Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
![The black-hulled Dublin Bay 21 Garavogue (No 4) was the winner of the 2024 DMYC Regatta pictured above, with fourth-placed Geraldine (number 7) off Dun Laoghaire's East Pier The black-hulled Dublin Bay 21 Garavogue (No 4) was the winner of the 2024 DMYC Regatta pictured above, with fourth-placed Geraldine (number 7) off Dun Laoghaire's East Pier](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000NR717fcQcak/s/848/I0000NR717fcQcak.jpg)
Saturday, June 8th, brought the first of the 2024 waterfront regattas, which was hosted by the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club. All four Dun Laoghaire clubs agree on the format, and the sailing instruction is standard to all clubs. This…
![Newbuild MV Loch Indaal has been launched at the Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard in Yalova, Turkey. Alongside its twin, MV Isle of Islay, launched in March, the new ferry will service Islay and Jura. Newbuild MV Loch Indaal has been launched at the Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard in Yalova, Turkey. Alongside its twin, MV Isle of Islay, launched in March, the new ferry will service Islay and Jura. The pair form part of four ferries being built at the shipyard.](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000j7N8nMHi_eE/s/848/I0000j7N8nMHi_eE.jpg)
Second Islay Ferry Launched at Turkish Shipyard for CalMac ahead of Delivery to Scotland
10th June 2024 Shipyards
A newbuild ferry, which is due to enter service for Scottish west coast islands operator Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac), has been successfully launched in Turkey. The MV Loch Indaal, which is to serve Islay and Jura, was launched at the Cemre…
![Ruffian 23s will race as part of 'Schedule B' in the National Yacht Club's biennial regatta on Saturday, June 15th 2024 off Dun Laoghaire Harbour Ruffian 23s will race as part of 'Schedule B' in the National Yacht Club's biennial regatta on Saturday, June 15th 2024 off Dun Laoghaire Harbour](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000BT13fL.nlkE/s/848/I0000BT13fL.nlkE.jpg)
This Saturday's National Yacht Club Regatta 2024 Prepares for Excitement Afloat and Ashore
10th June 2024 National YC
Following the success of the first of the four Dun Laoghaire Harbour waterfront yacht club regattas last Saturday (June 8th), where over 100 yachts competed in the DMYC's opening regatta of the 2024 summer season, next weekend (June 15th) is…
![Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition at anchorage off Dun Laoghaire Harbour this morning during its maiden call to the south Dublin Bay port with 1,189 guests on board, just shy of full capacity. Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition at anchorage off Dun Laoghaire Harbour this morning during its maiden call to the south Dublin Bay port with 1,189 guests on board, just shy of full capacity. Last week on a separate cruise, the ship met up with its fleetmate flagship, Ambiance, off Omaha Beach, Normandy, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings in northern France.](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I00001gI_sY45oNI/s/848/I00001gI_sY45oNI.jpg)
An Ambassador Calls to Dun Laoghaire Following D-Day 80th Commemorative Cruise off Normandy
10th June 2024 Dun Laoghaire Harbour News
UK cruise operator Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition made its inaugural call offshore of Dun Laoghaire Harbour this morning, having recently also anchored off the Normandy coast during the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 1,200 passenger cruise ship…
![British Coast Guard Rescue aircraft provided support for the Shannon-based Rescue 115 Irish Coast Guard helicopter on Sunday (June 9) in a medical evacuation British Coast Guard Rescue aircraft provided support for the Shannon-based Rescue 115 Irish Coast Guard helicopter on Sunday (June 9) in a medical evacuation](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000cC1cw4Se3Ck/s/848/I0000cC1cw4Se3Ck.jpg)
British air assets assisted the Irish Coast Guard with two medical evacuations off the Irish coast within a two-day period. A British Coast Guard Rescue99 aircraft provided support for the Shannon-based Rescue 115 Irish Coast Guard helicopter on Sunday (June…
![The 81m yacht Air The 81m yacht Air](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000FjuudUXhNt4/s/500/I0000FjuudUXhNt4.jpg)
A superyacht that belongs to a real-life ‘Willy Wonka’ has been spotted at anchor off Cobh in Cork Harbour on Sunday (9 June), as Cork Beo reports. The 81m vessel Air was commissioned in 2011 by Augusto Perfetti, replacing an…
![Celebrations in Le Havre - Tom Dolan of Ireland clinches third place overall at the Le Havre Allmer Cup, marking a successful conclusion to the first half of the season and a strong lead-up to the upcoming La Solitaire du Figaro Celebrations in Le Havre - Tom Dolan of Ireland clinches third place overall at the Le Havre Allmer Cup, marking a successful conclusion to the first half of the season and a strong lead-up to the upcoming La Solitaire du Figaro](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000ffSEKyVwjAI/s/848/I0000ffSEKyVwjAI.jpg)
