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Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
World Champion — Newly crowned ILCA 7 Grand Masters World Champion and ILCA President Mark Lyttle reflects on three decades since competing for Ireland at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games.
Irish Olympian Mark Lyttle of the National Yacht Club has reflected on his Atlanta 1996 campaign as part of ILCA's 30 Years of Olympic ILCA Sailing series, marking three decades since the Laser class made its Olympic debut. The series features…
Vintage Start — The Classic & Vintage International 14 fleet gets away cleanly at the start of the POW Cup race off Largs, where the older designs raced on a separate course alongside the modern championship fleet.
Howth Yacht Club's Peter Freyne and Tris Nelson claimed victory in the Classic & Vintage International 14 POW Cup Race at Largs after the fleet finally enjoyed racing following two weather-disrupted days. Old Meets New — A classic International 14…
Homecoming Harbour — The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race fleet berthed in Oban during the 2023-24 edition. The west coast Scottish port will again welcome the fleet after its final Atlantic crossing from Washington, DC.
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race fleet has departed Washington, DC on its final ocean crossing, setting course for Oban, Scotland, as the 2025-26 edition enters its closing stages. The 3,115-nautical-mile Atlantic Homecoming Leg is the final transatlantic challenge…
The Port of Liverpool is seeing a more than 200% surge in fertiliser import enquiries as global trade uncertainty, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, prompts importers to explore west coast alternatives, larger vessels and increased warehousing capacity for stockpiling.
At the Port of Liverpool there has been a recorded sharp increase in fertiliser import enquiries as UK supply chain operators reassess routing and port strategies amid ongoing global trade uncertainty. The Merseyside port operated by Peel Ports Group has…
Aegean Bound — Xcalibur Team HYC will contest the 2026 Rolex Aegean 600 aboard a chartered XR 41, taking on a 605-nautical-mile offshore challenge against a 76-boat international fleet.
A Howth Yacht Club crew will represent Ireland in the 2026 Aegean 600 when the international offshore race starts from Athens, Greece, on Sunday, 5 July. Skipper Darren Wright leads Xcalibur Team HYC in the 605-nautical-mile race, which begins at…
Home Waters — Sweden's Johnie Berntsson made a perfect start to the 2026 GKSS Match Cup Sweden, winning all three opening matches to lead the Open standings on home waters in Marstrand.
Home favourite Johnie Berntsson made a flawless start to the 2026 GKSS Match Cup Sweden, winning all three of his opening matches as the world's leading match racing teams began competition in Marstrand, Sweden. Fresh winds, sunshine and large crowds…
East Coast Champion — Niall O'Brien (right) went on to claim the 2026 Irish Flying Fifteen East Coast Championship with crew Dermot Flaherty after a closely fought weekend in Carlingford.
Niall O'Brien and Dermot Flaherty claimed the Irish Flying Fifteen East Coast Championship after a dramatic weekend of racing in Carlingford. The fleet returned to Carlingford for the championship for the first time in many years. Strong south-easterly winds delayed…
Offshore Charge — Loinnir Girl, crewed by John Malone, Emmet Sheridan, Sam Hunt and Cian McCarthy, heads towards the start of the Round Ireland Race before a remarkable campaign that delivered success in both the Inishtearaght and Round Ireland races.
John Malone's Loinnir Girl will sit out this Friday's (July 4th) K2Q (Kingstown to Queenstown) Race after an intensive month of offshore competition that included success in both the Round Ireland Race and the Inishtearaght Race. The red and white-hulled…
River Challenge — The annual Boyne Swim returns to Drogheda on 1 August, offering swimmers a unique 2.7km open-water course through the historic River Boyne with the support of Drogheda Triathlon Club and local volunteers.
Open-water swimmers from Ireland and overseas will return to Drogheda on Saturday, 1 August, for the 2026 Boyne Swim. Now in its 12th year, the event has become one of Ireland's best-known river swims, attracting participants seeking competition, personal achievement…
Cape Debut — The first Cape 26, Ciao, sails off Cape Town following her launch by Cape Performance Solutions. Hull 01 is now bound for Italy to spearhead the class's European expansion and planned Mediterranean circuit.
