Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
![Royal Irish's JPK 1080, Rockabill VI, skippered by Paul O'Higgins, was the Thursday IRC Zero winner. This weekend, the ISORA champion takes in Saturday's Dun Laoghaire race to Arklow Sailing Club (ASC) and Sunday's ASC Windmills Race before departing to West Cork for Calves Week starting on August 6th Royal Irish's JPK 1080, Rockabill VI, skippered by Paul O'Higgins, was the Thursday IRC Zero winner. This weekend, the ISORA champion takes in Saturday's Dun Laoghaire race to Arklow Sailing Club (ASC) and Sunday's ASC Windmills Race before departing to West Cork for Calves Week starting on August 6th](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000y2c89Vnfkwg/s/848/I0000y2c89Vnfkwg.jpg)
Rockabill VI Chalks Up DBSC Thursday Victory Before Saturday's ISORA Race to Arklow
25th July 2024 DBSC
Royal Irish's Paul O'Higgins, sailing the JPK 1080, Rockabill VI, was the winner by over eight minutes on corrected time of Thursday evening's (July 25) Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) Summer Series in a four-boat turnout in Cruisers IRC Zero. Winds were…
![Galway City Museum features the ‘Sea Science – The Wild Atlantic’ exhibition Galway City Museum features the ‘Sea Science – The Wild Atlantic’ exhibition](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I00007AkEZVkw6zE/s/500/I00007AkEZVkw6zE.jpg)
Top Travel Site Accolade for Galway City Museum With Sea Science Gallery
25th July 2024 Marine Science
Galway City Museum has been recognised by Tripadvisor as a 2024 Travellers’ Choice award winner for Top Tourist Attraction in Ireland. Based on a full year of Tripadvisor reviews, award winners are known for consistently receiving great traveller feedback, placing…
![A montage of stills from video of the whale capsizing a fishing boat, shot from a nearby vessel A montage of stills from video of a whale capsizing a fishing boat, shot from a nearby vessel](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000w8tHkgI89iQ/s/500/I0000w8tHkgI89iQ.jpg)
Two fishermen had the fright of their lives earlier this week when a large whale breached on top of them and capsized their vessel. According to Marine Industry News, the men were flung from their boat in the incident off…
![Ireland's Olympic Men's Double Sculls representatives Phillip Doyle and Daire Lynch race in Heat 3, Lane 3 at 10:50 AM on Saturday morning Ireland's Olympic Men's Double Sculls representatives Phillip Doyle and Daire Lynch race in Heat 3, Lane 3 at 10:50 AM on Saturday morning](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000e.VwwhZTi2k/s/848/I0000e.VwwhZTi2k.jpg)
This Saturday (July 28) marks the beginning of the Olympic journey for Irish rowers in Paris. Both the Men's and Women's Double Sculls are set to compete in their respective heats, aiming for a spot in the semi-finals. Men's Double…
![CSO figures published today show that goods forwarded from Irish Ports had amounted to 3.8 million tonnes in the month of first quarter of this year (Q1/2024). CSO figures published today show that goods forwarded from Irish Ports had amounted to 3.8 million tonnes in the month of first quarter of this year (Q1/2024). Above the lo-lo vessel, MSC Nikoleta berthed at the Cork Container Terminal, Ringaskiddy.](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000leFHF9yOj_4/s/848/I0000leFHF9yOj_4.jpg)
CSO Figures Show Vessels Arrivals at Main Irish Ports Down 5% in First Quarter
25th July 2024 Irish Ports
In the newest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) published today, Irish Ports handled 12.1 million tonnes of goods in the first quarter (Q1) of this year. The figure RTE News reports is an increase of 2% when compared…
![Max O'Hare, RSGYC, Winner of Senior Optimist fleet at the IODAI Connaught Championships Max O'Hare, RSGYC, Winner of Senior Optimist fleet at the IODAI Connaught Championships](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000ouyvJ7KNpbk/s/848/I0000ouyvJ7KNpbk.jpg)
Victory for Max O'Hare as 121 Optimists Make Western Championships Biggest-Ever Regatta for Galway Bay Sailing Club
25th July 2024 Optimist
'Let's go sailing way out west' went up the cry, and with that, 121 young sailors and their families travelling from all over Ireland headed to Galway Bay for the IODAI Optimist Connaught Championships 2024. Such was the flawless programme…
![William Walsh and Eoin Byrne were on form on Lough Ree to win the 29er Western Championships
William Walsh and Eoin Byrne were on form on Lough Ree to win the 29er Western Championships](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I00009X3mFPfQn3o/s/848/I00009X3mFPfQn3o.jpg)
William Walsh and Eoin Byrne Secure Second Regional Win of the Year at 29er Westerns
25th July 2024 29er
