Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
The Port of Cork Company (PoCC) has published its Annual Report for 2025, reporting higher cargo throughput, turnover, and profitability as it continues to invest in the infrastructure needed to support Ireland’s trade, connectivity, and energy transition. Total consolidated traffic…
The Isle of Man Steam Packet has cancelled several sailings on its new ferry route to Larne, launched in April at the Co. Antrim port, and on the company’s other year-round route to Heysham, in Lancashire. The company says this…
Last Weekend in Clontarf (26th-27th September) the IDRA 14 Class held a two day celebration to mark their 80th Anniversary. With a full schedule of events pencilled in which included a boat exhibition on land, a pop up IDRA 14…
Scientific advice for North-East Atlantic mackerel catches in 2027 has more than doubled, potentially improving the outlook for Ireland's pelagic fleet ahead of international negotiations on next year's fishing opportunities. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)…
Colombia’s naval training ship ARC Gloria will return to Dublin this weekend, with the tall ship opening to the public during a three-day visit to the capital. The three-masted barque, known as Colombia’s “Ambassador of the Seas”, will welcome visitors…
Pat Lawless Up to Speed South of Equator as Golden Globe Leaders Pull Clear
2nd October 2026 Golden Globe Race
Both of the leaders in the Golden Globe Race 2026 are now south of the Equator, with Pat Lawless of Limerick crossing the line at 1710 UTC yesterday (Thursday). The Southern Hemisphere has made his Saltram Saga 36 Silvermines Hydro…
Irish sailor Conor Cronin goes into Friday’s final day of the ILCA 6 Men’s World Championship in ninth overall after ten races at Vilamoura in Portugal. Cronin is on 114 points after five consecutive days of racing in the 60-boat…
Portrush Lifeboat in Daybreak Launch to Fishing Vessel in Difficulty at Inishowen
1st October 2026 RNLI Lifeboats
Portrush RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was requested to launch by the coastguard early on Thursday morning (1 October) to reports of a fishing vessel in difficulty at Inishowen. The vessel with five persons on board had run aground and Greencastle Coastguard…
Baltimore RNLI’s volunteers were called out on Wednesday evening (30 September) to a medevac on Cape Clear Island off the coast of West Cork. Following a request from the Irish Coast Guard to provide a medical evacuation for a child…
The UK's Cruising Association is expanding its campaign against poorly marked lobster pots and other static fishing gear, an issue which has also prompted renewed safety warnings and reporting appeals for sailors in Irish waters. New campaign flyers and pocket-sized…
The expedition cruise ship World Voyager is pictured outward bound on Wedenesday, September 30th from Cork Harbour following a visit to the city quays. The 126-metre vessel called to Cork during a cruise itinerary around Ireland and the North Atlantic…
Cian Guilfoyle of Dun Laoghaire is “Sailor of the Month (World Championship)” for September
1st October 2026 Sailor of the Month
A top pro-sailor of the calibre of Cian Guilfoyle of Dun Laoghaire will inevitably find his name linked with several high-profile boats as his career progresses, but Guilfoyle and the RC44 Aleph go back quite a long way. Indeed, Afloat’s…
Irish Ports Handled 13.6m tonnes in Quarter 2, 2026 - Drop of 1% of Q2 Last Year
1st October 2026 Irish Ports
Irish Ports handled 13.6 million tonnes of goods in Quarter 2 (Q2) 2026, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO) latest Statistics of Port Traffic results. Commenting on the published data released today, Damien Lenihan, Statistician in the Transport Division,…
CalMac’s ‘Surplus’ Old Ferries to be Sold off by London-Based Broker in £200k Deal
1st October 2026 Ferry
The Government of Scotland-owned ferry operator has hired a ship broker to assist in selling veteran vessels that its fleet-replacement programme will render surplus to requirements. Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) has appointed a London-based shipbroker, H. Clarkson and Co…
Roger Craig of Dun Laoghaire is “Sailor of the Month (Solo International)” for September
1st October 2026 Sailor of the Month
It was a matter of celebration for Irish sailing when Dun Laoghaire’s Roger Craig snatched gold in the final race of the fiercely-contested Masters division at the 2026 ILCA Masters European Championships in La Baule, France, on September 25th. Craig,…
Daniel Copithorne of Schull and Matt Mapplebeck of Crosshaven are “Sailors of the Month (Junior Nationals)” for September.
1st October 2026 Sailor of the Month
Daniel Copithorne of Schull and Matt Mapplebeck of Crosshaven are Afloat.ie’s “Sailors of the Month (Junior Nationals)” for September. Autumn sailing and the Irish Sailing Junior Champions’ Cup at the Fastnet Marine Outdoor Education Centre in Schull are now neatly…
The Isle of Man government has criticised the Isle of Man Steam Packet (IOMSPCo) over its handling of communications during the flagship ferry Manxman's dry-docking disruption. Following a freedom of information (FoI) request, documents showed that the Isle of Man…
Con Murphy & Brian Craig of Dun Laoghaire are “Sailors of the Month (Services to Sailing)” for September
1st October 2026 Sailor of the Month
Con Murphy and Brian Craig of Dún Laoghaire are Afloat.ie’s “Sailors of the Month (Services to Sailing)” for September. It would be well-nigh impossible to list everyone who makes a significant input into the process of converting Dún Laoghaire into…
Eve McMahon of Howth is “Sailor of the Month (Olympic)” for September
1st October 2026 Sailor of the Month
There was enormous expectation surrounding Eve McMahon when the ILCA 6 Women’s World Championship came to Dublin Bay in September. The Howth Yacht Club sailor arrived on home waters after a season which had already established her among the leading…
Irish offshore sailor Pamela Lee will be the focus of a special Dún Laoghaire gathering next Tuesday (October 6) as she prepares for her historic solo challenge in November’s Route du Rhum. As first reported by Afloat last month, Lee…
