Afloat.ie Team
Afloat.ie is Ireland's dedicated marine journalism team.
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If we wanted tangible evidence of the way that Ireland is changing in prosperity, then this energetically revised 11th Edition of the Irish Cruising Clubs East and North Coast Guide provides more than enough to be sailing along with. Describing…
Entries for Julys ACC Bank Cork Week are already stacking up, and in addition to a rush into the Laser SB3 Class at the south end of the size band, theres a formidable line-up of seriously-raced big boats. The word…
The ISAF has produced a one-page set of introductory rules for racing to help newcomers to the sport. The move is aimed at making it as easy as possible for beginners to take up and compete in sailing, and so…
Sunseekers Portofino 47 makes its debut at Malahide boat show and already theres plenty of talk about the companys decision to offer the choice between conventional shaft drive or Volvo IPS engine arrangements. The version on show will be IPS…
The pick of Ireland's Optimist fleet have finally completed trials to select teams for this years World Championships in Turkey and European Championships in Italys Lake Garda. Ireland's top 69 sailors in the world's premier junior class faced off over…
Fastnet-winning sled Chieftain, renamed Lee Overlay, will take part in the first race of the new RAYC/Lee Overlay Partners offshore schedule this weekend. The canting-keel Cookson 50 has been bought by Dun Laoghaire sailor Adrian Lee and will be skippered…
GT Marine will display two new models at the on-the-water show, the Delphia 29.2 and the award-winning Delphia 33. Both yachts are made by Delphia Yachts, Polands largest boat builder.
Donal McClement of Crosshaven is showing up to three models from French builders Dufour. Two of these are the 40, a Performance version, and the brand new 425 that has sold 100 boats in its first year of production, a…
Both the Hanse 320 and 350 are designed by Judel Vrolick and follow the strong customer demand for even more stylish deck lines plus extra light, vision and space in the main saloon area.
In an innovative move, Irish Sea Ray agent BJ Marine has begun pricing its Sea Ray stock in dollars. Its to prove transparency on price, according to managing director Bernard Gallagher, who promises to sell in dollars if customers want…
The Sun Odyssey 45DS has picked up another award, this time at the Norway Boat Show. With a modern interior design by Philippe Briand and pure, fluid lines drawn by the Garroni Designers, this new Jeanneau sailboat was awarded the…
Portumna Marine, the newly appointed dealer for MasterCraft Ireland, has taken delivery of an MasterCraft X14 and will shortly receive the MasterCraft X2 for viewing and demonstration.
Ireland's Annalise Murphy finished 4th in the Women's Olympic Laser Radial class at Sail Melbourne, the first event of the 2009-2010 Sailing World Cup series. Click 'read more' for her account of Sail Melbourne race by race: Having already competed…
The axing of the state sail training programme, has been met with dismay by marine bodies who this week pledged a united voice to push for its reinstatement. This is in spite of the fact the state's only sail training…
It's rare, given the times that are in it, when a way to make two groups of people financially happy pops up. Rarer indeed, when it involves buying a boat. So how about this: Ireland's Department of Defence could save…
Known for its 'no nonsense' approach, the Irish Cruiser Racer Association (ICRA) returns to where it all started, for the seventh ICRA conference in the Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny this Saturday. For an entirely voluntary organisation, it has achieved a lot…
After a series of near misses in the Commodore’s Cup, there were many reasons why 2008 would have been wholly appropriate timing for an Irish win on the Solent. It wasn't to be but the scene in Cork Harbour last…
Day 4: In the latest installment team member Kevin Stallard of University of Limerick blogs from the Student World Yachting Champs in Marseille. For the first time in the event we started today with a fully fit crew. There was very light…
Day Two: UL's Cian Gallagher and Conor Martin update from the Student World Championship in Marseilles: Today we got off to a bad start with our skipper Katie being unable to sail due to a vomiting bug. So with a…
Conor Martin of the University of Limerick blogs from Marseille: After long hours of travelling we are finally in Marseille. On Saturday, the draw for the boats and practice race went ahead before the start of the tournament on Sunday.…