Double Ree saw the return of the 29er Westerns and the trophy presented by Tralee Bay Sailing Club a few years ago. Whilst two partnerships were on the deck in Lake Garda to represent Ireland at the Youth Worlds, the…
![Irish Fish Producers’ Organisation (IFPO) chief executive Aodh O’Donnell has described it as a Irish Fish Producers’ Organisation (IFPO) chief executive Aodh O’Donnell has described it as a](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000smOxJW7Qfvw/s/848/I0000smOxJW7Qfvw.jpg)
A "Disgrace" - Irish Fishing Industry Leader Criticises Lack of Irish Representation on New EU Parliament Fisheries Committee
25th July 2024 Fishing
Newly elected Irish MEPs have defended their decision not to prioritise representation on the European Parliament's fisheries committee, which will be handling key issues including the review of the Common Fisheries Policy and the post-Brexit share out of fish stocks…
![Royal Irish's Rockabill VI skipperd by Paul O'Higgins will contest Saturday's ISORA 50-mile race from Dun Laoghaire to Arklow Royal Irish's Rockabill VI skipperd by Paul O'Higgins will contest Saturday's ISORA 50-mile race from Dun Laoghaire to Arklow](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I00006A6IEgGYEBA/s/848/I00006A6IEgGYEBA.jpg)
ISORA's 50-mile coastal course for Saturday's Dun Laoghaire to Arklow race will feature the 2023 ISORA champion Rockabill VI, skippered by Paul Higgins of the Royal Irish Yacht Club. All classes will start at 08.00 from the usual Dun Laoghaire start off…
![Ireland's Headcase skippered by Cillian Dickson, winner of the J/24 Range Rover European Championship by a massive nine point margin in June will compete for Southern Championships honours at Wicklow Sailing Club this weekend Ireland's Headcase skippered by Cillian Dickson, winner of the J/24 Range Rover European Championship by a massive nine point margin in June will compete for Southern Championships honours at Wicklow Sailing Club this weekend](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I00003O6IPrC_6rY/s/848/I00003O6IPrC_6rY.jpg)
This weekend, Wicklow Sailing Club is gearing up to host the J24 Southern Championships with an impressive 14-boat fleet from across the country set to compete. Among the notable teams for the Little Dragon sponsored fixture are European Champions from…
Promoted
![A sample of what North Sails Ireland's Shane Hughes faced overnight during Volvo Cok Week 2024 A sample of what North Sails Ireland's Shane Hughes faced overnight during Volvo Cok Week 2024](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000WnTkok9v79c/s/848/I0000WnTkok9v79c.jpg)
Volvo Cork Week 2024 has just been and gone in a FLASH. Huge congratulations and thanks to the fantastic team in Royal Cork YC for another wonderful event. For us here at North Sails Ireland, it's been a stellar event!…
![Irish woman Kathleen Noble – who is rowing for Uganda in the Paris Olympics and co captaining the Ugandan Team in the Games pictured during training Irish woman Kathleen Noble – who is rowing for Uganda in the Paris Olympics and co captaining the Ugandan Team in the Games pictured during training](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000e9b_VZWk6F0/s/848/I0000e9b_VZWk6F0.jpg)
An Irish woman who is rowing for Uganda in the Olympics has been named joint captain for her national team at the Paris Games. Kathleen Noble said she is “overwhelmed” at being asked to co-lead Team Uganda, and is looking…
![Satellite image of Lough Neagh, the largest lake in the island of Ireland Satellite image of Lough Neagh, the largest lake in the island of Ireland](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I00003pd3DzunStQ/s/500/I00003pd3DzunStQ.jpg)
Broad Welcome for Lough Neagh Action Plan as Stormont Gives Seal of Approval
24th July 2024 Northern Ireland Waters
The long awaited action plan for Lough Neagh that was approved last week by the Northern Ireland Executive has been broadly welcomed, as BBC News reports. DAERA Minister Andrew Muir said he would put his “shoulder to the wheel” to…
![File image of a basking shark in Irish waters File image of a basking shark in Irish waters](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I000068c4QchxdIU/s/500/I000068c4QchxdIU.jpg)
‘Shark Fitbit’ Gives Researchers First-Ever Data From Basking Shark Response to Boat Strike
24th July 2024 Marine Wildlife
Researchers based in Co Kerry have detailed how they captured data — for the first time ever — of a basking shark’s response to a boat strike. As RTÉ News reports, in April the team of scientists from Ireland and…
![Water Wag No. 40 Swallow, Justin Geoghegan and Harry Croxon take third place in the first race of the AIB DBSC Water Wag dinghy races in Dun Laoghaire Harbour Water Wag No. 40 Swallow, Justin Geoghegan and Harry Croxon take third place in the first race of the AIB DBSC Water Wag dinghy races in Dun Laoghaire Harbour](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000ilAUUyFnjVE/s/848/I0000ilAUUyFnjVE.jpg)
