Afloat.ie Team
Afloat.ie is Ireland's dedicated marine journalism team.
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From across the globe, members of the Cruising Club of America (CCA) assembled at the New York Yacht Club in Manhattan to recognise their outstanding sailors of 2015 during the international organisation’s Annual Awards Dinner earlier this month. Representing a…
New Irish Cruising Club Directions For Ireland’s South & West Coasts is Published
26th March 2016 Cruising
The ultimate dreamworks for those who cruise the Irish coast, or indeed those who just hope to do so one day, has been reaching distributors and subscribers this week with the 14th Edition of the Irish Cruising Club’s Sailing Directions…
Ireland's 49erFX pair won their Olympic place in Rio today after Algeria opted not to take up its place on the Olympic startline. The Irish girls Andrea Brewster and Saskia Tidey were first in line for the African plan by…
As Afloat.ie previously highlighted, Waterways Ireland has announced a Heritage Grants programme in support of the Waterways Ireland Heritage Plan 2016-2020. A fund of €20,000 has been allocated to assist community based heritage projects which compliment or fulfil the delivery…
The Hague, scene of an enormously successful pit-stop last year, has been chosen to host the finale of the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18. The Dutch stopover will be preceded by a midsummer stopover in Volvo’s home city of Gothenburg, setting…
It is my belief that there is a ‘Family of the Sea,’ a community of interest uniting maritime people, from those engaged in the sector professionally, to those who take part in marine leisure activities. Bonding these disparate interests together…
This Friday's opening regatta of the Royal Ocean Racing Club's domestic calendar, the RORC Easter Challenge, provides an opportunity for the 50 or so crews to ramp up their programmes for the 2016 season. Those on the steepest learning curve…
With concerns around sustainability of food security continuing to rise, a team of European aquaculture experts will begin a four-year study worth almost €7 million to establish new strategies and models for sustainable growth in the industry. The Tools for…
RNLI Lifeguards to Patrol Five Beaches on the Causeway Coast at Easter
22nd March 2016 RNLI Lifeboats
RNLI lifeguards will patrol five beaches on the Causeway Coast during this year’s Easter holidays. Starting on Good Friday, lifeguards will be operating from Beach Lifeguard Units on Benone Strand, Portstewart Strand, East and West Strands in Portrush and Whiterocks.…
The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) is promoting its inaugural European IRC Championship as part of Cork Week. The London club says the event will 'bring countries together'. The International IRC Rating Rule, jointly owned by the Royal Ocean Racing…
The Dublin Bay Mermaid Sailing Association hosts its 2016 Championships from Thursday 4th August to Sunday 7th August at Howth Yacht Club. Racing on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th in the 17–foot clinker class will be in conjunction with the Howth…
Great Britain’s Will Harris was the stand-out performer in the opening race of the 2016 single-handed Figaro circuit, finishing in an impressive sixth place in a fleet of 23 boats on debut. Harris, aged 22, from Surrey at the helm…
Kiteboarding wars continue with the world body for sailing blackballing two competitions run by the International Federation of Kitesports Organisations (IFKO). World Sailing has listed two International Federation of Kitesports Organisations (IFKO) events as Prohibited Events under the World Sailing…
Presentation Brothers Win Inaugural Schools Team Racing Event in Schull, West Cork
21st March 2016 Team Racing
The International Schools Team Racing Championships sailed in Schull, West Cork at the weekend was a huge success, with the event being the first time this number of schools from the United States, England and Ireland had competed together in…
In 2016, Royal Ulster Yacht Club is celebrating the 150th Anniversary of its formation in 1866. To mark the anniversary there will be a series of sailing and cruising events throughout the summer. The important date was highlighted by WM…
After last weekend’s superb weather, there could be many dinghy sailors who might be thinking that, with new family responsibilities or whatever, it’s time they moved up a to good little all-round cruiser with a more-than-decent performance writes W M…
Lough Swilly RNLI Extend their Sympathies to the Bereaved Following the Tragedy at Buncrana Pier
21st March 2016 RNLI Lifeboats
The volunteer lifeboat crew and station management at Lough Swilly RNLI wish to extend their deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of the five people who lost their lives following the events at Buncrana Pier on Sunday night…
The 45th hosting of the Frostbite Series in the 51 years of the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club came to a close yesterday in sunshine and light wind conditions and a turnout of seven Fireballs in a very busy Dun Laoghaire…
This painting of the Hook Head Lighthouse is one of many with a nautical theme submitted for judging in this year’s 62nd Texaco Children’s Art Competition. Appropriately entitled ‘Hook Lighthouse’, it was painted by 15–year–old Emer O’Doherty, a pupil at…
Shannon Navigation From Limerick City to Parteen Weir Is Closed Due to Storm Damage
21st March 2016 Inland Waterways
Waterways Ireland advises all users of the Shannon Navigation that the stretch of navigation from Limerick City to Parteen Weir is closed to navigation due to continuing high flow rates and infrastructural deficiencies as a result of the winter storms and subsequent flooding. Users…
