Day Four of the Fastnet Race began with a guest appearance by the Courtmacsherry lifeboat, and the drama continued at the front end of the fleet with two VOR65s finishing within 60 seconds of each other. With boats still rounding the rock in easing winds, RORC Commodore Michael Boyd is leading the Irish charge aboard IRC2 entry Lisa, with the INSS’s Jedi in with a shout for silverware too. Read our latest update here. 
Meanwhile, Greystones GP14 duo keep British title defence hopes alive, rising Laser talent Loghlen Rickard is reaping rewards of North American foray, renewed interest in E-Boats produces a hotly contested Nationals, Dublin Bay’s Flying Fifteens take crew search online (find class-by-class results from last night’s DBSC action here), National 18 class plans Dom Long testimonial, Youghal’s new mooring buoys are focus of complaint probe, and Bray SC wins praise for sailability course.

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While the restoration of Conor O’Brien’s ketch Ilen continues apace in Oldcourt, Co Cork, apprentice boatbuilder Elan Broadley, pictured above, is currently getting the ship’s tender ready for a debut at the Baltimore Wooden Boat Festival later this month. Winkie Nixon looks at how a punt originally designed for John Valentine Sisk’s Culleann 91 years ago has been given a modern twist at the A.K. Ilen School in our story here. 
Meanwhile, a battle of Laser Radial titans produces our Youth Sailor of the Month, the Rating Office names its new IRC director, concerns are raised over the future of the Valentia Island carferry, and Cobh commemorates the arrival of the US Navy into Cork Harbour 100 years ago

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Maiden medallists Tidey & Dolan are Sailors of Month: Three years ago Saskia Tidey had just vowed to “bring a medal home” with new 49erFX partner Andrea Brewster, while Co Meath sailor Tom Dolan was still formulating a plan to mount a Mini Transat solo campaign. Their progress hasn’t always been smooth, but in the past ten days both finally proved their podium potential. Read how they made a clear-cut case to become our Offshore and Olympic Sailors of the Month. 
Meanwhile, Greystones and Lough Derg sailor Pamela Lee is on course for Antigua Race Week honours on the TP52 Conviction, John Treacy cuts the ribbon on new-look Waterford Harbour SC clubhouse, Wicklow RNLI prepares to name new lifeboat, Dun Laoghaire bicentenart is marked in art, Ireland’s largest coastal freighter finally returns to service, and download class-by-class results from last night’s DBSC racing here. 

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Read Afloat's e–news below with all the latest sailing and boating highlights including: Winter crib sheets: How to breathe new life into your sails; Westerly's wizard choice for manageability; and why we’re in need of Newfound pride

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Does this Email look all at sea? View it in your web browser. HOME SUBSCRIBE BOAT BUYS NEWSFLASH FACEBOOK TWITTER Winter crib sheets How to breathe new life into your sails this off-season After a summer of being stretched, dunked, rough-handled, exposed to the elements, and stowed away in a rush, our sails are naturally looking a little worse for wear at the moment. Read why giving them a bit of TLC now should save you having the splash out on a new spring/summer wardrobe down the road. Meanwhile, this Friday’s SB20 Ireland AGM will see changes at the top, Peter Boyle shines at a challenging GP14 youth champs, Dun Laoghaire Harbour trailer peril video goes viral, the Volvo Ocean 65 fleet begins an eight-month refit programme, Limerick aims for place on world rowing map after inaugural Kings Island River Race, concerns are raised over Skellig Michael drone shoot, and while the ribbon is cut on Killybegs small craft harbour, the €18million revamp of Cork Harbour faces delay. Wizard choice for manageability We’re in need of Newfound pride If you’re selling, make sure your boat gets listed on Afloat Baily Publications is registered as a Limited Company (No 246409). You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to our list through our website, or opted in on a submitted form. If you no longer want to avail of our updates, simply unsubscribe or change your preferences.

Read our e–news below with all the weekend's sailing and boating highlights including: Barry's Glee: RS400 star Alex lifts All-Ireland; J109 title taken by Storm; Bright League start & no damp Squibs; plus PS, we love you Waverley

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Does this Email look all at sea? View it in your web browser. NEWS SUBSCRIBE BOAT BUYS eBULLETIN FACEBOOK TWITTER RS400 star Alex lifts All-Ireland trophy Big names are often shot down in this helms ‘high noon’, and after the defending champ’s exit, even Annalise Murphy couldn’t deny RS400 ace Alex Barry a hard-fought All-Ireland title. J109 championship is taken by Storm Pat Kelly’s Rush-based J109 seals National title on a busy Dublin Bay where Lia topped the SB20 Southerns, a 5-in-5 sealed the Fireball Leinsters & world class shone at Flying Fifteen Easterns. Bright League start & no damp Squibs Sun draws a fleet just shy of 50 for Royal Cork’s Autumn League opener, three points separated the top three at Squib Nationals in Kinsale, and St George team slays rival Cannonball Dragons. PS, we love 70-year-old Scot Waverley The last sea-going paddle steamer marks her big 7-0, Seatruck steps up Irish Sea freight service, Clodagh McKenna serves up a treat for Howth RNLI & Courtmacsherry lifeboat rescues divers. Baily Publications is registered as a Limited Company (No 246409). You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to our list through our website, or opted in on a submitted form. If you no longer want to avail of our updates, simply unsubscribe or change your preferences.