Impressive Water Wag Turnout at AIB DBSC Races in Dun Laoghaire Harbour as Annalise Takes a Win
24th July 2024 Water Wag
25 Water Wags turned out for the first of two AIB DBSC races on Wednesday evening, July 24th, at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Race Officer Tadgh Donnelly set a two round windward leeward course with a final third beat to the…
![Tom Newman's Contessa Sittelle was third in the Ronan Long Island Trophy Race at Schull Harbour Sailing Club in West Cork Tom Newman's Contessa Sittelle was third in the Ronan Long Island Trophy Race at Schull Harbour Sailing Club in West Cork](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000f5lEyDdrEe8/s/848/I0000f5lEyDdrEe8.jpg)
Schull Harbour Sailing Club Ronan Long Island Trophy Race Won By Elan 31, Joxer
24th July 2024 West Cork
Thirteen boats sailed the Schull Harbour Sailing Club Ronan Long Island Trophy Race on Saturday. Alan Dwyer’s Elan 31, Joxer, won the race, finishing in 1 hour 56 minutes and 7 seconds. Oonagh Buckley’s Tete-a-Tete, a Sun Odyssey, was second,…
![Scilly Ferries passenger-only catamaran Atlantic Wolff has, according to BBC News Cornwall, made two crossings to the islands; however, all of this week’s sailings are currently cancelled. The company owned by Harland & Wolff, which is facing financial challenges, said it is to start the service on 30 July. Scilly Ferries passenger-only catamaran Atlantic Wolff has, according to BBC News Cornwall, made two crossings to the islands; however, all of this week’s sailings are currently cancelled. The company owned by Harland & Wolff, which is facing financial challenges, said it is to start the service on 30 July.](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000YjlZ9w3euZk/s/848I0000YjlZ9w3euZk.jpg)
Service Concerns of Scilly Ferries as Financial Problems Persist at Parent Company Harland & Wolff
24th July 2024 Ferry
The new operator, Scilly Ferries, whose 400-capacity catamaran, which following a refit, recently arrived in Penzance, did not sail, as BBC News Cornwall reports all of this week's crossings were cancelled. The owners’ parent company, Harland & Wolff, is facing…
![Ireland's Paris 2024 49er duo Robert Dickson (Howth Yacht Club) and Sean Waddilove (Skerries Sailing Club) are first into action Ireland's Paris 2024 49er duo Robert Dickson (Howth Yacht Club) and Sean Waddilove (Skerries Sailing Club) are first into action](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000_J__QERDWEw/s/848/I0000_J__QERDWEw.jpg)
Ireland's Dickson and Waddilove Ready for Paris 2024 Olympic Skiff Start This Sunday
24th July 2024 Robert Dickson & Sean Waddilove
Ireland's Paris 2024 49er duo Robert Dickson (Howth Yacht Club) and Sean Waddilove (Skerries Sailing Club) are first into action in the Men's skiff event when their fleet series begins on Sunday (28th July) at the Olympic venue in the port…
![Plans for a new 41 metre survey ship, Alpha Marine announces, which Afloat adds will easily be the largest ever newbuild for the Wicklow-based multi-disciplinary marine company. Plans for a new 41 metre survey ship, Alpha Marine announces, which Afloat adds will easily be the largest ever newbuild for the Wicklow-based multi-disciplinary marine company. Above berthed at the east coast port is the AMS Panther, which, at just 17m, is one of the firm’s windfarm support/crew transfer vessels.](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000N7aR7Gs_leo/s/848/I0000N7aR7Gs_leo.jpg)
Plans for 41m Survey Ship Announced By Alpha Marine With Newbuild to Feature Ultra-Low Emissions
24th July 2024 Ports & Shipping
Plans for a new 41m survey ship have been announced by Alpha Marine, the east coast-based work vessel and marine support company located in Wicklow, writes Jehan Ashmore. The newbuild represents an important milestone for the multi-disciplinary marine company, part…
![500 Natterjack Toadlets have been released into Ireland’s eighth national park, Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí in the sand dunes at Inch Peninsula, on Tuesday by Minister for Nature, Heritage, and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan (above) 500 Natterjack Toadlets have been released into Ireland’s eighth national park, Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí in the sand dunes at Inch Peninsula, on Tuesday by Minister for Nature, Heritage, and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan (above)](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000CjL.aXO8UH8/s/848/I0000CjL.aXO8UH8.jpg)
A total of 500 Natterjack toadlets have been released into the sand dunes at Inch peninsula in Dingle, Co Kerry by Minister for Nature and Heritage Malcolm Noonan. The release is part of a National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS)…