Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company’s freight ferry Arrow has returned to service following repairs on Merseyside. As Manx Radio reports, the ro-ro backup vessel went into drydock this month at Balaena’s recently acquired Birkenhead shipyard after an oil…
Loughs Agency fishery officers have identified and seized an illegal net on the River Foyle near Lifford. Two Atlantic salmon were returned to the river unharmed, while two others could not be saved. The agency says it was alerted to…
Irish Pilots Return to Welsh Lifeboat Station With €10,000 Thank-You After Sea Rescue
18th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats
Two Irish pilots rescued by RNLI crews off the Welsh coast in June recently returned to thank their rescuers, presenting a commemorative clock and a €10,000 donation raised by the Irish aviation community to support their lifesaving work. The pilots…
Irish Interest as Secher Wins British Dragon Association 70th Anniversary Race
18th August 2026 Dragon
Ireland’s Nicola Halloran secured 10th place aboard IRL233 Zinzan as a 49-boat international Dragon fleet opened a major week of racing in Cowes with a special 70th Anniversary Race for the British Dragon Association. Crews from 12 nations have gathered…
The cocaine-busted mothership MV Matthew off the Irish coast, which was sold for $1 after costing the State almost €17m to maintain and berth in Port of Cork, could have been worth up to $3.9m (€3.36m) in scrap metal could have…
Ireland’s Sienna Wright remains firmly in contention for the women’s title at the 2026 ILCA 6 Youth World Championships after claiming another race victory as the Final Series began in strong winds on Aarhus Bay. Two races were completed for…
More than 730 crews representing 35 clubs descended on Bantry, Co Cork, for the 2026 All-Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships, bringing together competitors from under-12 level through to veteran, masters, heritage and traditional boat classes. An Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD attended…
Shannon Navigation: Archaeological Diving Operations on Lough Derg
17th August 2026 Inland Waterways
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that archaeological diving operations by the National Monuments Service are taking place this week. This year’s work, which was scheduled to start on Saturday 15 August and…
On Sunday afternoon (16 August), Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI to assist a rower at Parkers Point who was struggling with fatigue. At 1.55pm, Lough Derg’s inshore lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Owen Cavanagh and crew Doireann…
Atlantic Summit Galway 2026 to Put Ocean Research at Heart of Ireland’s EU Presidency
17th August 2026 Marine Science
Galway will host senior ocean researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders from across Europe this October as Atlantic Summit Galway 2026 sets out to shape the next phase of European ocean research, innovation, and policy. The two-day summit will take place…
Britain’s Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris have won the 2026 470 World Championship in Enoshima, Japan, sealing the title with victory in the second of two demanding light-wind Medal Races on Monday. The British pair emerged on top at the…
A 44-boat fleet from across the east coast is already lined up for Greystones Sailing Club’s BJ Marine Taste of Greystones Cruiser Regatta on Saturday and Sunday, August 29 and 30. The entry, recorded as of August 14, brings together…
Vincent Delany and Joe O’Byrne’s Femme Fatale remains at the top of the unofficial Irish Squib Ladder following the Irish National Championships at Killyleagh Yacht Club. The latest ranking, compiled by Delany following the 14-16 August championship on Strangford Lough,…
Kinsale Yacht Club’s Ian Travers and Keith O’Riordan have won the Mash Direct-sponsored Squib Irish National Championship at Killyleagh Yacht Club on Strangford Lough. The *Atomic* pairing emerged seven points clear after six races sailed from Friday, 14 August to…
CILT Calls for National Approach to Strengthen Irish Port Resilience
17th August 2026 Ports & Shipping
A coordinated national approach to port resilience is needed to protect Ireland’s trade, energy and supply chains from future disruption, according to a new policy paper from the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Ireland. The report, Keeping Ireland…
Galway RNLI volunteer James Rattigan has qualified as a lifeboat helm, becoming the station’s first new volunteer to reach the senior command role since 2017. Rattigan joins six other helms at Galway Lifeboat Station and will now take command of…
Olympic ambitions for team racing have been raised following the 2026 Team Racing World Championship in Stockholm, with World Sailing event controller Steven Wolff expressing hope that the discipline can find a route onto the Olympic programme. The comments came…
Irish Pair Help Pace Claim Round Britain and Ireland Line Honours
16th August 2026 Rd Britain & Ireland
Irish sailors Tom McWilliam and James “Jim” Carroll were part of the 14-strong crew aboard Johnny Vincent’s Volvo 70 Pace as she completed the 1,805-nautical-mile RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race, the first monohull to enter Cowes on Sunday morning.…
Ireland Secure Fifth at Team Racing Worlds as USA 1 Take Stockholm Title
16th August 2026 Team Racing
Ireland have finished fifth overall at the 2026 Team Racing World Championship in Stockholm, securing their place with a decisive final-day victory over Bermuda as USA 1 went on to claim the world title. The Irish team entered Sunday fifth…
Martin Mahon has won the J/24 Northern Championships at Carlingford Lough Yacht Club after a lack of consistent breeze prevented any racing on Sunday. With the fleet unable to add to the four races completed on Saturday, the overnight results…
