Afloat.ie Team
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Inland Waterways Update: Shannon Navigation Bridge Works and Lower Bann Lock Closure
28th October 2026 Inland Waterways
Waterways Ireland confirms that Tarmonbarry Bridge on the Shannon Navigation has reopened for normal operations as of Wednesday 28 October, following its closure last week due to an electrical fault affecting the lifting mechanism. Repairs were successfully completed by Waterways…
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels passaging the Grand Canal of a fallen tree blocking the navigation between Henry Bridge and Lock 13, which will be removed at the earliest opportunity. Following the past weekend of high winds and storm…
A temporary maritime exclusion zone covering the River Liffey and Dublin Bay will operate for three days in November as part of a major security operation requested by An Garda Síochána. The Department of Transport has issued Marine Notice No.…
Wexford Lifeboat Called to Assist Windsurfer in Difficulty During Storm Boelo
28th October 2026 RNLI Lifeboats
Wexford RNLI volunteers were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat by the Irish Coast Guard at 3.20pm on Saturday (24 October 2026) following reports from members of the public on the shore of a windsurfer in difficulty near Ardcavan beach…
A new Irish Times photo essay and mini-documentary offer a behind-the-scenes look at life and science aboard the Marine Institute's national research vessel, RV Tom Crean, during a recent survey in the Celtic Sea. The coverage, published on 26 October, follows scientists, technicians…
Golden Globe Race leader Damien Guillou has emerged from a severe South Atlantic storm, still leading the solo round-the-world race after diverting north to avoid the most dangerous conditions. The French skipper, sailing the Rustler 36 Solarem, encountered winds of around 40…
A sustainability business forum in Dún Laoghaire on Friday, 30 October, will explore opportunities in the blue economy, including offshore energy, coastal enterprise, and all-island collaboration. The Sustainable Business Exchange – Enterprise, Innovation & Blue Economy Dialogue, organised by Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown…
New Agreement on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing With EFCA and Partners
28th October 2026 Fishing
Countries in the Western Indian Ocean are strengthening their collective response to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, according to the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA). It has confirmed an agreement on tackling IUU fishing with Expertise France and the…
The fifth edition of Tomorrow. Blue Economy World Congress (TBEWC) will bring together more than 120 international speakers in Barcelona from 3 to 5 November 2026 to examine the challenges and opportunities facing the global blue economy. Held as part…
The legendary 100-foot maxi Comanche is returning to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race under a new name, Tribeca LOYAL, with Australian skipper Anthony Bell targeting line honours and potentially another race record. Bell's campaign brings together experienced offshore sailors, including Olympic gold medallist and…
An “Urban Design Vision” for Galway City’s Murrough Lands has opened to public consultation for a month. Coastal protection and flood defence, use of public space, transport infrastructure, dedicated cycleways and footpaths, and housing provision are among the elements of…
Former Naval Service Captain Marie Gleeson's Book Shortlisted for An Post Book Awards
28th October 2026 Book Review
Former Naval Service captain Marie Gleeson's book Be Like the Sea has been shortlisted for this year's An Post Irish Book Awards. Written with Orlaith Carmody, the book documents how Gleeson, a farmer's daughter from Ireland's largest landlocked county, chose…
Plas Heli, the Welsh National Sailing Academy and Events Centre at Pwllheli on the Irish Sea coast of North Wales, has been recognised as one of the UK's leading sailing venues as it prepares to host the Topper World Championships…
A 2002 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 29.2 sailing cruiser, owned from new and never raced, has come onto the market in Howth, Co. Dublin, with an asking price of €24,500. The 8.8-metre (29ft) yacht lies in Howth Marina and its owner…
Thirteen skippers will set off from Saint-Malo on November 1st in the Vintage Multi class of the 2026 Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe, bringing together historic multihulls that have shaped offshore racing over nearly five decades. The fleet recalls a…
Defending Route du Rhum champion Charles Caudrelier faces a very different challenge when he lines up for Sunday's solo transatlantic race from Saint-Malo, with his new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, Gitana 18, making her competitive debut. The 52-year-old French skipper…
DLR Confirms Green Kite Funding for West Pier Eco Pontoon
27th October 2026 Dun Laoghaire Harbour News
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has confirmed that a proposed floating ecological pontoon inside the West Pier at Dún Laoghaire Harbour is an initiative involving Irish non-profit Amazon Aquaponics, Dún Laoghaire Sea Scouts and the council's Harbour Section. The council has…
Route du Rhum 2026: 49 Class40 Skippers Ready to Race Including Ireland's Pamela Lee
26th October 2026 La Route du Rhum Race
Wicklow offshore sailor Pamela Lee faces a formidable challenge in the Class40 fleet at the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe, with 49 solo skippers preparing to start off Saint-Malo on Sunday, 1st November. Lee, sailing EmpowHer, is preparing to become the first…
The 2026 World Sailing Awards will return to the international stage in Qingdao, China, next month, a year after Dún Laoghaire hosted the ceremony at which the late French offshore racing star Charlie Dalin was named Rolex World Sailor of…
The IRC Congress has approved a series of rule changes for 2027 and outlined a six-year strategy for the international yacht rating system, including plans for improved digital services and a new technical assurance framework for high-performance racing. The annual…
