Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
The 32nd edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race is just under three months away. Entries for the 606-nautical mile classic are beginning to stack up, and the Royal Malta Yacht Club (RMYC) is contemplating another bumper crop of international…
The National Yacht Club beside Dun Laoghaire's much walked East Pier will be a blaze of red, white and blue for two massive sailing events in August. On Wednesday 10th the NYC will host the first ever stop in Dublin…
Ireland's aim of a medal at the Olympic test event got off to a shaky start in Weymouth yesterday when the first of Ireland's six teams took to the water. Annalise Murphy posted a 22 and a 15 to place…
Martin Byrne of Dun Laoghaire is the Irish Independent/Afloat.ie Sailor of the Month after his superb final race to clinch the Edinburgh Cup, one of the most significant events in the International Dragon Class' annual programme in Europe. In a…
The exotic French Trimaran Veolia Environnement was in Dalkey Sound this morning. The high speed craft circled around the island in modest north westerly winds and returned into Dublin Bay for what appeared to be a helicopter publicity-photoshoot. According to…
The first race in the Royal Cork O'Leary Insurances League" was a bit cooler than previous Thursdays but it was still a pleasant one for the Cork harbour cruiser fleet writes our Cork Harbour Correspondent. The breeze was coming from…
Paul O’Donovan won his quarter-final at the World Rowing Junior Championships at Dorney Lake in England today. The Skibbereen man, who won his heat on Thursday, again showed cool intent in the closing stages of this race, passing long-time leader…
On the eve of the Word Championships on Dublin Bay an Irish Sailor leads the Topper British National Championships in Scotland. Laura Gilmore, from Strangford Lough, who has already won the Ulster Championships now leads the top British event going…
In the Cruisers One Division Tony Fox's A35 Gringo was first home in blustery conditions in tonight's Dublin Bay race. The DBSC Commodore beat the Corby 33 Contango (Barry Cunningham) for IRC honours. Third home was the J109 Jedi (Sarratt/Austin/McGuinness).…
Over the course of the first leg there is the sport of sailing and competition on the water to talk about. There is however, a life at sea we only find out about once the sailors relax and are back…
Over 60 boats signed up for the 27th Calves Week in Schull this week writes Oonagh Buckley. The first few days of the week long racing event benefited from a late burst of summer conditions with light winds and blue…
An unusual visitor to Dublin Port in the form of the large German Navy salvage tug, Fehmarn (A1458) is to make a weekend courtesy call, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 1,289 gross tonnes Fehmarn (photo) is to arrive in the morning and…
Ambitious plans to introduce load-on load-off (Lo-Lo) facilities at Rosslare Europort have been announced, according to a report in yesterday's Wexford People. John Lynch, manager of the port talked about the expansion of the ports current role which is…
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall returns to our screens next Monday with an update on his influential 'Fish Fight' campaign to end to the practice of discarding commercially-caught sea fish. http://www.afloat.ie/port-news/fishing/ Earlier this year the public were shocked by the newds that half…
Scientists Probe Claims that Pollution Caused Pilot Whale Strandings
4th August 2011 Marine Wildlife
The Daily Telegraph reports that scientists are investigating the possibility of a link between the recent mass stranding of pilot whales in Scotland and the dumping of toxic waste into the sea. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/8680932/Was-pollution-responsible-for-mass-stranding-of-pilot-whales.html http://www.afloat.ie/port-news/marine-wildlife/ Though no connection has ever been…
Paul O’Donovan matched the feat of compatriot Holly Nixon when he won his heat of the single scull at the World Rowing Junior Championships at Dorney Lake in England this morning. The Skibbereen man took over the lead coming up…
Afloat.ie is looking forward to the results of a new survey on boating holidays in Ireland. http://www.afloat.ie/resources/business/aquatic-tourism/ Fáilte Ireland is looking to hear from anyone who has recently enjoyed a boating holiday in Ireland to learn about their experiences, and…
A half-acre site in the picturesque environs of Spanish Point, now on the market for €400,000, could prove to be a dream investment. The site in Ballycotton, Co Cork, which is the former location of the Spanish Point Restaurant and…
Holly Nixon dominated her first race at the World Junior Rowing Championships this morning. The Enniskillen woman led down the course in the second heat of the women’s single scull and had over 10 seconds to spare over second-placed Juliette…
What a month! The judges are making up their minds for July's Sailor of the Month Award to be made at the weekend. Who would they have in mind? We can think of Anthony O'Leary who was just one point…