Tom Dolan Secures Third Place Overall in Le Havre Allmer Cup, Now Lying Fourth in French Solo championship
9th June 2024 Tom Dolan
After an intense first half of the season, comprising multiple back-to-back races on the calendar since March, accumulated fatigue was evident on the race course in the final race of the Le Havre Allmer Cup. But Ireland’s Tom Dolan kept…
![Newcastle lifeboat and Portaferry lifeboat tow the Newcastle lifeboat and Portaferry lifeboat towing the dismasted casualty vessel Newcastle lifeboat and Portaferry lifeboat tow the Newcastle lifeboat and Portaferry lifeboat towing the dismasted casualty vessel](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000jrX3yO9MZPo/s/848/I0000jrX3yO9MZPo.jpg)
Newcastle and Portaferry Lifeboats Come to the Rescue of Dismasted Yacht
9th June 2024 RNLI Lifeboats
The all-weather RNLI lifeboat Leonard Kent from Newcastle was launched early on Saturday to aid a 29-foot yacht with four people on board, approximately 20 miles southeast of Newcastle. The yacht had suffered a dismasting, prompting an urgent response from…
![The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) has launched its annual inshore fisheries patrol programme. Pictured onboard one of the SFPA’s RIBs in Kinsale harbour, are, from left to right: sea fisheries protection officer Adrian Hickey and Sean Murran, SFPA senior port officer The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) has launched its annual inshore fisheries patrol programme. Pictured onboard one of the SFPA’s RIBs in Kinsale harbour, are, from left to right: sea fisheries protection officer Adrian Hickey and Sean Murran, SFPA senior port officer](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000FR97mkYhCyI/s/848/I0000FR97mkYhCyI.jpg)
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority’s (SFPA) says it has initiated its annual inshore fisheries patrol programme to help protect Ireland’s valuable shellfish and crustacean fisheries including crab, lobster, crayfish, and whelk. The SFPA says its campaign will focus on unlicensed and…
![Maureen Sweeney, at just 21, prevented the loss of thousands of soldiers’ lives on the beaches of Normandy Maureen Sweeney, at just 21, prevented the loss of thousands of soldiers’ lives on the beaches of Normandy](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000_aZeSAnS_UY/s/848/I0000_aZeSAnS_UY.jpg)
Defence Forces Withdraw From D-Day Commemoration at Blacksod After Officials Intervene
9th June 2024 Navy
A D-Day commemoration marking the role of Mayo-based meteorologist Maureen Sweeney took place without Defence Force participation as had been originally planned. The Irish Times reports that Government officials vetoed participation of the Naval Service and Air Corps in the…
![Volunteers cleaning up the Thames. The UK’s polluted waterways have become a key political battleground Volunteers cleaning up the Thames. The UK’s polluted waterways have become a key political battleground](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000QnIVjqkFRfE/s/848/I0000QnIVjqkFRfE.jpg)
Pollution of Seas and Waterways Key Issue in British General Election Campaign
9th June 2024 Marine Wildlife
Pollution of seas and inland waterways has become a key issue in the British general election campaign. A poll published this weekend shows 83 per cent of British adults support penalising water companies caught illegally discharging sewage and blocking bonuses…
![Zurich Dragon East Coast champions Royal St. George Yacht Club trio Neil Hegarty, David Williams and Conor Byrne in Phantom (IRL225) get off to a great pin-end start in race one. The championships deployed robotic course marks for the first time off Kinsale Zurich Dragon East Coast champions Royal St. George Yacht Club trio Neil Hegarty, David Williams and Conor Byrne in Phantom (IRL225) get off to a great pin-end start in race one. The championships deployed robotic course marks for the first time off Kinsale](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000HyV_J7JhzeQ/s/848/I0000HyV_J7JhzeQ.jpg)
Royal St. George Yacht Club Trio Neil Hegarty, David Williams and Conor Byrne are Zurich Dragon East Coast Champions
9th June 2024 Dragon
Royal St. George Yacht Club trio Neil Hegarty, David Williams and Conor Byrne in Phantom (IRL225) are the Zurich Dragon East Coast Championships after six testing races sailed off Kinsale, Co. Cork. Consistency paid for the Dublin Bay boat with five results in the top…
![Local artist and Wexford woman Helen Mason (left) is joined by volunteer lifeboat crew from Fethard RNLI to launch Be by the Sea: (from second left) Michael Cooper, Clara Bracken, Paddy O’Regan and Trica Rice Local artist and Wexford woman Helen Mason (left) is joined by volunteer lifeboat crew from Fethard RNLI to launch Be by the Sea: (from second left) Michael Cooper, Clara Bracken, Paddy O’Regan and Trica Rice](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000GSdvi0Do.Kw/s/500/I0000GSdvi0Do.Kw.jpg)
Wexford Woman Calls on Public to ‘Be by the Sea’ and Help Raise Funds for RNLI
