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Displaying items by tag: IRC boats sold

In sailing, Brian C expects the 1720 sports boat class to explode again in the coming months. He says "with a lot of the top IRC boats sold and heading for foreign lands, the 1720 can be picked up easily/cheaply and coupled with only having to find 4 crew plus the skip, its easy and most of all affordable to campaign". PLUS they're great to sail in 25 knots. Join in here.

In power boating, Blimp is looking for help in running the P750 European Championships. "Could you be a marshal?"  Help him here.

On inland waters there will be a public meeting on the Newry-Portadown Canal. We're also keen to get feedback on Waterways Ireland's draft bye-laws here.

And in a new post this morning, there is a suggestion to rewrite the Rules of Sailing. We've had a message from an experienced Irish campaigner who says "there is a huge reluctance to go in to the protest room. Instead people turn a blind eye to all sorts of things on the race course. Not much honour there, really". He says "if we can't self-police what's the point in having all these rules?" He wants just three rules. They're on the forum here.

We want your contribution too! Log in, join 1,000 Irish boating fans and have your say here. Our aim is to provide Irish sailing with a more open environment for discussion than is available in the printed magazine or on the website or elsewhere. A forum for Irish boating of all types. Register and have your say. If you have a news item for us, or want so see more coverage of any particular issue, or just have something to say to Afloat, you can simply email us ([email protected]) Thanks for your interest.

Published in 1720

Every Year Ireland's Search & Rescue Services deliver emergency life saving work on our seas, lakes and rivers.

Ireland's Water Safety Agencies work hard to provide us with the information we need to keep safe, while enjoying all manner of water based activities.

There's no better fun than getting out on the water but being afloat is a responsibility we all need to take seriously.

These pages detail the work of the rescue agencies. We also aim to promote safety standards among pleasure boaters, and by doing so, prevent, as far as possible, the loss of life at sea and on inland waters. If you have ideas for our pages we'd love to hear from you. Please email us at [email protected]

Think Before You Sink - Wear a Lifejacket

Accidents can happen fast on water and there may not be time to reach for a lifejacket in an emergency therefore don't just carry a lifejacket - wear it; if it's not on you, it can't save your life.

Irish Water Safety's Safe Boating Alert:

Check condition of boat and equipment, hull, engine, fuel, tools, torch.

Check the weather forecast for the area.

Check locally concerning dangerous currents and strong tides.

Do not drink alcohol while setting out or during your trip.

Carry an alternative means of propulsion e.g. sails and oars or motor and oars.

Carry a first aid kit on board and distress signals (at least two parachute distress rockets, two red hand flares).

Carry a fire extinguisher, a hand bailer or bucket with lanyard and an anchor with rope attached.

Carry marine radio or some means of communication with shore.

Do not overload the boat - this will make it unstable.

Do not set out unless accompanied by an experienced person.

Leave details of your planned trip with someone ashore - including departure and arrival times, description of boat, names of persons on board, etc.

Wear a Lifejacket at all times.

Keep an eye on the weather - seek shelter in good time.

In Marine Emergencies, call 999 or 112 and ask for Marine Rescue.

Lifejackets Checklist

Ensure Cartridges have not been punctured and are secured firmly.

Ensure all zips, buckles, fasteners and webbing straps are functioning correctly and adjusted to fit the user.

Check that fitted lights are operating correctly.

Ensure that Automatic Inflation devices are fully serviced and in date.

Check that the valve or lifejacket is not leaking.