Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Andy Thompson of East Antrim BC is “Sailor of the Month (Worlds)” for February
1st March 2024 Sailor of the Month
We’ve become accustomed to veteran dinghy racing superstar Andy Thompson of Larne suddenly emerging into the spotlight again at some world championship, and he has already made his annual mark for 2024 by brilliantly crewing for Tom Gillard at Geelong…
Ed Wheeler of County Down is Afloat.ie “Sailor of the Month (Voyaging & Services to Sailing)” for February
1st March 2024 Sailor of the Month
Ed Wheeler’s extraordinary career in sailing has ranged from racing the first International Cadet dinghy to be seen on Belfast Lough in the early 1950s (he won Ballyholme YC’s famous Lufra Cup for the big-fleet end-of-season pursuit race) to solo…
Colin Leonard of Strangford Lough and Ballyholme is “Sailor of the Month (International & Cruising)” for February
1st March 2024 Sailor of the Month
There seem to be two Colin Leonards prominent in the sailing scene in the north, but in fact, it’s one and the same man making the best of several possibilities. Colin Leonard of Ballyholme was tops in the medal stakes…
Mark Lyttle of the National YC is February “Sailor of the Month (International)”
1st March 2024 Sailor of the Month
Mark Lyttle’s devotion to the Laser/ILCA class is truly world league, as he has continued to race the boat for decades, from success at junior level right up to becoming World Grand Master Champion on Dublin Bay in 2018. There’s…
Windy conditions marked the first day of the 44Cup Calero Marinas in Lanzarote on the Canary Islands, in which Irish crews compete in the owner-driver high-performance keelboat league. As Afloat reported previously, Royal Cork Yacht Club's Grattan Roberts is the latest…
Joint Award Presented to National Yacht Club and Ruffian Association at MG Sailing Club of the Year Ceremony
1st March 2024 National YC
The prestigious MG Sailing Club of the Year Ship's Wheel was awarded to both the National Yacht Club and the Ruffian Association at a presentation ceremony at Dun Laoghaire Harbour on Thursday evening, February 29th. As Afloat's WM Nixon announced…
The Famous Project’s All-Female Crew in Transatlantic Challenge After RORC Caribbean 600 Success
29th February 2024 Women in Sailing
Fresh from their third-place finish in the RORC Caribbean 600’s multihull class and multiple training laps around the island of Antigua itself, the seven-strong The Famous Project crew — which includes Ireland’s own Pamela Lee and Joan Mulloy — have…
Sligo County Council to Pay €2,600 in Fines and Costs for Damage to Salmon Habitat
29th February 2024 Angling
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has secured a conviction against Sligo County Council for damage caused to a tributary of a river linked to a Special Area of Conservation. The incident happened at Carraun in Corballa, Co Sligo on a stream…
Portrush RNLI Welcomes Causeway Shantymen as RNLI Water Safety Ambassadors
29th February 2024 RNLI Lifeboats
Portrush Lifeboat Station has welcomed “aboard” the Causeway Shantymen as the latest RNLI Ambassadors. The Causeway Shantymen have become ambassadors for the RNLI during its 200th year. They have drawn great inspiration from a collaboration with Portrush RNLI and hope…
Emirates Team New Zealand Gifts New Fleet of Elliott 7s to Boost Youth Sailing Programme
29th February 2024 Match Racing
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) and Emirates Team New Zealand has gifted a brand new fleet of Elliott 7s to support the country's Youth Sail Training Programme. The new boats, equipped with brand new North Sails and the…
Irish Solo Sailor Tom Dolan to Showcase "Around My Island" TV Documentary at Irish Cultural Centre in Paris
29th February 2024 Tom Dolan
Renowned Irish solo sailor Tom Dolan is set to showcase his upcoming documentary "Around my Island" this St. Patrick's weekend at the Irish Cultural Centre in Paris. The documentary focuses on Dolan's record-breaking attempts to sail solo around Ireland's coastline.…
RS21 International Class Association Announces Entries Open for World Championship 2024
29th February 2024 RS21 Keelboat
The RS21 International Class Association has announced the opening of entries for the highly anticipated RS21 World Championship 2024. The championship, which is set to take place at the prestigious Club Nautic L'Escala in Spain from 21st to 28th September,…
Royal Ocean Racing Club Announces the Return of the Easter Challenge Regatta
29th February 2024 RORC
The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) has announced the return of its Easter Challenge, a much anticipated event that kick-starts the racing season for many teams. The training regatta, which has been running for over 20 years, offers an excellent…
We regret to record the death of Clayton Love Jr, a founder of the Irish Yachting Association, now Irish Sailing. Born in 1929, Clayton held the office of President of the IYA for a decade between 1962 and 1972, establishing…
Transition year students from a Kerry secondary school have urged the Government to take action to end “unsustainable pair trawling” in Kenmare Bay. The students from Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine Kenmare, Co Kerry had been invited to the Oireachtas on Wednesday,…
Coville Due on Ultim Challenge Finish Line Around 1300hrs Today, Armel Le Cléac’h Has Night of Repairs
29th February 2024 Ultim Challenge
Early yesterday evening, Armel Le Cléac'h, skipper of the Maxi Banque Populaire XI, reported that he had sustained damage of the foredeck of the boat which led to an ingress of water. After spending the night fixing the problem Armel…
The “gutting” of the Naval Service has exposed Ireland’s vulnerability to a “massive increase in drugs being channelled from Irish waters into mainland Europe”, according to Aontú candidate Patrick Murphy. Murphy, who is chief executive of the Irish South and…
Shipbuilder and shiprepairers, Cammell Laird on Birkenhead has secured a £2m contract to build two mooring dolphins on the River Mersey for Stanlow Terminals. Stanlow Terminals is a division of Stanlow Oil Refinery operator EET Fuels. Cammell Laird is set…
Nature Restoration Law Approval Welcomed by Two Government Ministers
28th February 2024 Marine Wildlife
Two Government ministers have welcomed the European Parliament vote approving the Nature Restoration Law. While the controversial legislation has a strong land-based focus, it includes important elements aimed at improving water quality in member states. Minister for Marine Charlie McConalogue…
Royal Cork Yacht Club Announce Waterman Kelly On Board as Sponsors for 2024 Irish Youth Sailing Nationals
28th February 2024 Royal Cork YC
Waterman Kelly Consulting Engineers has pledged its support for the upcoming Irish Youth Sailing Nationals, which is scheduled to be held at the Royal Cork Yacht Club in April. The Cork Harbour competition is expected to draw around 200 sailors…