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Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Wicklow Sailing Club's annual lift-in of sailing cruisers for the 2024 summer sailing season
Over the weekend, Wicklow Sailing Club successfully completed their lift-in of sailing cruisers, paving the way for the much-anticipated SSE Renewables Round Ireland Yacht Race on June 22nd. More than 40 boats have already signed up, and it is expected…
The UK's Clean Water Sports Alliance represents the interests of millions of recreational water users whose experiences are impacted by substandard water quality and pollution every day
Seven UK national governing bodies of water-based sports have announced they’re coming together to form an alliance calling for clean open water across the UK. The Clean Water Sports Alliance of Angling Trust, British Rowing, British Triathlon, GB Outrigger, Paddle…
Irish solo skipper Tom Dolan will compete out of Les Sables d’Olonne in the Solo Maître CoQ
From Tuesday until Saturday Irish solo skipper Tom Dolan will compete out of Les Sables d’Olonne in the Solo Maître CoQ, the second of five events counting for the 2024 French Elite Offshore Racing Championship. “The crewed transatlantic race was a…
File image of Arranmore RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat on the water, with three dolphins frolicking in the foreground
Arranmore RNLI’s volunteer crew were roused in the early hours of Sunday morning (28 April) by Malin Head Coast Guard to assist a sailor onboard a yacht that lost power 18 miles west of the Co Donegal island. The initial…
Passengers embark CalMac’s main Arran ferry, Caledonian Isles at Ardrossan, North Ayrshire before sailing for Brodick as seen in this file photo. The ferry Afloat add is in dry-dock, however the Firth of Clyde route is otherwise operated by MV Isle of Arran and chartered MV Alfred but out of Troon.
Scottish government owned Caledonian McBrayne (CalMac) has condemned one of the country’s key port operators which it said has left a major ferry port harbour in an "unacceptable" condition. The situation was putting safe operations at risk despite CalMac paying…
 Italian Ambrogio Beccaria (Alla Grande - Pirelli) in the IMOCA class of the Transat CIC
After a sunny, spectacular start, the 48 solo sailors taking part in the Transat CIC had to deal with the first windy and bumpy night at sea, crossing a front with 30 plus knots of wind and a rough sea…
Poole leading Williams in the final of the 59th Congressional Cup at Long Beach, California. The Williams boat crew included Northern Ireland sailor Oisin McClelland
The intensity of the 59th Congressional Cup, the opening event for the 2024 World Match Racing Tour, reached its peak today as USA’s Chris Poole and his Riptide Racing team won his second consecutive Congressional Cup and Crimson Blazer. Poole…
Very strange? The rugged-looking 1910-built 48ft gaff cutter Tally Ho in full offshore racing trim in 1927. At first glance, few would guess her to be an Albert Strange design
The 1927 Fastnet Race winner Tally Ho - a 48ft gaff cutter built in 1910 - has now been fully restored in a remarkable online project by English sailor/boatbuilder Leo Sampson Goolden in Sampson Boat Company’s premises at Sequium, Washington…
In a nail-biting medal race, Germany clinched the third country ticket in the women's 49erFX skiff competition at the Hyeres based Last Chance Regatta
At least 63 nations will be represented across 10 events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Regatta this summer after qualifying concluded at last week's Last Chance Regatta in Hyères, south of France. The action will begin in Marseille on…
ESPO congratulates Gerardo Landaluce (Port of Algeciras), Algis Latakas (Port of Klaipeda), Santiago Garcia-Milà (Port of Barcelona) and the ports of Sevilla, Tenerife, Vigo, Waterford, Pori, Dover, Igoumenitsa and Niedersachsen on receiving the PERS certificate – which demonstrates a commitment to environmental sustainability in the maritime industry.
