Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Marine Environment and Water Quality Among Research Projects Approved Under EPA Funding Round
17th February 2024 Marine Science
Research into nature-based solutions for water quality and ecology and “digital twins” for coastal areas are among topics the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is funding under a 14.3 million euro round. The funding of 33 new research projects covers research…
A spectacular fleet of 70 boats, ranging from 29ft (9m) to 82ft (25m), will take the start of the 15th edition of the 600 nautical miles 2023 RORC Caribbean 600 on Monday, 19th February 2024. Crews from around the globe,…
Irish Cruising Club Celebrates Four Years Of Success With David Beattie As Commodore
17th February 2024 W M Nixon
Last night’s Annual General Meeting of the 1929-founded Irish Cruising Club in Dublin was more than the usual agenda-guided review of a year of activity afloat, a time-honoured long look at twelve months of varied cruising and voyaging on waters…
Loughs Agency to Lead €1.6m Europe-Wide Project Monitoring Marine Life
16th February 2024 Loughs Agency
The Loughs Agency is set to lead a major marine tracking project after €1.6m of EU funding was secured by the European Tracking Network (ETN). The successful bid came following an open call for funding by the EU’s Biodiversa+ scheme,…
UAE Team Kidzink Win SB20 World Championships Title as Dubai Crews Take Top Places
16th February 2024 SB20
The SB20 Triple Sailing Championships came to a close after five days of exciting races with Team Kidzink winning the final title. The championship was held at the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club (DOSC) from 29th January to 2nd February 2024.…
Le Cléac'h Heads into Rio de Janeiro Technical Stopover in Ultim Challenge After Damage to Two Rudders
16th February 2024 Ultim Challenge
Second placed skipper on the Ultim Challenge Race Armel Le Cléach is a few miles from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil early this Friday afternoon, set to meet members of his shore team at the start of a technical stopover which is…
The Irish Coast Guard has released images of the new livery for its next generation of search and rescue aircraft. The livery has been designed for the AW189 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, which will be provided under the new ten-year…
Union Hall RNLI Rescue Paddle Boarder in Difficulty at The Warren Beach
16th February 2024 RNLI Lifeboats
On Thursday, the 15th of February, Union Hall RNLI in West Cork responded to a report of a swimmer in trouble at The Warren Beach, Rosscarbery, in West Cork. The call was made to Valentia Coast Guard at 2.44 pm.…
New Stena Line Route of Dublin-Liverpool Sees ‘Freight’ Crossings Completed with First Round Trip Today
16th February 2024 Stena Line
Stena Line launched their new route of Dublin – Liverpool (Birkenhead) with the freight service completing its first round trip to the Irish capital in the early hours of this morning (16 February). The addition of the new route is…
Fireball sailors Tom Gillard of England and Andy Thompson of East Antrim Boat Club in Northern Ireland have been crowned World Champions at the 2024 Fireball Worlds in Geelong, Australia. The duo sailed a near-perfect regatta, rarely falling outside the…
Opportunity Knocks for Eve McMahon at ILCA6 Euros in Athens?
16th February 2024 Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing
Rising star of Irish sailing, Eve McMahon, is all set to compete in the ILCA 6 European Championships in Athens, starting this Sunday. With several top rivals absent, the Howth Yacht Club teen has an excellent opportunity to build on…
Ultim Challenge Race Leader Charles Caudrelier is Back in the Home Hemisphere
16th February 2024 Ultim Challenge
Race leader Charles Caudrelier is back in the northern hemisphere after returning across the Equator at 0744hrs UTC this morning. After a long, slow spell in light airs, Thomas Coville has wind again; Armel le Cléac’h, his ULTIM MAXI Banque…
Brittany Ferries has introduced pet-friendly cabins for the first time on its ferry Armorique, which has restarted the twice-weekly Cork Harbour-Roscoff service. There are 18 ‘pet-friendly’ cabins which, the company says, have been introduced to “significantly enhance capacity for passengers…
Moderate Westerly Winds Forecast for Third Race of DBSC Spring Chicken Series
15th February 2024 DBSC
The AIB DBSC Spring Chicken Series fleet is expecting moderate westerly winds for their third race this Sunday on Dublin Bay. ECHO Handicaps and start times for the 40 boat have been published and are downloadable below As Afloat reported…
With a fleet including several Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV), the Naval Service has only been able to put one such ship into operational duty for the past month due to a combination of mechanical issues and a lack of specialist…
Young Irish Optimist Sailors Gear Up for the IODAI Sprint Series 2024 and Youth Sailing National Championships
15th February 2024 Optimist
Young sailors from all over Ireland are getting ready to compete in the highly anticipated Irish Optimist Dinghy Association (IODAI) Sprint Series 2024 and Youth Sailing National Championships. The Sprint Series, is billed as 'one of the most exciting events…
Damage to Armel Le Cléac'h’s Maxi Banque Populaire XI in Ultim Challenge
15th February 2024 Ultim Challenge
Armel Le Cléac'h’s Maxi Banque Populaire XI, a giant racing trimaran competing in the solo round the world Ultim Challenge race, has suffered damage to its central rudder after an incident. The Banque Populaire team confirmed the news in a…
Study on Protection of Ardmore Bay, Co Waterford Approved for OPW Funding
15th February 2024 Coastal Notes
A study on coastal protection and flood mitigation for Ardmore Bay, Co Waterford has been approved for additional funding by the Office of Public Works (OPW). Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Patrick O’Donovan, sanctioned Waterford County Council’s…
2024 Double Handed World Offshore Championship Confirms Lorient as Hosts
15th February 2024 World Sailing
Lorient Grand Large, Yacht Club de France, and the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) have joined forces to host the 2024 Double Handed World Offshore Championship. The event will feature a fleet of Sun Fast 30 One Design boats and…
Fireball duo Tom Gillard from Sheffield and Andy Thompson from East Antrim Boat Club in Northern Ireland will take a seven-point lead into the final two races of the 2024 Fireball Worlds in Geelong tomorrow as they look to be…