Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
![Overall winners Alex Barry, Richard Leonard and Kieran O'Connell sailing 'Howlin' Mad' (IRL 407) lead the one day 2024 National 18 Championships at Royal Cork Yacht Club Overall winners Alex Barry, Richard Leonard and Kieran O'Connell sailing 'Howlin' Mad' (IRL 407) lead the one day 2024 National 18 Championships at Royal Cork Yacht Club](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I00005BdvkwNMKZo/s/848/I00005BdvkwNMKZo.jpg)
Counting three race wins but bouncing back from a disqualification in the third race of five sailed, Alex Barry, Richard Leonard and Kieran O'Connell sailing 'Howlin' Mad' won the National 18 Irish Championship crown at Royal Cork Yacht Club on…
![Helen Boland, Manager of the Dublin Bay Birds Project and Eamon McElroy, Port Engineer at Dublin Port Company, at the purpose-built platform for common and arctic terns running alongside Dublin's iconic Great South Wall Helen Boland, Manager of the Dublin Bay Birds Project and Eamon McElroy, Port Engineer at Dublin Port Company, at the purpose-built platform for common and arctic terns running alongside Dublin's iconic Great South Wall](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000ghB_sohZW.k/s/848/I0000ghB_sohZW.k.jpg)
Dublin Port Company (DPC) is welcoming back its breeding terns for the summer months. Among these returning birds is likely an Arctic Tern that was first ringed in Dublin Port in the year 2000 and has been flying back and…
![The Blaskets are included in the new park, Páírc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí, that is centred around Corca Dhuibhne in Co Kerry and includes the Conor Pass, the Owenmore River catchment, lands at Mount Brandon and the sand dune system at Inch Peninsula The Blaskets are included in the new park, Páírc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí, that is centred around Corca Dhuibhne in Co Kerry and includes the Conor Pass, the Owenmore River catchment, lands at Mount Brandon and the sand dune system at Inch Peninsula](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000udEBzInTQsc/s/848/I0000udEBzInTQsc.jpg)
Government Criticised Over Lack of Consultation Before Announcing Marine Park
27th May 2024 Marine Planning
Marine expert Dr Kevin Flannery has criticised the Government over its lack of adequate consultation with local fishers in advance of announcing the State’s first marine national park. The new park, Páírc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí, involves some 70,000 acres…
![File image of Portaferry RNLI’s inshore lifeboat File image of Portaferry RNLI’s inshore lifeboat](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I00007bfW80ghH9Y/s/848/I00007bfW80ghH9Y.jpg)
Portaferry Lifeboat Crew Break From Dedication Evening to Assist 35ft Yacht With Engine Failure
27th May 2024 RNLI Lifeboats
HM Coastguard requested the launch of Portaferry RNLI’s inshore lifeboat on Friday evening (24 May) to assist a 35ft yacht which was making slow progress after having suffered engine failure eight miles to the north-east of Strangford Bar in Northern…
![Alison Blake at the helm of the Hanse 371, a White Sails competitor in the 2024 Women at the Helm Regatta hosted by the National Yacht Club at Dun Laoghaire Alison Blake at the helm of the Hanse 371, a White Sails competitor in the 2024 Women at the Helm Regatta hosted by the National Yacht Club at Dun Laoghaire](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000nPo0kVC3nic/s/848/I0000nPo0kVC3nic.jpg)
Royal Irish Yacht Club Trio are Roy Trophy Winners at the 2024 Women at the Helm Regatta (Photo Galleries Below)
27th May 2024 National YC
The Royal Irish Yacht Club White Sails Cruiser team of Just Jasmin (Joan Sheffield), Shearwater (Catherine Day) and Great Escape (Katherine Sheehan) were the winners of the Roy Family Perpetual Trophy for the best team performance at the Women At The Helm 2024 regatta…
![Synchronised leppin'....Colm Bermingham (third from right) and his crew from Wave Regatta's overall winner Bite the Bullet, showing they're as much a team in celebrating ashore as they are when afloat and racing to more success Synchronised leppin'....Colm Bermingham (third from right) and his crew from Wave Regatta's overall winner Bite the Bullet, showing they're as much a team in celebrating ashore as they are when afloat and racing to more success](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I00006WPVExN83ZA/s/848/I00006WPVExN83ZA.jpg)
Colm Bermingham and his Elan 333 Bite the Bullet have been such steady performers in the front of the fleet for so long at Howth, that it is difficult to imagine a significant series without the crew of BTB (don't…
