Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Dun Laoghaire's 'Coastival' Maritime Festival Includes Grand Parade of Classic Sail
14th June 2024 Coastival
On Sunday, June 30th, from 12-2pm, the East Pier at Dun Laoghaire Harbour will provide quite the nautical spectacle with The Grand Parade of Classic Sail as part of Coastival 2024. The "synchronised sailing" format for the event is simple…
Cove Sailing Club's Annual Ballinacurra Cup Dinghy Race to Commemorate Rich Seafaring History in Cork Harbour
14th June 2024 Cove Sailing Club
The Ballinacurra Cup is among the oldest "All-In" dinghy racing handicap trophies. The Irish Naval Service presented it to Cove Sailing Club in 1947. In past times Ballinacurra, in the North/East corner of Cork Harbour was a major port for…
McDonald is Favourite for Windy 1720 Nationals in Baltimore But Murphy's Late Entry Maybe a Dark Horse
13th June 2024 1720
A 22-boat entry does not include defending champion Dave Kenefick for Friday's 1720 National Championships at Baltimore Sailing Club, and at least one late entry in West Cork is expected to have some Olympic firepower onboard for the three-day event.…
Dublin Bay Sailing Club's (DBSC) Thursday evening racing was cancelled tonight due to strong westerly winds. Winds measuring gusting over 20 knots meant the eighth Thursday race of the 2024 AIB summer season was scrubbed in all classes at Dun…
The Department of Transport has been advised that geotechnical and geophysical surveys are being undertaken in the Irish Sea on behalf of McMahon Design and Management. The survey work, which was scheduled to start on 1 June, will be completed…
Bangor Lifeboat Assists Two on Vessel With Engine Difficulty Near Groomsport
13th June 2024 RNLI Lifeboats
Bangor RNLI launched to the aid of two people on Wednesday evening (12 June) after their boat encountered engine problems near Groomsport. At 8.35pm, Bangor’s RNLI volunteers launched their Atlantic 85 class lifeboat Jessie Hillyard following a request from Belfast Coastguard…
Pete Smyth Shares on Race Strategy and More Ahead of Round Ireland 2024
13th June 2024 Round Ireland
Pete Smyth recently sat down with Simon Johnson for an exclusive interview ahead of the upcoming SSE Renewables Round Ireland Yacht Race. The noted Dublin Bay inshore and offshore sailor—known for strong results in his Sunfast 3600, Searcher—recently purchased the…
South Wales-Ireland Route's Controversial Ferry Norbay Departs Pembrokeshire for the Final Time
13th June 2024 Irish Ferries
On Irish Ferries route linking Pembroke and Rosslare, a controversial and passenger-unfriendly ferry that operated this winter has sailed out of the south Wales port for the last time, reports The Pembrokeshire Herald. P&O Ferries ‘economy’ ropax Norbay which had…
Five Irish fishing producing and processing seafood organisations have united to “demand change at national and EU level”. “Our objective is to work together on raising awareness of critical challenges impacting the sector at both national and EU level,” the…
Kinsale's Travers and O'Riordan Clinch South Coast Squib Championships at Baltimore Sailing Club
13th June 2024 Squib
Baltimore Sailing Club in West Cork was the host of this year's Squib South Coast Championships over last weekend. The event saw a strong turnout, with nineteen boats competing and participants travelling from various locations, including Lough Derg, Dublin, Howth,…
Traditional Currach Built in the Midlands in Aid of Mental Health Services and RNLI
13th June 2024 Currachs
Three Irish men have come together to build a traditional Currach in aid of two charities, Teac Tom Mental Health Services and the RNLI. Pat Comerford of Carlow Rowing Club, along with Pat Sweeney of Achill and Paul Palmer of…
EPA Reports Shows No Improvement Overall in Water Quality for Rivers, Lakes and Estuaries
13th June 2024 Marine Wildlife
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says there has been “no significant change in any of the water quality indicators for Ireland’s rivers, lakes, estuaries and groundwaters”. Results for 2023 show “no sign of improvement overall”, it says. “While improvements are…
Ireland's Marine Institute Presents at International Marine Data and Information Systems Conference
13th June 2024 Marine Science
Progress on the Marine Institute’s digital services development was presented at the 2024 International Conference on Marine Data and Information Systems (IMDIS) in Bergen, Norway. The conference showcased advances in marine data and digital programmes across the international community, which…
After nine races sailed, consistency pays for Belfast Lough debutante Coquine in the Musto Irish Sea Offshore Racing Association Series, where skipper Alan Hannon has a .3 lead at the top of the 34-boat fleet leaderboard. ISORA published the overall…
Wednesday night’s Dubin Bay Water Wag race was the National Yacht Club regatta race, a class fixture traditionally run inside Dun Laoghaire Harbour ahead of Saturday's main regatta programme. As there were issues with the committee vessel, Dublin Bay Sailing…
Donegal Cyclist to Attempt World Record Ride From Malin to Mizen and Back in Aid of Bundoran RNLI
12th June 2024 RNLI Lifeboats
A Donegal cyclist is set to embark on a mammoth world-record cycle attempt, riding unsupported from Malin to Mizen — a 1,225km route from one end of Ireland to the other — and back. The gruelling non-stop ride is set…
Scotland west coast ferry operator CalMac recently announced that, following a successful trial period, the MV Alfred will operate additional sailings between the mainland and Arran until August. The 430 passenger catamaran, which can also carry vehicles, operates the Firth…
Rowing Ireland’s High-Performance Director, Antonio Maurogiovanni, has announced the rowers that will represent Ireland at World Cup III. Racing will take place from the 14th – 16th June in Poznan, Poland. Selected Irish Crews Women’s PairFiona Murtagh (University of Galway…
Harland & Wolff’s Shipyard in Appledore Completes Lift of Newbuild Cable Barge
12th June 2024 Shipyards
Harland & Wolff (Appledore), the north Devon shipyard in England, has reached an important milestone at the facility that, under previous owners, as Afloat reported, built in 2018 the last offshore patrol vessel for the Irish Naval Service. On this latest…
MCIB Report Into Grounding of Yacht 'Jelly Baby' in Cork Harbour Highlights Failure to Follow Man Overboard Procedures
12th June 2024 MCIB
The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) says the Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC) should take action to ensure skippers and people in charge of its racing yacht fleet review their crew training obligations. The review should be conducted in the…