Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

1700 CEST: It is the year that just keeps on giving. By midnight on Wednesday, 15 of the 50-boat fleet had completed the course. Ten of those were competing under IRC for the overall Rolex Middle Sea Race Trophy and…

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency's (MCA) annual report for April 2019 – March 2020 has been published this week, highlighting the work of the Agency for the 12 month period. Although the report doesn’t cover the period where the…

Like most other charities, the volunteers of Kinsale RNLI have had their fundraising activities curtailed due to Covid-19 restrictions. So it came as a welcome surprise to learn that local steam engine enthusiast Rory Nagle had launched a special mission…

Inland Fisheries Ireland have been selected as joint winners of the Best Consultancy Partnership gong in the 2020 National Training Awards. The award was given to IFI and the International Centre for Security Excellence (ICSE) for a QQI Level 6…

Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue has welcomed the resumption of Brexit trade deal talks by the EU and the UK which aim to close the gaps between the two sides, including on the key issues of fisheries, the level playing field…

Waterways Ireland has temporarily closed service blocks across its all-island network of inland waters as of today, Thursday 22 October. The move is in line with the latest coronavirus control measures announced by both the Northern Ireland Executive and the…

Clubs running yacht racing using the International Rating Certificate (IRC) rating rule can find a myriad of useful resources on the IRC website, including the Race Management Guidelines which have recently been updated with some useful tips picked up from…

Leisure craft berthing at Stornoway Harbour marina in The Hebrides has been boosted to 155 thanks to the completion of works by Offaly firm Inland and Coastal and the installation of 75 new marina berths in Stornoway's Newton Basin. As Afloat reported in…

Speaking at the IFA Aquaculture Webinar today Thursday 22 October, the Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D., announced a special Covid-19 financial support scheme for rope mussel and oyster farmers under his Department’s European Maritime and…

At 15:00 CEST today (Thursday, 22 October 2020) the winner of the 41st edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race was announced as the Maltese First 45 Elusive 2, skippered by Aaron, Christoph and Maya Podesta. As Afloat reported earlier,…

UK Sailmakers Ireland in Cork Harbour say they remain open during the Covid-19 Level 5 restrictions as the Crosshaven sail loft is treated as a manufacturing facility and a full production loft. As they continue to repair, service and produce sails,…

Afloat is saddened to learn of the death of Brian J Goggin, noted inland waterways historian and a former contributor to this publication. A longtime member of the Irish Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI), who served as editor of its…

Cowes-based photographer Rick Tomlinson's Portfolio Calendar is now available and features 12 months of spectacular sailing images. Now in its 33rd year, Action and Art has always been the theme of Rick's Portfolio Calendar. This year's pictures include action from…

I Love Poland (POL), skippered by Grzegorz Baranowski crossed the finish line of the 2020 Rolex Middle Sea Race at the Royal Malta Yacht Club to take Monohull Line Honours at 11:58:05 CEST today (Wednesday 21st October) in an elapsed…

Ferry company Stena Line has announced that Stena Embla, the last of its three new ferries destined for the Irish Sea, has successfully completed its sea trials in China’s Yellow Sea. Stena Embla is the latest new Stena Line next…

The 20th edition of the popular Dublin Bay Sailing Club Turkey Shoot Series due to start in November has been postponed due to the Level Five COVID-19 lockdown beginning tonight but organisers hope there may still be a chance of…

County Wicklow based yacht designer Mark Mills and Turkish boatbuilder MAT have announced their latest collaboration, the MAT1340, an IRC Racer-Cruiser. This 44’ IRC special is the result of an extensive R&D phase aimed at optimising under IRC both inshore…

RNLI lifeboat crews from Dunmore East, Kilmore Quay and Rosslare Harbour were requested to launch yesterday (Tuesday 20 October) after reports that a 4,000-tonne cargo vessel, the Lily B, had lost all power and was in danger of hitting rocks…

In a major mobilisation of rescue services off the south-east coast this evening, the Irish Coast Guard is coordinating assistance being provided to a cargo vessel that has lost power off the Waterford Harbour. The Coast Guard said in a…

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) says it has recently documented evidence of a humpback whale scarred by entanglement in fishing gear in Irish waters. Humpback IRL#HB43 was photographed in Dingle Bay on Sunday 11 October by IWDG member…