Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Ireland’s 'Bantry Boats' – Complex Heritage Creates Historic Gems For Lough Neagh this Summer
2nd March 2018 W M Nixon
Most sailing folk in Ireland will have some level of awareness of the Bantry Boat. Even those who live most determinedly in the present, and look unswervingly to the future, will be vaguely aware that thanks to some fortuitous turns…
Following today’s devastating damage in northeasterly storms at high water to the shed towards the end of the East Pier in Howth where seven of the 1898-founded Howth 17s are in winter storage, the members of Howth YC are keeping…
Flooding in South Dublin coastal towns and villages came when high tides arrived at lunch time today. In Bulloch Harbour in Dalkey, on the southern tip of Dublin Bay, storm waves swept through the harbour as Bay waters threatened the top…
#CruiseLiners - According to Cruise Belfast 2018 will be another record cruise season for Belfast Harbour with 117 ships expected to dock in the city bringing more than 200,000 visitors to Northern Ireland. 25% more ships are booked to arrive…
The Howth 17 class – founded 1898 and the world’s oldest continuously sailing one design keelboat class - have endured a severe body blow after last night’s uniquely severe Force 12 northeast gales wrecked the roof of the shed in…
Volvo Ocean Race Launches Independent Report Into Night Racing In High Traffic Areas
2nd March 2018 Ocean Race
#VOR - Organisers of the Volvo Ocean Race have commissioned an independent report into ocean racing at night in areas of high vessel traffic density, to establish what steps race organisers may take to mitigate risk going forward. The move…
DLRCoCo To Recommend Dissolution Of Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company For Council Control
2nd March 2018 Dun Laoghaire Harbour News
#DLHarbour - Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council will recommend the dissolution of Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company and the transfer of its assets to the local authority at a meeting next week, The Irish Times reports. Following months of slow progress, DLRCoCo…
Force 12 winds that battered Holyhead Marina, Anglesey have left the marina 'in bits' and boats berthed in the North Wales facility are reported as 'lost'. The sad scene became apparent at first light this morning. It is understood yachts in…
#Rowing: The Leander Galleon, the trophy presented at Cork regatta each year, was on show with two other cups which have been on display in the Leander dining room at a special occasion at Trinity College. The three ‘Cork Cups’…
Peter & Rob O’Leary are “Sailors of the Month (Inshore)” for February
1st March 2018 Sailor of the Month
The International Star Class is both historic and completely up-to-the-minute, and competition in it is razor-sharp. In getting a clear series win in their debut majors – the Walker Cup - in this very special class in early February in…
Maire Breathnach of Dungarvan is February’s “Sailor of the Month (Cruising)”
1st March 2018 Sailor of the Month
The award during February of the Irish Cruising Club’s premier trophy - the Faulkner Cup - to Maire Breathnach of Dungarvan was another highlight in a remarkable cruising career. The trophy was for the voyage she made with her husband…
Conor Fogerty is February’s Afloat.ie “Sailor of the Month (Offshore)”
1st March 2018 Sailor of the Month
Less than a fortnight after he’d been declared the Afloat.ie/Irish Sailing/Volvo Sailor of the Year 2017 in Dublin, Conor Fogerty of Howth Yacht Club was back on the podium in Antigua, having been declared runaway winner of Class 3 in the…
Concern has been expressed in West Cork about the effect of a proposed reduction in power in the Fastnet Rock Light after the Commissioners of Irish Lights have completed work at the famous Lighthouse during 2018 and 2019. In a…
Watersports Inclusion Games Up For Irish Sport Industry Award
1st March 2018 Watersports Inclusion Games
The Watersports Inclusion Games at Dun Laoghaire Harbour last summer have made the shortlist of nominees for the 2018 Irish Sport Industry Awards. Hosted by Irish Sailing at the Royal St George Yacht Club in late June, the inaugural event…
#Rowing: The two heads of the river scheduled for this Saturday have fallen foul of the weather, although both are set to be rescheduled. The Erne Head, at Enniskillen, had drawn a top-class entry. But while conditions at Enniskillen might…
Dun Laoghaire Classics Champion Takes on New Restoration Challenge
28th February 2018 Dun Laoghaire Harbour News
Welsh skipper Rob Mason has taken on a new vintage boat restoration challenge writes W M Nixon. The retired Milford Haven tugboat skipper swept all before him when he brought his beautiful 1897-vintage 37ft restored cutter Myfanwy to the Volvo…
Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School 40th Birthday Celebrations Announced
28th February 2018 INSS
The Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School Celebrates its 40th birthday this year. Over the years INSS have had some fantastic achievements, have great stories to tell and made wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. To celebrate 40 years…
#MarineScience - An Irish research team from IT Sligo and University College Cork recently joined the ‘Europe’s Lost Frontiers’ project to explore the extensive submerged landscapes in the Irish Sea aboard the Marine Institute’s Celtic Voyager research vessel research vessel.…
'Bangor Town Regatta' Will be Northern Ireland's Biggest Sailing Event This July
28th February 2018 Belfast Lough
Early in July 2018, the well-loved coastal town Bangor on Belfast Lough will be the backdrop to the largest sailing event to be held in Northern Ireland for many years – the Bangor Town Regatta. The event is being hosted…
Bouncing back after what he termed the 'disappointment' of January's World Cup top half result in Miami, the National Yacht Club's Laser ace, Finn Lynch was on the podium at Andalusian Week in the Bay of Cadiz this week. After six…
