Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Round Ireland Race Focus Swings to the Services, Two-handers, Sailing Schools & Minis
5th July 2018 Round Ireland
Three of the primary positions are now resolved in the 20th Round Ireland Race writes W M Nixon. Niall Dowling (Royal Irish YC) has repeated the remarkable George David/Rambler 88 double of 2016 by taking both Line Honours and the…
#DunLaoghaire - Preparations are under way in Dun Laoghaire Harbour for a special ‘dining in the sky’ experience this week. After visits to Portugal, Italy and Germany, the latest stop on the BORA Revolution Tour will see the German cooking…
#CruiseLiners - A big cruiseship by Banty Bay standards involved notably a maiden call visit today to the scenic west Cork anchorage, writes Jehan Ashmore. The megayacht-like Seabourn Quest of 32,000 tonnes had yesterday called to Cobh, Cork Harbour, before…
People often ask which is the most competitive fleet in Dublin Bay? You will be given twenty different answers, depending on who you ask. However, despite its venerable status, the Water Wag class is experiencing a boost in popularity, because…
Day 6: Fair Winds Again for Round Ireland Fleet as Baraka GP’s Performance is Set in Fresh Perspective
5th July 2018 Round Ireland
The fair winds from the northwest, which late last night and early this morning were spreading slowly through the latter half of the Round Ireland fleet off Donegal and then Antrim, now cover the entire remaining race area writes W…
#Jellyfish - Ireland’s recent invasion of lion’s mane jellyfish has extended from Galway Bay to the East Coast, where a teenager was hospitalised after a nasty sting in recent days. Herald.ie reports that 14-year-old Jack Dunne was stung over most…
#Rowing: Cork Rowing Club moved smoothly into the second round of the Thames Cup at Henley Royal Regatta with a straightforward win this morning. They took an early lead over London Rowing Club ‘A’, and extended it to one length…
#BelfastLough - Belfast Harbour announced its results for 2017 and has reported a record financial performance and a strong investment pipeline of £132m in port infrastructure. In addition to port infrastructure, real estate projects are been targeted at improving the…
Light and shifty winds combined with a sea left over from the big onshore breezes of the previous day created new challenges for the 28 teams competing in the Dragon Edinburgh Cup at the Royal Torbay Yacht Club writes Rupert…
#Ports&Shipping - According to the Irish Examiner, a hard Brexit will cost the haulage industry €180m a year, or €40 per hour for every truck, in additional costs, warns the sector’s main representative body. Irish Road Haulage Association president Verona…
After four call-outs in three days to help fifteen people, reported earlier by Afloat.ie here, Lough Ree RNLI station has issued a warning to boat users that water levels may be lower than usual and to take more care writes…
Round Ireland Day 5. 9.45pm: Hung Up On Tides Of Rathlin & ‘Un-Fair Head’ As New Nor’wester Spreads In
4th July 2018 Round Ireland
Yesterday evening, the all-conquering Baraka GP had enough breeze and hull speed to break through the foul tide at Rathlin Island and Fair Head in some style, writes W M Nixon. But tonight (Wednesday 4 July), there has been no…
#Rowing: NUIG had an exciting win over ASR Nereus of the Netherlands in the Prince Albert Cup for student coxed fours at Henley Royal Regatta. The early stages were tight, but the Dutch took the lead and held it down…
Mechanical harvesting of sub-tidal seaweed was set to begin today (Wednesday 4 July) in Bantry Bay. Operations by BioAtlantis Aquamarine Ltd, using the Atlantis Explorer (Callsugn EIPQ2) are expected to continue for the duration of the licence until 2024. Harvesting…
#ClipperRace - It may be the 4th of July but it’s not so much independence day for the Clipper Race fleet, as they are still racing in two fairly tight packs. Five teams went for the Scoring Gate but with…
Round Ireland Day 5. 4pm: With Professional Baraka GP Finished, Attention Turns To The “Real” Race
4th July 2018 Round Ireland
When Niall Dowling’s exceptional Ker 43 Baraka GP crossed the finish line at Wicklow at 1320 hrs this afternoon to take Line Honours and put down a very strong marker for the IRC overall win, the way was cleared for…
Lough Ree RNLI’s inshore lifeboat crew have responded to four call outs in three days coming to the aid of 15 people. Between 8am on Sunday last, 1 July and 2.20pm on yesterday, Tuesday 3 July, Lough Ree RNLI came…
Busy 24 Hours For Skerries Lifeboat Launching To Motorboat & Kayaker In Distress
4th July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats
#RNLI - Skerries RNLI launched yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 3 July) shortly after 1.30pm after a motorboat with two on board called the coastguard via VHF radio to report they were taking on water near Rockabill Lighthouse. The lifeboat was launched…
Dublin’s First Inflatable Aqua Park Opens In Dún Laoghaire Harbour This Week
4th July 2018 Dun Laoghaire Harbour News
Harbour Splash is the name of Dublin’s first inflatable aqua park, which will open to the public later this week in Dún Laoghaire Harbour. An obstacle course over water including trampolines, climbing frames, slides, monkey bars and more will be…
Niall Dowling’s chartered Ker 43 Baraka GP was across the finish line at Wicklow a few minutes before 1.30pm to comfortably take line honours in the 2018 edition of the Volvo Round Ireland Yacht Race, the 20th staging of this…
