Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Mxed Results for Irish Sailors on the Opening Day of French Olympic Week
22nd April 2024 Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing
French Olympic Week kicked off on Monday, 22nd April 2024, at Hyères (Cote D'Azur). More than 800 sailors from 90 nations competed, including a full Irish squad just months before the Olympic regatta. The week-long event is the last major…
Maiden has won the McIntyre Ocean Globe Race, taking first in IRC handicap rankings against a 14-strong fleet of very experienced and committed sailors. And Maiden’s sailors have also been written into the history books as the first ever all-women…
Emotions Run High as ‘Legend’ Kayaker With Motor Neurone Disease Completes Nationwide Challenge
22nd April 2024 Kayaking
After being diagnosed two years ago with motor neurone disease, which has taken away much of his physical ability, experienced kayaking and outdoor “legend” Adrian Harkin turned his attentions to supporting crucial medical research into the condition. The culmination of…
Tourist Rescued From Cold Waters After Attempting to Swim from Howth Head to Ireland’s Eye
22nd April 2024 Rescue
A tourist was rescued from the waters off Howth in North Co Dublin at the weekend after attempting to swim from Burrow Beach to Ireland’s Eye. As RTÉ News reports, the man in his 20s was discovered clinging to a…
“The families of those who died in the Whiddy Island Disaster, are steadfast in their pursuit of justice and are not going away,” the Irish solicitor who represents the French/Irish Association of Relatives and Friends of the Betelgeuse has told…
Ireland's First Marine National Park - Irish Lights Welcomes Inclusion of Inishtearaght & Skellig Michael Lighthouses
22nd April 2024 Lighthouses
Ireland’s inaugural Marine National Park, Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara,Ciarraí, has been unveiled today and Irish Lights is delighted to announce the inclusion of Inishtearaght and Skellig Michael lighthouses, which have been in operation since the early 1800’s. The significant announcement…
Peel Ports Introduce Hydropower at Eastham Dock in Its Drive to Bring Net-Zero Ambitions Forward
22nd April 2024 Ports & Shipping
The UK's second largest port operator, Peel Ports Group, has today announced its Queen Elizabeth II Dock at Eastham, England, will utilise energy from hydropower. It’s the latest move to drive forward Peel Ports’ ambition to become net-zero across its…
Naval Service Could See Two More Patrol Vessels Back Operating Within Weeks
22nd April 2024 Naval Visits
Since the start of the year, the Naval Service, which was only able to have in operation a single patrol ship within Irish waters, could have two more vessels made available within a matter of weeks. Due to a combination…
Not content to bask in its 140th-anniversary glory, Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) will experiment with using the latest yacht race technology this season to deliver the largest racing programme in Ireland. DBSC Commodore and Race Officer Ed Totterdell, who…
RORC Racing Manager Steve Cole reported glorious conditions for the Cervantes Trophy race start off the Squadron Line with 14 knots from the north west giving a fast downwind sail through the Western Solent. The 110-mile race to Le Havre…
The ever-changing need for compliance has forced Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) to position seven high-tech marks, and some changes in colour requested by members have meant that the familiar old chart of the bay needs a refresh. To identify the…
Kinsale Yacht Club Clinch Inaugural Irish Sailing League Title on Dublin Bay
22nd April 2024 Irish Sailing League
Kinsale Yacht Club emerged as the winner of the inaugural Irish Sailing League 2024 after 20 races sailed off Dun Laoghaire on Sunday. The light wind league was hosted by the Royal Irish Yacht Club and organised by Kenny Rumball and…
Farewell LE Orla (P41) and LE Ciara (P42) as Navy Vessels Depart Cork Harbour for Scrapping
22nd April 2024 Navy
On Sunday afternoon, Cork Harbour was poignantly reminded of passing times as the now decommissioned LE Orla (P41) and LE Ciara (P42) were led out of their home port for the last time, heading overseas for disposal at a scrap…
Monkstown Bay Sailing Club Pair Take Munster Fireball Dinghy Title in Cork Harbour (Photo Gallery Here!)
22nd April 2024 Fireball
Ewen Barry and Sandy Rimmington of the host club are the 2024 Fireball Munster Champions after a six-race regatta held at Monkstown Bay Sailing Club (MBSC) in Cork Harbour. A bumper 24-boat fleet contested the light to medium wind championships that…
European Union (Safe Loading and Unloading of Bulk Carriers) (Amendment) Regulations 2024
21st April 2024 Ports & Shipping
The European Communities (Safe Loading and Unloading of Bulk Carriers) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (SI No 110 of 2024) entered into force on 27 March 2024. Changes to the regulations for the safe loading and unloading of bulk carriers now apply…
Drone Captures Rare Sight of Bottlenose Dolphin Giving Birth Off West Cork
21st April 2024 Marine Wildlife
A rare sight was caught on camera this past week with the birth of a bottlenose dolphin in Glandore Harbour. Following reports on Monday (15 April) to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) of a large gathering near Mizen…
Fourth Dublin Bay 21 'Garavogue' Takes Her Place on New Dun Laoghaire Harbour Mooring
21st April 2024 Dublin Bay 21
The three-restored Dublin Bay 21 vintage one-design wooden yacht fleet on their new moorings off the bandstand at Dun Laoghaire's East Pier since a fortnight ago now have a weekend addition. The trio were joined by the black-hulled beauty Garavogue…
On Sunday afternoon (21 April), the RNLI Helvick Head was called to rescue three boaters who got into difficulty near Helvick Head, southwest of Dungarvan. The Irish Coast Guard requested the assistance of the volunteer crew who launched their inshore…
Half Tonner Swuzzlebubble Dominates Class One at Kinsale's Axiom Spring League
21st April 2024 Kinsale
What a difference a week makes in the Axiom Spring Series for mixed cruisers at Kinsale Yacht Club. From last week's dramas in winter-like conditions to the blue skies and sunburn this week, Race Officer John Corkery and his team…
Howth Yacht Club J109 Indian (Colm Buckley and Simon Knowles) was the winner of Sunday's 11-boat Viking Marine coastal race with ISORA JPK 1030 debutante Alan Hannon finishing second. A light wind start for the third ISORA Viking Marine Coastal…