Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
The 58th Barcolana regatta in Trieste drew 1,858 entries and an estimated 21,000 people at sea, while the wider sailing festival recorded about 550,000 visits between 1st - 12th October. The figures, released by organisers Società Velica di Barcola e…
DFDS, which operates twin ferries on behalf of owner Transmanche Ferries, has issued a new tender worth EUR 271 million for the Dieppe–Newhaven route between France and the UK. Syndicat Mixte de Promotion de l’Activité Transmanche (SMPAT), which is branded…
Balthasar Wins Yachting Malta Coastal Race Ahead of Middle Sea Race
15th October 2026 Middle Sea Race
Filip Balcaen's Mills 72 Balthasar claimed line honours and overall IRC victory in Wednesday's 30-nautical-mile Yachting Malta Coastal Race, as crews completed a final competitive test ahead of Saturday's Rolex Middle Sea Race. Filip Balcaen's Mills 72 Balthasar, with Bouwe…
World Ship Society Cobh Branch Elects New President and Announces Talks Programme
15th October 2026 News Update
The World Ship Society’s Cobh branch has elected long-standing member Frank Walley as its new president and announced a programme of maritime talks covering the Battle of Jutland, Cork Harbour forts and shipwrecks off the south coast. Walley takes over…
Galway-based Óir na Farraige has installed a submerged seaweed farm in Bantry Bay, using a new mooring system designed to increase production while reducing the visual impact of aquaculture. Galway-based regenerative ocean farming company Óir na Farraige (ÓNF) has completed…
The GP14 Class Association of Ireland has confirmed the cancellation of this weekend's Hot Toddy regatta at Mullingar Sailing Club, with plans to rearrange the event early next season. The GP14 Hot Toddy regatta, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, 17–18…
Two Contrasting Visions Of Ireland's Marine Potential - Dr Easkey Britton and Prof John Bell
15th October 2026 Marine Science
Ireland is not a peripheral island on the edge of Europe, but a potential bio-economic superpower, a keynote speaker at the recent Atlantic Summit in Galway has said. Prof John Bell said that realisation of a successful bio-economic hub would…
Coastwatch is reporting cleaner coasts but “major” losses in shore life on the east coast during its autumn survey. The NGO is appealing for more volunteers to complete its survey which ends on October 20th. So far survey results for…
The Port of Cork Company's cruise liner season will end tomorrow (Friday) when the 16-deck MSC Virtuosa arrives at Cobh Cruise Terminal. It has capacity for 6,300 passengers and 1,700 crew and is a regular visitor to the port. The…
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels that sections of the Shannon–Erne Waterway will close from Monday 2 November to facilitate essential winter maintenance works in advance of the 2027 boating season. Works and closures are as follows: Locks 8 to…
Howth May Continue To Be Weather-Lucky With Final Races of Autumn League This Saturday
14th October 2026 Howth YC
Being “lucky” with Autumnal weather in Ireland is a very relative matter. Last Saturday (October 10th) the varied fleet in the Howth Autumn League had been anticipating Indian Summer conditions with an approaching ridge of high pressure. But the peak…
Wednesday has seen Golden Globe leaders Damien Guillou (Fr.) in the Rustler 36 Solarem and Pat Lawless (Irl.) in the Saga 36 Silvermines Hydro playing something of a cat and mouse game with the South Atlantic weather and each other,…
Marine Notice: Geophysical Cable Condition Survey for East West Interconnector
14th October 2026 Undersea Cables
The Department of Transport advises that Green Rebel is undertaking nearshore and offshore survey operations on behalf of ACSM and EirGrid off the coast of Rush in north Co Dublin. These survey operations will consist of hydrographic and geophysical works…
Stena Line recently was awarded the accolade of Best Ferry Company at the 34th North Ireland Travel & Tourism Awards. Representatives from every sector of the Northern Ireland travel industry attended the high-profile event hosted by comedian and BBC presenter…
Ireland's Sophie Crosbie has been crowned RS Aero 5 North American Champion after winning six of the nine races at the 2026 RS Aero North American Championships, hosted by Cedar Point Yacht Club in Westport, Connecticut, from 9–11th October. Crosbie,…
Malahide YC hosted the final Mirror of the Year at the weekend. The Northerns delivered the final act of a full season, and the estuary certainly delivered exciting racing over 8 races for the 17 competing partnerships. The fleet continues…
The Association of Sail Training Organisations (ASTO) brought together 222 young people aboard 21 vessels for its 2026 Small Ships event in Cowes, Isle of Wight, from 2–4 October, with light winds prompting organisers to replace the traditional race with…
Keelboat racing continues into the winter at Howth Yacht Club with the Brass Monkey Series, sponsored by Brass Monkey Restaurant and Tadg Riordan Motors, running from 8th November to 12th December. The series welcomes everyone from novice crews looking to…
Cape 31 Gold Cup Fleet Takes to Saint-Tropez Waters as Stig Claims Circuit Title
14th October 2026 Cape 31
The inaugural Cape 31 Gold Cup has brought together 28 teams in Saint-Tropez, with the combined UK and Mediterranean fleets taking to the water for their first practice race ahead of Wednesday's championship opener. The record entry, previously reported by…
Irish sailors Shane Hughes and Tom McWilliam will be aboard rival line-honours contenders Black Jack 100 and Pace when the 47th Rolex Middle Sea Race starts from Malta's Grand Harbour on Saturday, 17th October. The international fleet faces a 606-nautical-mile…