The first Cape 26 has been launched in Cape Town, marking the debut of a new sportsboat designed by Cape Performance Solutions.  Named Ciao, Hull 01 takes inspiration from the successful Cape 31 while introducing several new design features aimed…
Next Challenge — Jakub Ziemkiewicz aboard BIBI in Aghada after completing his solo circumnavigation. He says the Golden Globe Race is the 'next logical challenge' in his sailing career.
After sailing around the world single-handed Cork’s Polish/Irish sailor, Jakub Ziemkiewicz, has decided to change his mind from never racing alone again on such a voyage. He is starting a four-year campaign to enter the McIntyre Golden Globe Race, also…
Southbound Challenge — Justin Burke's JPK 10.30 ReQuest, raced by Justin and his sons Nathan and Darren Burke, heads south for this week's 160-mile Kingstown to Queenstown Race from Dún Laoghaire to Cork before continuing on to Cork Week 2026.
The 2026 Musto ISORA Championship resumes this Friday with one of the series' classic fixtures as the fleet races from Dún Laoghaire to Cork in the 160-mile Kingstown to Queenstown (K2Q) Offshore Race. Race 13 of this year's championship starts…
Port Progress — Belfast Harbour reported turnover of £97.1 million and underlying profit before tax of £44.4 million in 2025, with major investment planned under its 2050 Masterplan.
Belfast Harbour has reported another year of strong financial performance and major investment, according to its 2025 Annual Report. Turnover increased by 10.2% to £97.1 million, while underlying profit before tax rose 21% year-on-year to £44.4 million. The Trust Port…
Security Watch — Irish Naval Service and Air Corps units will conduct a Maritime Security Operation in the Irish Sea from 30 June to 2 July. Mariners are advised to monitor VHF Channel 16.
Recreational and commercial vessels operating in the Irish Sea have been advised that a major Maritime Security Operation will take place from Tuesday, 30 June, until Thursday, 2 July. The operation, announced in a Department of Transport Marine Notice, will…
Harbour Battle — The Cork Harbour race provides one of Volvo Cork Week's biggest spectator attractions as the fleet races off Cobh during the 2024 regatta. More than 120 boats are expected for this year's championship at the Royal Cork Yacht Club. Photo: Afloat.ie
With just one week remaining before racing begins, Crosshaven is preparing to welcome more than 120 boats and thousands of sailors and visitors for Cork Week 2026. The biennial regatta, hosted by the Royal Cork Yacht Club from July 6…
Steady Hand — A Sea Cadet takes the helm aboard TS Royalist, the charity's flagship sail training vessel, as preparations continue for the 2026 Tall Ships Races, marking 60 years since Sea Cadets first entered the event.
Twenty-six Sea Cadets from across the UK will represent their country in this summer's Tall Ships Races aboard the sail training brig TS Royalist. With an average age of just 17, the crew will be among the youngest in the…
The newest Carisbrooke newbuild carries a special story, as the vessel is named after Heleen Wester, just as the same series ship, Greta C, was named after Greta. Both women are the partners of Carisbrooke Shipping's founding members, making this series a tribute to the families behind both companies.
At a Dutch shipyard a newbuild was launched for Carisbrooke Shipping of Cowes, Isle of Wight. The Royal T Shipyards at their Harlingen yard is where the MV Heleen C, a 7,720 dwt general cargo vessel, took to the waters…
Road To Cowes — The Admiral's Cup returns in 2027 as yacht clubs begin their campaigns for the 25th edition of the iconic offshore team championship, with entries opening on 1 July.
The countdown to the 25th Admiral's Cup has begun, with the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) opening entries for the 2027 edition from 1 July. The prestigious international team competition returns to Cowes in July 2027, marking 70 years since…
Habitat Boost — Living Seawalls panels are installed on Kennedy Pier in Cobh to create new marine habitat and improve biodiversity in Cork Harbour. Photo: Afloat.ie
Nature-based solutions to coastal protection and restoration will be discussed at a workshop in University College Cork (UCC) on Tuesday June 30th. Leading researchers, practitioners, policymakers and international experts plan to explore the science and practice of coastal nature-based solutions…
Title Defence — 2025 European 49er champions Seb Menzies and George Lee Rush of New Zealand celebrate victory in Thessaloniki. The world champions return to defend their European crown in Eckernförde.
The countdown is on to the 2026 European Championships for the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 classes, with racing due to begin in Eckernförde, Germany, on July 7. The six-day championship follows closely on the heels of Kiel Week, where…

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