Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
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RYANI Discussing Options for Safe Disposal of Out-of-Date Flares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…
Industrial Strategy for Offshore Renewable Energy Due Shortly - Coveney
25th February 2024 Power From the Sea
Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney has said he intends to publish an offshore renewable energy (ORE) industrial strategy very shortly. A draft of the strategy was due to be presented to Cabinet this week, he told the third annual national…
Irish Match Racing Association Established and May National Championship Date Announced
25th February 2024 Match Racing
The Irish Match Racing Association (IMRA) has been established with a clear mission: to promote and cultivate match racing across Ireland. Match racing has been gaining popularity in Dun Laoghaire and other local clubs, but IMRA aims to broaden the…
National Yacht Club Salutes Its 2023 Outstanding Sailing Achievements
25th February 2024 National YC
The National Yacht Club's annual Sailing Awards Dinner was held at Dun Laoghaire Harbour on Saturday night. The event saw the presentation of fifteen awards for outstanding sailing achievements. The club's Commodore, Peter Sherry, awarded the prizes to several deserving…
Kinsale Yacht Club has cancelled racing on Sunday, 25th February, due to the adverse weather forecast. KYC Race Officer John Stallard will run the next Frostbite races for Squibs and dinghies sailing on Sunday, March 3rd. Easterly winds are expected…
Wicklow RNLI Rescues Three Fishermen After Mechanical Failure at Sea
24th February 2024 RNLI Lifeboats
Three fishermen were rescued by the Wicklow RNLI on Thursday afternoon, February 22. The fishermen were brought to safety after their vessel developed mechanical problems three miles southeast of Wicklow Head. The lifeboat, RNLB Bridie O’Shea, was dispatched from the…
Caudrelier is Back on Track for Ultim Challenge Finish on Monday or Tuesday
24th February 2024 Ultim Challenge
Charles Caudrelier, skipper of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, race leader of the Ultim Challenge left his Azores weather stopover at 0945hrs UTC this morning, according to race direction. He has just over 1,100 miles to go to the race finish…
There will be “no hierarchy” of access to Ireland’s sea areas under its new maritime licensing system, the head of the new Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) has said. MARA chief executive officer Laura Brien was speaking at the third…
Ultim Challenge Leader Caudrelier Expected to Restart from the Azores Today
24th February 2024 Ultim Challenge
Sheltered in the Azores since last Wednesday, the leader of the Ultim Challenge Race Charles Caudrelier should leave today which could see him cross the finish line between Monday noon and Tuesday noon according to Race Direction. In second Thomas Coville…
Northern Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir met with members of the Northern Ireland Fishing Harbour Authority (NIFHA) and local fishers during a visit to Portavogie Harbour in Co Down this week. The visit on Wednesday…
Waterways Ireland Announces New Sale of Craft Removed from Navigations
24th February 2024 Inland Waterways
Waterways Ireland proposes to dispose, by public tender, of a number of vessels removed from the inland waterways under its purview. Sixteen vessels are presently stored by Waterways Ireland at Shannon Harbour, Co Offaly on the Grand Canal. All vessels…