charisma, with a crew of seven, took 23 days to complete the Transatlantic Race 2023
It’s the middle of a foggy night in the North Atlantic. The breeze is fickle and there is nary a star or land sight to guide the yacht. It’s the sort of weather that drives helmspeople insane as they chase…
Charlina Vitcheva, the European Commission’s director-general for maritime affairs and fisheries
Regional management of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is due to be discussed at a conference in Dublin Castle today. Key speakers at the event will include Charlina Vitcheva, the European Commission’s director-general for maritime affairs and fisheries, along…
Class of 2023 - The Irish Sailors of the Year of 2023 (clockwise from top left): Adrienne Cahalane, Paul O'Higgins, Chris Bateman, Pamela Lee, Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove, Lucia Cullen and Alana Twomey, Cian McCarthy and Sam Hunt, Niall and Ronan O'Briain, Rocco Wright, Anthony O'Leary, Ben O’Shaughnessy and Ethan Spain, Justin Slattery, Tiernan Roe, Clementine and Nathan Van Steenberg, Tom Nolan, Nigel Young and Will Byrne, Andy Thompson, Duncan Sclare, Barry Cunningham, Jame and David Dwyer, Eve McMahon, Ron O'Hanley, Gary McMahon, Cillian Dickson, John Minnis, Sienna Wright, Aongus O Cualain, David Beattie, Cian Guilfoyle, Russell Bolger, Jack Fahy and UCD team, Rory Whyte, Tom Higgins, Micheal O'Suilleabhain, Ann Kirwan, Johnny Murphy, Don O'Dowd, Harry Dunne, Finn Lynch, Lawrie Smith, Dave O'Shea, Seamus O’Connor, Tom Dolan and Dave Kenefick
The Irish Sailor of the Year Award will be presented on Friday, March 22nd, at the Irish Sailing Awards in Howth Yacht Club, Co. Dublin. One of the highlights of the evening will be the announcement of the 2023 winner, chosen…
The Erne in Enniskillen will be illuminated for St Patrick’s Day this weekend
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and users of the Erne System in Northern Ireland that the St Patrick’s Illuminated Flotilla will take place in Enniskillen this Saturday evening 16 March. The event runs from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, starting at…
Movanagher Lock on the Lower Bann
Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Lower Bann navigation in Northern Ireland that the installation of new lock gates at Movanagher Lock has been completed as of Wednesday 13 March and the navigation is…
Boats moored in Scottish waters
The Scottish Government’s Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill that would have forced marinas and other mooring providers to charge a levy on visitor accommodation — including mooring and berthing for boats — has now been amended. As previously reported on Afloat.ie,…
Manchán Magan on Achill island, Co Mayo in a new documentary series on TG4
Mayo’s Achill island is first stop on a tour of Ireland’s holy wells for a new documentary series on TG4. “As islanders we have a special draw to the sea, the sea attracts people and has kept us alive,” the…
Dun Laoghaire's "Living Streets" programme to pedestrianise parts of the town adjoining the harbour moved a step closer following a marathon council meeting. As RTÉ and The Irish Times report, councillors voted in favour of the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County…

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