Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
There’s Much More to St Malo Than Being a Transatlantic Race Startpoint
31st October 2026 La Route du Rhum Race
With Pamela Lee preparing to race across the Atlantic in the Route du Rhum, WM Nixon explores the remarkable maritime history of St Malo, from corsairs and giant tides to its connections with Irish sailors and St Brendan the Navigator.…
North Sails Ireland is reminding sailors that its seasonal savings offer ends tomorrow, Saturday, 31 October, with savings available on new sails for April delivery. Final Days to Secure Your Savings Don't miss this opportunity to lock in savings and…
French skipper Armel Le Cléac’h believes Sunday’s Route du Rhum could produce one of the fastest Atlantic crossings in the race’s history, with weather routing suggesting the Ultim multihulls may approach the record of six days, 19 hours, 47 minutes…
Boris Herrmann's Route du Rhum May Take IMOCA Fleet Near Ireland
30th October 2026 La Route du Rhum Race
German offshore sailor Boris Herrmann is preparing for his first solo race aboard the new IMOCA Malizia 4 in Sunday's Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe, as an unusual Atlantic weather pattern could push the fleet south of Ireland and Fastnet Rock. The…
Essential maintenance works are under way at two Cork Harbour piers, with temporary restrictions on access to the water at Currabinny and Monkstown. The Port of Cork's Notice to Mariners No. 20 of 2026 outlines a programme to replace access…
Both spinnaker and non-spinnaker (whitesail) divisions will be available in Royal Cork Yacht Club's November/December Winter League, which starts at Crosshaven on Sunday, 1 November. In recent years, the league has been whitesail-only. The change follows a poll of interested…
Dún Laoghaire Watersports Campus Surveys Enter Public Consultation
30th October 2026 Dun Laoghaire Watersports Campus
Plans for marine site investigations associated with the proposed National Watersports Campus at Dún Laoghaire Harbour have entered a statutory public consultation stage, according to the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA). The regulator lists Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council's maritime usage…
Ireland's fishing fleet faces a projected net loss of €65.8 million in 2026 as sharply reduced quotas, falling catches, and higher fuel costs further pressure fishing businesses and coastal communities, according to a new report from Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM).…
Viking Marine DMYC Frostbites Fleet Hits 81 Boats for Dun Laoghaire Harbour Opener
30th October 2026 DMYC
The Viking Marine DMYC Frostbites fleet has surged to 81 boats ahead of the opening races of the 2026/27 winter dinghy sailing series on Dublin Bay this Sunday, 1 November. The latest entry figures, confirmed by the Dún Laoghaire Motor…
The AIB DBSC Turkey Shoot is heading for another substantial turnout on Dublin Bay, with 65 boats entered for Sunday's opening race on 1 November. Organiser Fintan Cairns hopes late additions will bring the fleet up to, or beyond, the…
Irish Coast Guard Awards Contracts for 38 New SAR Vessels under Major Fleet Renewal Programme
29th October 2026 Coastguard
The Irish Coast Guard has awarded two contracts to French boatbuilder Zodiac Milpro for the design, construction and delivery of 38 new-generation search and rescue vessels as part of a major fleet renewal programme. The contracts will provide 21 new…
The 2027 IRC Rule has been published following this month's international IRC Congress, with changes focused on clarifying existing requirements rather than making major alterations to yacht ratings. For Irish cruiser-racing sailors, the publication is particularly relevant to fleets competing…
America's Cup sailor Francesco 'Checco' Bruni has made an immediate impact at the RS21 World Championship in Cannes, helping Italian entry Torpyone win the opening race just two days after his move from Luna Rossa to Tudor Team Alinghi was announced. The seven-time world champion…
Former Port of Cork chief commercial officer Conor Mowlds is heading a new Cork office for International Registries, Inc. (IRI), the US-based company providing administrative and technical support to the Republic of the Marshall Islands ship registry, currently the world's…
A row has broken out over voting by Irish MEPs on next year's EU fisheries budget under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). The European Parliament voted last week on the 2027 EU budget, the final annual budget…
All eight of the world's giant 32-metre Ultim trimarans will gather off Saint-Malo on Sunday, 1 November, to start the Route du Rhum offshore sailing contest, setting up an intriguing battle between established champions, ambitious challengers, and some of the most advanced ocean-racing machines…
Three-time Olympic medallist Anne-Marie Rindom is returning to the ILCA 6 class as she sets her sights on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, following a break from international competition and the birth of her child. The Danish sailor, who won bronze…
Ireland and Britain have introduced a new incident-reporting protocol for subsea cables and conducted a joint security exercise, marking a further step in efforts to protect critical maritime infrastructure around the two countries. The developments were outlined by Minister for…
Drawing Lines on Maps Not Enough for Marine Protection – Fair Seas
29th October 2026 Marine Planning
The environmental organisation Fair Seas has responded to a European Court of Auditors special report about marine protected areas across the EU, with Ireland one of three countries selected for closer examination. “While the report found progress in France and…
Ireland's defending J/24 World Champions, Headcase, have arrived in Melbourne, Australia, and begun training on Port Phillip ahead of their bid to retain the world title at the 2026 J/24 World Championship, which gets underway at Sandringham Yacht Club on 7th November. The…
