Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
One of Achill Island’s last hunters of basking sharks has welcomed the recent resurgence of the now-protected species, as The Guardian reports. Brian McNeill once joined the currach crews armed with harpoons who slaughtered hundreds of the marine wildlife giants…
Waterways Ireland advises users of the Royal Canal in Dublin city between Locks 1 and 5 (North Strand Road to Phibsborough) that cycleway upgrade works have recently commenced on this stretch of the canal. This work will require closures of…
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has opened the third draw for anglers wishing to catch and keep salmon from Cork’s Lower River Lee in 2024. ‘Brown tag’ regulations came into force on the river from 1 February and will remain in…
Cork's Justin Slattery and Nicholas O'Leary are Palma Vela Winners on Galateia in First Maxi Inshore Challenge of 2024
6th May 2024 Superyachts
Two of Cork's top big boat sailors were onboard Chris Flowers and David M Leuschen’s superyacht Wallycento Galateia in the first victory of the season at Palmavela Regatta in Palma, Majorca on Sunday. Double Round the World Race Race winner Justin…
Lough Derg RNLI launched on Sunday afternoon (5 May) to assist a family of four on board a 28ft cruiser reported to be on fire. Following the request by Valentia Coast Guard just before noon, the inshore lifeboat Jean Spier…
Carrybridge RNLI Inshore Lifeboat Rescues Two People on a Vessel Taking on Water in Lough Erne
6th May 2024 RNLI Lifeboats
Carrybridge RNLI Inshore Lifeboat on Lough Erne came to the rescue of two people on a 40-foot vessel that was taking on water near the Killyhevlin Hotel on Saturday, May 4. The Belfast Coastguard had requested the launch of the…
RORC Cervantes Race Winner 'Black Sheep' is One of Four UK Sun Fast 3600s Entered in Round Ireland Race
5th May 2024 Round Ireland
The winner of last month's RORC Cervantes Trophy, Black Sheep, the UK-based Sun Fast 3600 skippered by Trevor Middleton, has become the latest entry into next month's SSE Renewables Round Ireland Race, adding further excitement to an already exotic fleet.…
Transat CIC Solo Race Leader Richomme Still on Course for Transatlantic Double
5th May 2024 Solo Sailing
While the IMOCA race leader Yoann Richomme (PAPREC ARKÉA) was still making more than 20 kts this evening, a nerve-racking slow down is still expected for the final miles to the finish of the Transat CIC solo race from Lorient…
Former Dun Laoghaire Coastguard Station Being Considered as Base for High Performance Sailing Unit
5th May 2024 Dun Laoghaire Harbour News
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is considering 'a high-performance sailing unit' based in Dún Laoghaire Harbour's former coastguard station. The County Architect revealed details of the project on RTE Television on Friday (May 3rd) when the Nationwide TV programme visited the…
Plans at Rosslare and Cork Ports Must be Accelerated to Enable the Construction of Offshore Wind Farms - Ireland South Euro Candidate John Mullins
5th May 2024 Power From the Sea
A European election candidate and former Port of Cork chairman says plans at Rosslare and Cork Ports must be accelerated to enable the construction and maintenance of the offshore wind farms. Former Bord Gais Éireann chief executive John Mullins, who…
Ballycotton RNLI Lifeboat The Austin Lidbury was called to action off the Cork coast on Saturday, May 4th, following a request for assistance from the crew of a 24ft power boat that had suffered mechanical failure. The boat was on…
Shannon Boating Updates: In-River Works for Outfall Pipe at Killaloe/Ballina and Leitrim Village Jetty Under New Ownership
5th May 2024 Inland Waterways
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that in-river works for the construction of a wastewater treatment plant outfall pipe will take place from Tuesday 7 May to Friday 7 June downstream of Killaloe/Ballina.…
Dublin Bay Sailing Club's second AIB Saturday race of the 2024 season was sailed on May 4th in medium westerly winds on an overcast Dublin Bay. Sean Lemass's First 40 Prima Forte won from Chris Power Smith's J122 Aurelia in IRC…
Shannon Navigation: Tarmonbarry Lifting Bridge Closure Extended to End of May
4th May 2024 Inland Waterways
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that the closure of Tarmonbarry Bridge will be extended until at least Monday 27 May. This further delay is due to additional repair works requiring specialist components…
Irish Marine Science Programme Set to Catch, Tag and Release Hundreds of the World’s Largest Tuna in 2024
4th May 2024 Angling
Applications have opened for experienced angling skippers to catch and release Atlantic bluefin tuna as part of a collaborative scientific survey. The initiative targets Atlantic bluefin tuna — the world’s largest tuna species — to collect information on their sizes,…
Irish sailor Tom Dolan has once again proven his worth among the best offshore racers in the world with an impressive sixth-place finish in the Solo Maître Coq. The gruelling 390-mile solo offshore race, which finished in Les Sables d'Olonne…
Irish sailors are set to make a strong showing in the high-performance owner-driver one-design racing R44 fleet as it debuts in Baiona, Spain next week. The 44Cup's second event of the year will take place from May 8 to 12…
Four Areas Off South Coast Identified for Offshore Wind in State's Draft "DMAP"
4th May 2024 Marine Planning
Four areas off the south Irish coast have been earmarked for offshore wind development by the Government, subject to a six-week public consultation. The draft South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP), billed as Ireland’s first ever spatial plan for…
The Ballycotton RNLI Lifeboat was called to action on Friday 3 May, after a power boat suffered engine failure just south of Ballycotton Island. The Austin Lidbury was requested to launch by Valentia Coast Guard at 5.11pm, following a request…
Dun Laoghaire’s National Yacht Club Is Benignly Haunted By Spirit of John B Kearney
4th May 2024 W M Nixon
The National Yacht Club, handsomely sited in the southeast corner of Dun Laoghaire Harbour, was certainly looking its part as the current MG Motor “Sailing Cub of the Year” last Saturday morning. The sun shone, and in the crisp onshore…