![File image of one of the platforms used by breeding terns in Dublin Port File image of one of the platforms used by breeding terns in Dublin Port](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000t2Ui7ooIOKg/s/500/I0000t2Ui7ooIOKg.jpg)
Dublin Port’s resident colony of terns is “thriving”, according to the wildlife charity that has been monitoring their progress for over 10 years. Helen Boland, manager of BirdWatch Ireland’s Dublin Bay Birds Project tells RTÉ News: “The numbers have been…
![Attending the RNLI 200 garden party were volunteer crew from Dun Laoghaire RNLI (from left): helm Nathan Burke, station mechanic and coxswain Kieran ‘Colley’ O’Connell and helm Gary Hayes Attending the RNLI 200 garden party were volunteer crew from Dun Laoghaire RNLI (from left): helm Nathan Burke, station mechanic and coxswain Kieran ‘Colley’ O’Connell and helm Gary Hayes](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I00000zk3r8Y9NvY/s/500/I00000zk3r8Y9NvY.jpg)
Irish RNLI Volunteers Attend Buckingham Palace Garden Party to Celebrate 200 Years of Saving Lives at Sea
26th May 2024 RNLI Lifeboats
Volunteers from Irish lifeboat stations including Dun Laoghaire, Arklow and Union Hall were among the 2,500 guests at a special garden party at Buckingham Palace last Thursday (23 May) to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution…
![Sigmatic (right) and the Belfast Lough entry Paul Prentice's Squawk racing in the Sigma 33 division of the 2024 Jura Scottish Series Regatta
Sigmatic (right) and the Belfast Lough entry Paul Prentice's Squawk racing in the Sigma 33 division of the 2024 Jura Scottish Series Regatta](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I00001adIwErbPIQ/s/848/I00001adIwErbPIQ.jpg)
Corby 33 Loses IRC One Lead to J109 as Scottish Series Enters Final Day
26th May 2024 Scottish Series
On a day when the IRC and the CYCA Scottish Series fleet raced around Inch Island in Loch Fyne, the overnight leader in IRC 1, John Stamp’s Corby 33 Jacob VII (CCC) lost out to the J109 Ben Shelley’s Mocking…
![The Big Yin is The People’s Choice . The enthusiastically-sailed First 50 Checkmate XX (Nigel Biggs & Dave Cullen, Howth YC) is the popular overall winner of the Lambay Lady, top trophy in Howth YC’s Wave Regatta The Big Yin is The People’s Choice . The enthusiastically-sailed First 50 Checkmate XX (Nigel Biggs & Dave Cullen, Howth YC) is the popular overall winner of the Lambay Lady, top trophy in Howth YC’s Wave Regatta](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000tLuAF7hs.2Q/s/848/I0000tLuAF7hs.2Q.jpg)
Howth Wave Concludes With Suggestion To Re-Name It As Four Seasons Regatta
26th May 2024 Wave Regatta
It started on Friday May 24th in Winter. Nobody would argue with that. But then on Saturday 25th - Lambay Day - Howth’s Wave Regatta barely paused in Spring before leaping straight into sunlit High Summer, with a magic racing…
![Naval Service vessel LÉ Róisín at Rockall conducting routine maritime security patrols in October 2012 Naval Service vessel LÉ Róisín at Rockall conducting routine maritime security patrols in October 2012](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000uB0dIqvHG8w/s/848/I0000uB0dIqvHG8w.jpg)
A deal between Ireland and Scotland to allow Irish fishing vessels to return to Rockall has been vetoed by British foreign secretary, David Cameron. As The Irish Times reports, the agreement would have allowed Irish fishing vessels to fish for…
![Built by Safehaven Marine, 'SOLAS' is a cutting-edge 'Interceptor 48' model, measuring 15 meters in length and capable of accommodating seven pilots and crew members Built by Safehaven Marine, 'SOLAS' is a cutting-edge 'Interceptor 48' model, measuring 15 meters in length and capable of accommodating seven pilots and crew members](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000dv3NVfCH4RE/s/848/I0000dv3NVfCH4RE.jpg)
The Port of Cork Company proudly announced the official arrival and unveiling of its new state-of-the-art pilot boat, 'SOLAS'. The vessel, a symbol of the port's commitment to safety, innovation, and sustainability, was introduced in a special ceremony at the…
![Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy took bronze in the World Cup II Lightweight Men's Double Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy took bronze in the World Cup II Lightweight Men's Double](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000vUm_eeltIUE/s/848/I0000vUm_eeltIUE.jpg)
Irish Rowers Take Four World Cup II Medals; One Gold, One Silver and Two Bronze
