Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Two fishermen rescued a cruise ship pianist who fell overboard off California last week. As BBC News and CBS News report, the man was found treading water around 20 miles (32km) off the California coast after spending some nine hours…
The Joint Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs will resume its pre-legislative scrutiny of legislation relating to marine protected areas on Tuesday, 10th November. The Committee will discuss the Maritime Area Planning (Marine Protected Areas) (Amendment) Bill 2026 with stakeholders. As Afloat…
Norwegian Sailor Quits Golden Globe Race After Disqualification Ruling
9th November 2026 Golden Globe Race
Norwegian sailor Mara Løvenskiold Kveseth has retired from the 2026 McIntyre Golden Globe Race after receiving two disqualification penalties, both of which race organisers later suspended. Kveseth, sailing Showgirl in fifth place, announced her withdrawal on 7 November following an investigation into alleged breaches of the…
The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) has announced a new Corinthian Cup for the 2027 Admiral’s Cup, recognising the best-performing eligible two-boat team competing with a limited number of professional sailors. The award will celebrate the amateur tradition at the heart of offshore…
French sailor Damien Guillou has become the first competitor in the 2026 Golden Globe Race to pass the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope, as severe storms, damaged equipment and the demands of solo sailing take their toll on the fleet.…
Defending champions Ben O’Shaughnessy and Ethan Spain will lead two Irish crews at the U23 49er European Championships in Vilamoura, Portugal, from 10–14 November. The 49erFX pairing of Elysia O’Leary and Alana Twomey will also compete. Ben O’Shaughnessy (Royal Cork Yacht Club)…
RS Sailing has secured long-term investment from Swedish marine investment company Fredriksborgs Förvaltnings AB and the owners of Rototek Ltd, which has manufactured RS dinghy hulls for more than 25 years. The investment marks the next stage in the dinghy manufacturer's…
Veteran French sailor Thomas Coville has claimed second place in the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe aboard Sodebo Ultim 3, overcoming technical difficulties during the solo transatlantic race from Saint-Malo. The 58-year-old finished behind fellow French skipper Tom Laperche aboard SVR-Lazartigue, whose record-breaking victory…
New Zealand's Black Foils have signed 21-year-old rising sailing talent Jake Pye, strengthening their squad as the SailGP team prepares for the 2027 season. Pye is training with the team at SailGP's Pensacola base in Florida this week, gaining valuable experience aboard…
A Mayo artist is building a life-sized model of a basking shark – the world’s second-largest fish – on Achill Island, where the species was once hunted. Tom Meskell is creating a 40-foot-long illuminated lantern sculpture for the Circus Science by the…
Dun Laoghaire-based MGM Boats is offering two used motorboats from Jeanneau's NC range: a 2022 NC 33 and a 2020 NC 37, both equipped with twin Volvo Penta diesel engines and joystick docking controls. 2022 Jeanneau NC 33 The NC 33 has twin Volvo…
Three members of Cork's O'Leary sailing family – Anthony and his sons Peter and Robert – are flying the Irish flag at the Star class World Championship in Miami, where 95 teams from 17 nations have gathered for six days of racing…
With the Ultim podium decided in the 2026 Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe, attention has shifted to three contrasting contests across the Atlantic. Corentin Horeau has established a commanding lead in the IMOCA fleet, but the Ocean Fifty and Class40…
Waterways Ireland Warns of Impact From Planned Industrial Action This Thursday
9th November 2026 Inland Waterways
Waterways Ireland says it has received official notification from FÓRSA and SIPTU of planned industrial action for Thursday 12 November. Locks and lifting bridges operated by Waterways Ireland on the Shannon, Shannon-Erne Waterway, Grand Canal and Royal Canal, as well…
The RYA Northern Ireland AGM takes place on Thursday 19 November at Newforge Sports Complex in Belfast. Teas, coffee and scones will be served from 6.30pm and the meeting starts at 7pm. Members will be asked to adopt the annual…
Colman Garvey and Keiran Kellher's Quarter Tonner Illegal and Jack Young's Albin Express North Star claimed the Spinnaker and Non-Spinnaker IRC victories respectively in the second race of the Royal Cork Yacht Club's Brown & Brown Winter League on Sunday…
The AIB Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Turkey Shoot completed its second race on Sunday morning (8 November), despite steadily fading winds that later forced the cancellation of afternoon dinghy racing at Dun Laoghaire. Race officer and DBSC Vice Commodore…
Tralee Bay Wetlands Ecology Park welcomed visitors from across Ireland for a Science Week event exploring the water cycle, biodiversity conservation and the important role wetlands play in protecting the environment. The programme took place on 7 and 8 November, as…
American solo sailor Guy deBoer has been airlifted from his yacht SPIRIT in the South Atlantic after a long-range rescue operation by the Brazilian Navy, ending several days of mounting concern over the injured offshore sailing competitor in the McIntyre Golden Globe Race. The rescue took…
A crew member of the Greencastle-based fishing vessel Marliona died after falling overboard during fishing operations approximately 80 nautical miles west of Malin Head, Co Donegal, according to a newly published marine accident investigation report. The Marine Accident Investigation Unit…
