Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is to provide more than €1 million in new grants to support fish and their habitats in rivers nationwide. IFI’s Habitats and Conservation Scheme funding call for 2024 is now live and expressions of interest can…

A newbuild class for a Swedish lake-based shipping operator was launched at Ferus Smit’s shipyard in Leer, Germany, as leadship Thun Resource entered the water last Friday, writes Jehan Ashmore. At the morning launch of Thun Resource, the newbuild became…

Across the Irish Sea, Peel Ports Group on Merseyside and Spanish shipping operator, Suardiaz Lines launched a UK-first Green Automotive manufacturing Hub, which will significantly reduce supply chain emissions in the north-west England.  The £10 million facility which is the…

Irish waters are home to almost 400 sperm whales, and now the Caribbean island of Dominica says it intends to create the world’s first dedicated reserve for this particular cetacean. Dominica has some 200 species named after the waxy substance,…

Cork based shipping group, Irish Mainport Holdings have confirmed the purchase of another ship named Mainport Edge following a ceremony held last week at a shipyard in Fujian, China, writes Jehan Ashmore. Afloat.ie contacted Mainport which said that the vessel was 90%…

Sailing’s highest achievers were honoured at a glittering World Sailing Awards ceremony in Málaga. The 2023 Rolex World Sailor of the Year awards were presented to Tom Slingsby and Kirsten Neuschäfer, in a contest decided by an expert panel and…

The Shannon One Design (SOD) Wolf Regatta celebrated its 50th anniversary following last year’s Centenary of the class, previously reported in Afloat. 50 years ago, in 1973, Donal Gleeson, with his wife Renée, planned an end-of-year regatta, ‘the Wolf regatta’…

In late October and early November, Foyle College became the latest and final school to complete the 2023 Foyle and Carlingford Ambassador Programme after a week of engagement and educational workshops across the Foyle catchment area. On the Monday, 21…

Two of Northern Ireland’s most committed volunteers were recognised at the RYA Volunteer Awards in London last Friday (10 November). Richard Robinson of County Antrim Yacht Club received an Outstanding Contribution award, while Jack Kennedy of Strangford Lough Yacht Club…

Eighteen teams are lined up to contest the 75th Team Racing National Championships in the Royal St George YC in Fireflies this weekend, supported by a team of 35 volunteers on and off the water under the watchful eyes of…

A dredger was tracked arriving to the Port of Waterford today, following works carried out in UK south coast ferry ports on the English Channel, however this week work is to start along the Waterford Harbour estuary, writes Jehan Ashmore.…

The Shanahan team racing Cup returns for the 2023/24 season in a new format at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Hosted by the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School in conjunction with Gonzaga College SJ, the event will be run over three…

Explore the Winter Lights on the River Liffey Like Never Before with the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School this Christmas! There's no better way to embrace the festive spirit than embarking on a Christmas Rib Trip along the River…

A new appointment at The Isle of Man Ship Registry (IOMSR) to further expand its presence in northern Europe, has taken place with a business development manager to focus on the region and Scandinavia. Alexander Christensen, who has a wealth…

Former Kinsale sailor Steph Lyons, the Kildare horsewoman who includes experience of the Sail Training Brigantine Asgard II in her seafaring story, is continuing to add to her remarkable CV in Australia, where she works in a senior role in…

Sightings of rare marine species will increase Ireland’s “scientific and biological knowledge bank”, the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) has said in an appeal during Science Week. The SFPA says it is encouraging the public - and particularly those in the…

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan, and French Energy Minister, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, have marked the initiation of construction work on the Celtic Interconnector project. The Celtic Interconnector will be the first direct energy link between Ireland and…

Blackrock Diving Tower in Galway’s Salthill has been closed due to damage wrought by Storm Debi. Galway City Council says it will remain closed “until damage is assessed and repairs are complete”. Galway city and county sustained both flooding, power…

Last Sunday, the dominant weather feature in the week leading up to the opening Sunday of the Viking Marine-sponsored DMYC Frostbites had been Storm Ciaran. For Sunday past, the weather forecast was dominated by the prospect of Storm Debi, which…

Forty-three dinghies have been competing in the Carrigaline Court Dinghy Frostbite series at Royal Cork Yacht Club over the past two weekends. Racing is set to continue for two more rounds in November after two spectacular days on the water.…