Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
There’s something special about a large organisation which is so attuned to the needs of the many services it quietly provides that it can - naturally and confidently and without fuss - move into action each year in a distinctly…
Lough Derg RNLI were requested to launch on Thursday afternoon (18 April) by Valentia Coast Guard to assist two people on a 36ft cruiser reported aground inside Navigation Mark H at Gortmore Point. The inshore lifeboat Jean Spier launched at…
Kilmore Quay RNLI launched on Friday afternoon (19 April) to assist five people aboard an angling charter boat southeast of the Saltee Islands when rope had become entangled in the propeller. A number of the responding volunteer lifeboat crew left…
Irish Crew on Volvo 70 Tschuss 2 Break Round Isle Of Wight IRC Speed Sailing Record
19th April 2024 RORC
The Volvo 70 Tschuss 2, skippered by Johnny Mordaunt and with a large Irish crew onboard, has broken the Round Isle Of Wight sailing record with a corrected time of six hours, 22 minutes, and 25 seconds. Wednesday's record bid was…
Royal Cork's Antix Takes Corinthian Win at the Royal Southern Yacht Club's Cape 31 Regatta
19th April 2024 Cape 31
The Irish O'Leary team Antix secured their first win of the Cape 31 Corinthian/1 professional division, emerging as the new champions in what turned out to be a thrilling weekend of racing. The Royal Southern Yacht Club's April Regatta played…
Dublin Bay Mermaids Set to Make Historic First Visit to Belfast Lough for Ulster Championships
19th April 2024 Mermaid
Dublin Bay has been the home of the Mermaid class since 1932 when they were designed by J B Kearney. They race regularly in Dun Laoghaire, Clontarf, Rush, Skerries, Wexford, Foynes, Dungarvan and Sligo. And for the first time ever…
Portaferry RNLI Assists Fishing Vessel with Engine Failure at Strangford Lough Entrance
19th April 2024 RNLI Lifeboats
Portaferry RNLI inshore lifeboat was launched on Monday evening to assist a 6-meter fishing vessel which had suffered engine failure close to the Bar Buoy at the entrance into Strangford Lough. Belfast Coastguard requested the launch of the lifeboat at…
Scottish Government Expresses Confidence Rockall Dispute With Ireland Could be Resolved, TG4 Documentary Reports
19th April 2024 Island News
A long-running dispute over fishing rights around Rockall could be resolved following fresh discussions with the Irish authorities, the Scottish Government has told TG4. In a statement to the broadcaster’s investigative series, Iniúchadh TG4, a Scottish government spokesperson said that…
Historic Visit to Harland & Wolff as Shipyard Host Largest Cross-Party Delegation of MPs
19th April 2024 Shipyards
At the iconic Belfast shipyard of Harland & Wolff, a landmark event that symbolised the restoration of devolution in Northern Ireland took place when the yard welcomed last month a cross-party delegation of MP’s. Ben Murray, Chief of Staff and…
British Marine, the membership organisation leading the UK leisure, superyacht, and small commercial marine industry, today released its annual economic report titled "The Economic Benefits of the Leisure, Superyacht & Small Commercial Marine Industry, 2022-23." Building upon its annual KPI…
Irish Sailing Youth Nationals: ILCA 4 Class to Compete for Trophies in Upcoming Event at Lough Ree Yacht Club
19th April 2024 Laser
In the aftermath of Storm Kathleen, the ILCA 4 Class was left without any competitive sailing at the Irish Sailing Youth Nationals held at the Royal Cork Yacht Club in early April. However, ILCA Ireland has stepped up to the…
Jails, Morgues, No Deck 13 - The New York Times on The Hidden Secrets of Cruise Ships
19th April 2024 Cruise Liners
Water parks, tattoo parlours, a jail and a morgue – these are some of the “hidden features” on cruise ships, The New York Times reports. An “entire ecosystem, often below passenger decks” is “shrouded in mystery”, the newspaper reports. “The…
Irish Team Selected From Six Clubs for the 2024 International 420 Open European Championships
19th April 2024 420
The Irish 420 Dinghy Class Association announces the pairings to represent Ireland at the 2024 Open International 420 European Championships. Unlike some other youth boats, the 420 Worlds and Junior Europeans are closed events due to the sheer numbers of boats…
Dubarry Launches New Palermo Range of Trainers for On and Off-Water Performance
19th April 2024 Marine Clothing
Irish outdoor clothing and footwear brand Dubarry has announced the launch of its new Palermo range of trainers, designed to offer both on and off-the-water performance. Dubarry says the Palermo combines the classic sneaker style with modern materials to provide…
Erne System: Closure of Enniskillen’s Henry Street Jetty for Angling Event Next Week
19th April 2024 Inland Waterways
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on users of the Erne System in Northern Ireland that the downstream section of the Henry Street Floating Jetty in Enniskillen will be closed from this Sunday 21 to next Friday 26 April. This…
MCIB Says Corrib Rowing Training Which Went Wrong Posed "Threat of Death Or Serious Injury"
18th April 2024 MCIB
The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) has said that a training session which went wrong on the river Corrib and resulted in the loss of two competitive rowing craft “posed a threat of death or serious injury” to those involved.…
New N.I. Research Vessel Sees Stormont Award £28m Contract to Spanish Shipyard Astilleros Armon
18th April 2024 Shipyards
In Northern Ireland a £28 million contract to build a new government-owned research vessel (RV) has been awarded to Spanish shipyard Astilleros Armon Vigo S.A. The contract for the 52.8m newbuild comes from the Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural…
Stena Follows Scandinavian Rival to the Strait of Gibraltar As DFDS Acquired Operator FRS Iberia/Maroc
18th April 2024 Ferry
Stena Line’s recent announcement of acquiring shares in Africa Morocco Link (AML) follows another Scandinavian ferry rival, DFDS, which in January completed the process in its acquisition of a Strait of Gibraltar operator, writes Jehan Ashmore. It was in September…
Promoted
UK Sailmakers Ireland New Shannon One Design Sails Are Ready for Action
18th April 2024 UK Sailmakers Ireland
We developed a new design for the Shannon One design class at our Cork sail loft. Once we were all happy with the design which we sent to top guys in the class so they could review it in real…
Promoted
Explore Irish Waters in Style with the Antares Outboard Range from Beneteau - Available Now at BJ Marine
18th April 2024 BJ Marine
The biggest growth area for boating in Irish waters in recent seasons has been on outboard cruisers, and the Antares range from Beneteau has delivered massively, writes BJ Marine General Manager James Kirwan. Whether for day boating, fishing, coastal cruising or…