Read our e–news below and sign up for a daily digest of Irish sailing and boating news direct to your email on our home page.

Does this Email look all at sea? View it in your web browser. HOME SUBSCRIBE BOAT BUYS NEWSFLASH FACEBOOK TWITTER Wind in the sales Why now could be a good time to trade up your boat If last week’s Southampton Boat Show signalled a strong pick-up in the new and used yacht market, Irish brokerages like MGM Boats are reporting that, against the seasonal trend, business now is brisker than it was during the peak summer months. Winkie Nixon considers why this may be an optimium time to trade-in and trade-up, as he runs the rule over the very epitome of a “sensible” boat that’s up for grabs in Kinsale. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard pulls the plug on Greystones station, North Shannon Regatta looks set to be a big draw for Water Wags (but, unlike in 1903, they won’t be horse-drawn), Colman Grimes reports on a blustery GP14 Autumn Open that featured a surprise farewell party, LÉ James Joyce returns home having rescued 2,500 migrants, and Ballycotton lifeboat launches to stranded dolphin. Fisheries vessel discards focail Cast your block vote for CalMac If you’re selling, make sure your boat gets listed on Afloat Baily Publications is registered as a Limited Company (No 246409). You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to our list through our website, or opted in on a submitted form. If you no longer want to avail of our updates, simply unsubscribe or change your preferences.

Read our e–news below and sign up for a daily digest of Irish sailing and boating news direct to your email on our home page.

AfloatDaily_Sept28

Does this Email look all at sea? View it in your web browser. HOME SUBSCRIBE BOAT BUYS NEWSFLASH FACEBOOK TWITTER GP14s clean up… Did Irish champs help Skerries to TidyTowns title? As Sligo duo Tim Corcoran & Brendan Brogan raced to their Irish championship crown last month, little did we know that their hosts were also topping the leaderboard in a quite separate competition. Using his famous powers of deduction, Winkie Nixon explains how yesterday’s investiture of Skerries as TidyTowns Supreme Champion 2016 may have something to do with a smartly turned out fleet of GP14s. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard issues warning over purple peril on Western coast, anglers are urged to kit out with lifesaving float tackle, and exhibitors report “serious business” done at Southampton Boat Show as new designs prepare to debut at Monaco.   Real cliffhanger in a Force 9 gale       High RoRo-ller launch in Arklow     If you’re selling, make sure your boat gets listed on Afloat Baily Publications is registered as a Limited Company (No 246409). You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to our list through our website, or opted in on a submitted form. If you no longer want to avail of our updates, simply unsubscribe or change your preferences.

‪Scottish Series‬ champ O’Malley is one of three ‪Afloat‬ Sailors of the Month; tune into ‪TeamSeatonMcGovern‬ show; and lost & found - have you seen this whale? Find the links to these stories and all the rest of today's Afloat news below. If you like our daily e–news please subscribe (for free) in the left hand column. 

Does this Email look all at sea? View it in your web browser. HOME SUBSCRIBE BOAT BUYS NEWSFLASH FACEBOOK TWITTER To Hunter the spoils Scottish Series champ O’Malley is Sailor of the Month If this summer promises a feast of events afloat then May was the haute cuisine hors d’oeuvre — so much so that we have picked out three Sailors of the Month. Finn Lynch fills the ‘Olympic’ category for securing his selection to Rio at the Laser Worlds just weeks after turning 20; we honour powerboater John Ryan for skippering Team Hibernia to a new Round Ireland record, and Westport ex-pat Dara O’Malley takes our general sailing award after claiming overall Scottish Series victory with his Hunter 707 crew. Meanwhile, rising talent Ewan McMahon shows form for home waters Radial Worlds with Laser Europa Cup victory, Ireland’s Flying Fifteens will be going Dutch for their Euros, GP14 World champ Shane McCarthy & crew Damian Bracken claim Riocard O’Tiarnaigh trophy, and Lough Derg sailors vent frustration at barrier to WIORA racing.   Lost & found: Bowhead whale       Tune into Ryan and Matt show   If you’re selling, make sure your boat gets listed on Afloat Baily Publications is registered as a Limited Company (No 246409). You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to our list through our website, or opted in on a submitted form. If you no longer want to avail of our updates, simply unsubscribe or change your preferences.