The European Sea Ports Organisation congratulates 11 ports with their Port Environmental Review System (PERS) certificates during the annual ESPO Conference in Paris.  The Port of Algeciras (Spain), the Port of Barcelona (Spain), the Port of Klaipeda (Lithuania), the Ports…
The all-female crew are competing in the Northern Ireland Inshore Points Series on the Sigma 33 Elandra
The Sigma 33 Elandra was out racing for the first time yesterday (27th April) with its mainly all-women crew on Belfast Lough. Victoria and Martin Dews have made Elandra available to encourage women to grab the chance to race or…
Participants in the 2023 Great River Swim on the Shannon Navigation
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that the Gaelforce Great River Swim will take place between Tarmonbarry and Ballyleague next month. Around 500 swimmers will participate in the swim event in Lanesborough on…
Neck and neck from the ISORA start line - Winner J109 Indian (Colm Buckley and Simon Knowles) (left) battle it out with Alan Hannon's Belfast Lough-based JPK 1030 Coquine that finished second in the 28-mile Viking Marine coastal race. Both boats are in training for the 700-mile Round Ireland Race in under eight weeks' time
There was a second consecutive ISORA coastal race win for the Howth Yacht Club J109 Indian crew skippered by Simon Knowles on Sunday after a light to medium air test in the longest race of the Viking Marine series so…
William Walsh and Eoin Byrne in IRL 2118 make a perfect race start on their way to overall victory at the 29er Eastern Championships at the National Yacht Club on Dublin Bay
William Walsh and Eoin Byrne of the host club were the clear winners of the 29er Eastern Championships 2024 at the National Yacht Club on Sunday. After eight races sailed off Seapoint on Dublin Bay in light to medium winds, the NYC…
The GP14 Munster Championship fleet converges on a top mark at Killaloe Sailing Club. The two day event showcased the best of Irish GP14 sailing, with impressive performances from seasoned champions and rising stars alike
Killaloe Sailing Club in County Clare played host to the highly anticipated GP14 Munster Championships, the first championship of 2024. The event drew 27 teams from across Ireland to experience the excitement and charm of sailing on Lough Derg. For…
 The Transat CIC - Of the 48 sailors who took the start, 33 are competing in the IMOCA class, 13 in the Class40 class and 2 in the vintage class
The Transat CIC, the legendary solo race across the North Atlantic, commenced on Sunday with 48 sailors setting sail from Lorient, Brittany towards New York. Blessed with sunny skies, cumulus clouds, and a decent 10-15kts of Westerly wind, the sailors…
“Spike Island—the Rebels, Residents, and Crafty Criminals of Ireland’s Historic Island” was written by John Crotty and will be launched by Cork’s deputy mayor, Dr Colette Finn, on Tuesday (April 30).
One of Cork Harbour’s most notorious islands, Spike, is the subject of a new book published this week. “Spike Island—the Rebels, Residents, and Crafty Criminals of Ireland’s Historic Island” was written by John Crotty and will be launched by Cork’s…
Ruan O'Tiarnaigh (right) winner of the YTC division of the Royal Ulster Yacht Club Spring Series on Belfast Lough with Tom Bell of sponsors Grange Wines and Vice Commodore Maurice Butler
Inclement weather played havoc with the six-race Royal Ulster Yacht Club Spring Series on Belfast Lough, with Sunday, 7th April, cancelled. However, four races eventually gave overall results. The last outing on 21st April started with little wind, and the…
Robert Munns CEO Oceans of Hope Challenge, Ava Battles CEO MS Ireland and Stephen Fitzgerald, organiser Ireland, and member of the MS community at the first introduction to sailing open day in Dun Laoghaire run with the Irish National Sailing and Powerboat School
An introduction to sailing in Dun Laoghaire Harbour for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) earlier this month (April) was so successful that a second is planned for May 8th. As reported by Afloat, the initiative is run by MS Ireland…
The late Jo English - SailCork benefited enormously from her skills, ranging from customer
Tributes have been paid to Jo English, SailCork's administration and customer care manager who died earlier this month after a brief illness. The Sunday Independent reports that the many tributes have included those from Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC) admiral…

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