26th May 2024 Rowing
Irish rowers rounded out World Cup II with four medals: one gold, one silver, and two bronze. After a long week in Lucerne between the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta and World Cup II, it's finally time for the high-performance team…
![William Lacy’s Dufour 40 racing through Lambay Sound. Until you go up and sail round it, you don’t fully appreciate that Lambay – less than 15 miles from Dublin city centre – has some of the most unspoilt coastline in Ireland William Lacy’s Dufour 40 racing through Lambay Sound. Until you go up and sail round it, you don’t fully appreciate that Lambay – less than 15 miles from Dublin city centre – has some of the most unspoilt coastline in Ireland](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000_yB.fkHDq0k/s/848/I0000_yB.fkHDq0k.jpg)
It’s not widely known that when the Danes of Howth were being pressurised to become Christians, being Vikings they had a side deal to the effect that, forever afterwards, when the Annual Fete in late Spring at the new church…
![The potent downwind performer J125 Jackknife was the ISORA Pwllheli to Dun Laoghaire race winner The potent downwind performer J125 Jackknife was the ISORA Pwllheli to Dun Laoghaire race winner](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000T7djUjY0B0I/s/848/I0000T7djUjY0B0I.jpg)
Strong and gusty southeasterly winds on the Irish Sea swept Andrew and Sam Hall's Welsh J125 Jackknife to victory by almost 20 minutes on corrected time in Saturday's 12-hour ISORA race from Pwllheli to Dun Laoghaire. Despite an entry of 18, 11 boats…
![Brian Hall's Dublin Bay J109 Something Else is lying sixth overall after five races sailed at the 2024 Jura Scottish Series on Loch Fyne Brian Hall's Dublin Bay J109 Something Else is lying sixth overall after five races sailed at the 2024 Jura Scottish Series on Loch Fyne](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000A0qOzvQdyts/s/848/I0000A0qOzvQdyts.jpg)
After five races sailed at the Jura Scottish Series 2024 on Loch Fyne, John Stamp's Corby 33 Jacob VII leads a 13-boat IRC 1 fleet from a strong challenge from J109 designs that hold the next three positions overall. Jacob…
![John Malone and the Lough Ree YC team blast downwind in their sb20 during the Lambay Race 2024, part of Howth's Wave Regatta John Malone and the Lough Ree YC team blast downwind in their sb20 during the Lambay Race 2024, part of Howth's Wave Regatta](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I000095xChubAqFk/s/848/I000095xChubAqFk.jpg)
Lambay Race Magic Takes The Day For Lough Ree SB20 at Wave Regatta (Vid Here!)
26th May 2024 Wave Regatta
The long-forecast serious rain didn't reach the Wave Regatta venue at Howth until 2200hrs yesterday (Saturday 25th May), and even then, most of the power had gone out after a day during which there'd been about twice as much sunshine…
![Siobhán McCrohan takes gold in the Lightweight Women's Single at World Cup II, Lucerne, Switzerland Siobhán McCrohan takes gold in the Lightweight Women's Single at World Cup II, Lucerne, Switzerland](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000WEj4hvoQx4c/s/848/I0000WEj4hvoQx4c.jpg)
Ireland pocketed two medals and progressed to five A Finals on day two of racing in Lucerne, Switzerland, at rowing's World Cup II. Siobhán McCrohan takes gold in the Lightweight Women's Single, and Tiarnán O'Donnell opens his international career with…
![15 boats are contesting the Flying Fifteen Western Championships in Connemara 15 boats are contesting the Flying Fifteen Western Championships in Connemara](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000FwNUb9aQn74/s/848/I0000FwNUb9aQn74.jpg)
National Champions Lead Flying Fifteen Western Championships in Connemara
25th May 2024 Flying Fifteen
National Champions Niall and Ronan O'Briain of Flying Fifteen Chonamara lead the 15-boat Flying Fifteen Western Championships after two races sailed in overcast and cool conditions with intermittent rain off the Galway coast. The National Yacht Club's Shane McCarthy and…
![File image of Bundoran RNLI’s inshore lifeboat File image of Bundoran RNLI’s inshore lifeboat](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000xbsMxO37VzU/s/500/I0000xbsMxO37VzU.jpg)
Bundoran Lifeboat Joins Emergency Response to Boater in Distress Off Mullaghmore
25th May 2024 RNLI Lifeboats
Bundoran RNLI’s volunteers were called on Saturday morning (25 May) to assist in a water rescue off Mullaghmore in Co Sligo. It was reported that a casualty had fallen from a boat and was struggling in the water. The alarm…