Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
At about 1600h (CET) today, Monday 15 January 2018, Spindrift 2 was sailing just off Point St Matthieu and Camaret in Brittany on her way to the start line of the Jules Verne Trophy, when she dismasted. At the time…
The east coast of Ireland may have endured vile weather on Saturday, but in West Cork there was almost a touch of sunny spring in the air when the historic restored ketch Ilen completed the final stage of her short…
Speeds Are Up With Volvo Ocean Race Fleet Targeting Friday Finish In Leg 4
15th January 2018 Ocean Race
#VOR - Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag increased their lead in Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race on Monday as the sprint for the Hong Kong finish line moved inside 1,500 nautical miles. Dave Witt’s team shot to the front…
Visit Seattle Leads Clipper Fleet In Drag Race To Nerve-Wracking Leg 6 Finish
15th January 2018 Clipper Race
#ClipperRace - Dramatic weather systems that have dominated much of Race 6: The Wondrous Whitsundays Race continue to make conditions challenging for the Clipper Race fleet during the 10th day of racing. While the fleet is enjoying some long-awaited downwind…
#HYC - Conditions for Howth Yacht Club's Laser Frostbites yesterday (Sunday 14 January) contrasted those of the opening weekend — with the sun shining and a southerly breeze rising from 12 to 19 knots over the course of the day’s…
#FerryNews- Manx Radio reports on a project that has officially begun work that will eventually see a new ferry terminal for passengers. The first phase of the £5 billion Liverpool Waters scheme got under way with a groundbreaking ceremony earlier…
For the second round of Frostbite racing in Series 2, Race Officer Cormac Bradley set the 31-boat fleet a triangular course and with the assistance of one of the competitors tried to make sure that the top reach was able…
Yann Guichard and his crew arrived in Brest last night to start the Jules Verne Trophy. Despite a good though not ideal weather window, after two months on stand-by Spindrift racing has decided to take its chance and will leave…
The IRC Yearbook arrived in the post as I prepared to write this week’s Podcast. It is sent out together with your notice to renew your Handicap for the season ahead. Only, ‘oops’, the word ‘Handicap’ is no longer acceptable.…
#Rowing: Home to Portrush rowed into English Harbour on Sunday to finish fifth in the Atlantic Challenge race from the Canaries. The crew of George McAlpin, Ally Cooper, Gareth Barton and Luke Baker took just a month to complete the…
€3m 'Cruise Ship' to Launch on Doolin–Aran Islands Crossing & Cliffs of Moher Cruises
14th January 2018 Ferry
Accessing Ireland’s most popular offshore destination, the Aran Islands, and the Cliffs of Moher by sea is to get a lot more comfortable, faster and environmentally friendly thanks to a record investment by one of the best known sea faring…
At 18.00 on a cold Friday January evening, west of Ireland solo sailor Joan Mulloy tied up her new Figaro II up in Dun Laoghaire after a 48–hour sail from Cowes on the Isle of Wight. In what is a…
Weather Front Predicted To Bring Faster, Flatter Conditions For Clipper Race Fleet Bound For Whitsundays
14th January 2018 Clipper Race
#ClipperRace - The Clipper Race teams have been continuing their upwind slog as they tack up the Queensland coast, and positive thinking finally looks set to pay off as the latest weather forecast predicts a front will shortly pass over…
#Creeragh - Independent.ie reports that a man has died after he was swept into the sea by an unexpected wave near Kilkee in Co Clare yesterday (Saturday 13 January). The 30-year-old man, believed to be a Hungarian national resident in…
#VOR - Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag retain the lead in Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race despite a dramatic man overboard scenario on Sunday (14 January). Crew member Alex Gough was washed overboard by a wave during a sail change,…
The first boats have finished the Atlantic Challenge ocean rowing race. The Four Oarsmen from Britain won in a record time of 29 days and 15 hours, which the organisers say is the fastest time ever for a row across…
End of an Era As Unique Passenger-Cargoship RMS St. Helena Prepares to Bid Farewell
13th January 2018 Ports & Shipping
#Ports&Shipping - The unique Royal Mail Ship, RMS St Helena (see related ship for sale report), will depart on a final voyage from the remote South Atlantic island of St. Helena on Saturday, 10 February, having dutifully served for the…
Work began this week at Oldcourt near Baltimore in West Cork on reconstructing Conor O’Brien’s Saoirse. One of the most remarkable sailing vessels in Irish and world maritime history, the 42ft Saoirse is unique in many ways. W M Nixon…
#Jobs - Waterways Ireland is currently recruiting for an Inspector of Navigation based in Athlone, and an engineer based in Dublin. The Inspector of Navigation will be responsible for a number of strategic work areas, including the monitoring and management…
#Shellfish - Predicting risk and impact of harmful algal bloom events that cause impact to the shellfish aquaculture sector (PRIMROSE) is a new €2.7-million marine science project led by the Marine Institute. The project is funded by the Interreg Atlantic…