9th June 2024 RNLI Lifeboats
A Wexford woman living on the Hook Peninsula has been inspired to create a new fundraising initiative for the RNLI, which also promotes the benefits of being by the sea. Local artist Helen Mason, who is married to a local…
![Frank Whelan's Greystones Harbour yacht Opal Elliott 57 claimed overall victory off Dun Laoghaire Harbour in ISORA's classic Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire race on Saturday Frank Whelan's Greystones Harbour yacht Opal Elliott 57 claimed overall victory off Dun Laoghaire Harbour in ISORA's classic Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire race on Saturday](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000IEts6Mlb70k/s/848/I0000IEts6Mlb70k.jpg)
Blustery northwesterly winds swept Class Zero yachts onto all three podium places in Saturday's ISORA classic race from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire via Rockabill on Saturday night. After ninety miles sailed across the Irish Sea, Frank Whelan's Greystones Harbour yacht Opal…
![RStGYC leaders of the Dragon East Coast Championships at Kinsale Yacht Club, Martin Byrne, Adam Winkelman and John Simms, (left) approach a windward mark with Serafina Alistair Kissane, Ronan Murphy and Pedro O'Reilly on the first day of the three-day championships RStGYC leaders of the Dragon East Coast Championships at Kinsale Yacht Club, Martin Byrne, Adam Winkelman and John Simms, (left) approach a windward mark with Serafina Alistair Kissane, Ronan Murphy and Pedro O'Reilly on the first day of the three-day championships](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000tjsDwYdZtes/s/848/I0000tjsDwYdZtes.jpg)
Royal St. George's Jaguar Sailing Team Moves to The Top of the Dragon East Coast Championship Leaderboard at Kinsale
9th June 2024 Dragon
Redress awarded for Friday's first race and a win in Saturday's fourth race has moved Royal St. George's Jaguar Sailing Team to the top of the Zurich Dragon East Coast Championships leaderboard at Kinsale Yacht Club in County Cork. Martin…
![Imoca MACIF Santé Prévoyance skipper Charlie Dalin (FRA) is interviewed after he takes first place in the New York Vendee sailing race, in Les Sables d'Olonne, on June 8, 2024 Imoca MACIF Santé Prévoyance skipper Charlie Dalin (FRA) is interviewed after he takes first place in the New York Vendee sailing race, in Les Sables d'Olonne, on June 8, 2024](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000DpMaXgBjD6g/s/848/I0000DpMaXgBjD6g.jpg)
Charlie Dalin Wins New York Vendee Les Sables d’Olonne Solo Race Across the North Atlantic
9th June 2024 Vendee Globe
After leading the 28 boat IMOCA fleet since last Monday morning, and today holding a margin of over 300 miles over second place, French skipper Charlie Dalin tonight completed an emphatic victory on the 3200 nautical miles New York Vendee…
![David Gorman’s Flying Fifteen Fomo in the 2022 NYC Regatta David Gorman’s Flying Fifteen Fomo in the 2022 NYC Regatta](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000zzdUVZuThF4/s/767/I0000zzdUVZuThF4.jpg)
Entries are still open for the National Yacht Club Regatta on Saturday 15 June. The NYC promises and exciting day’s racing followed by amazing entertainment onshore with its biennial regatta next weekend. So as the club says, “get your boat…
![Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin Royal Irish Regatta 2024 logo Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin Royal Irish Regatta 2024 logo](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000C_QaU_TZlaI/s/500/I0000C_QaU_TZlaI.jpg)
Royal Irish Regatta Gets New Title Sponsor, Set for Saturday 29 June
8th June 2024 Royal Irish Yacht Club
The Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin Royal Irish Regatta 2024 takes place on Saturday 29 June. The Royal Irish Yacht Club says it looks forward to a great event of sailing, dining and entertainment for members, their crew, friends and family…
![Lough Derg RNLI’s lifeboat Jean Spier en route to the reported location of the swimmer in difficulty on Saturday 8 June Lough Derg RNLI’s lifeboat Jean Spier en route to the reported location of the swimmer in difficulty on Saturday 8 June](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000GMyd4uPcIM4/s/500/I0000GMyd4uPcIM4.jpg)
Lough Derg RNLI were requested to launch by Valentia Coast Guard on Saturday afternoon (8 June) to locate and assist a swimmer reported to be in difficulty by a member of the public on shore. The bystander could see the…
![A 1,2 in the two races sailed gave Barry Cunningham's Royal Irish J109 Chimaera the DMYC regatta win in IRC One by a single point A 1,2 in the two races sailed gave Barry Cunningham's Royal Irish J109 Chimaera the DMYC regatta win in IRC One by a single point](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000bVhfaqqH7Ng/s/848/I0000bVhfaqqH7Ng.jpg)
12-15 knot northwesterly winds and sunshine produced a strong turnout for Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club's biennial Regatta on Dublin Bay on Saturday. The one-day competition got the local regatta scene underway as the first of the four waterfront clubs’ regattas at…