Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
#HospitalShip - The Naval Service have plans for a newbuild which would be equipped to provide full medical facilities at sea have been endorsed by Taoiseach Enda Kenny. The Irish Times writes that a White Paper on Defence promises a…
Arranmore RNLI in County Donegal launched in the early hours of this morning (Wednesday 19 October) to go the assistance of two sailors who got into difficulty at St John’s Point. The volunteer lifeboat crew was requested to launch their…
#SeaFest - Ireland’s national maritime festival will return to Galway Harbour for the next two years, according to the Galway Independent. The news follows the success of this summer’s SeaFest, which brought more than 60,000 visitors to Galway to see…
#Angling - A new fund to support projects for sustainable and accessible angling in Ireland has been launched by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). The Capital Works Fund of €500,000 is available for angling groups and clubs who are looking to…
#Shipping - Five people were found in a shipping container in Wexford at the weekend, as BreakingNews.ie reports. The three men, a woman and a young girl, all believed to be Kurdish, were discovered at a haulage yard in New…
The FAST40+ Class have announced their plans for the 2017 Race Circuit with eight events starting in April and concluding in October 2017. The FAST40+ Class will once again contest the prestigious One Ton Cup an event in which Royal…
Traditional Ketch Ilen’s Restored Deck Completed in Community & Celebrity Ceremony in West Cork
19th October 2016 Ilen
The restoration of the 57–ft traditional multi-cargo ketch Ilen, built in Baltimore in 1926, has taken a significant step forward through the formal closing of her deck with the ceremonial fastening home of the final plank at Liam Hegarty’s boatyard…
Seascapes Podcast: Des Brannigan, Crosshaven RNLI & Cork Sail Training Bursary Scheme
19th October 2016 Seascapes
Hello and welcome aboard this week’s edition of Seascapes, your maritime programme, this week we remember diver, seafarer and trade unionist Des Brannigan ; we hear from Ron Coveney at the naming ceremony of a new Atlantic 85 lifeboat to…
A 22–foot long bowsprit is an impressive sight. ‘Wow’ was my first reaction as I stood on the deck of the historic Ilen looking at it during the ‘decking-out’ ceremony for the vessel which I report on the new edition…
The Norwegian tall ship, Christian Radich, one year short of its 80th anniversary, made a fine sight in Cork city last night. The 1937 built ship is berthed at the North Custom House Quay. As Afloat.ie previously reported, the visit…
A number of GP14 sailors made their way down to Blessington on Friday evening, pitched tents and camper vans around the lakeside. It was a very wet and windy night for them. Many of the Saturday sailors drove through heavy…
An exciting 2017 Championship schedule includes old favourites Howth YC and Royal Ulster YC as well as a return trip to Mayo YC. This year's World Championships will be held in Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes making it highly accessible from…
Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine, Michael Creed T.D. today welcomed the start of important international fishing negotiations on the mackerel stock in the North East Atlantic. The negotiations are being hosted by the Department of Agriculture, Food &…
Castletownbere RNLI Presented with National Marine Gallantry and Meritorious Service Award
18th October 2016 RNLI Lifeboats
The volunteer lifeboat crew from Castletownbere RNLI has been awarded a Marine Ministerial Letter of Appreciation for Meritorious Service. The award in recognition of the crew’s ability to locate and save a life in challenging weather conditions was presented by…
#BoatyMcBoatface - Sir David Attenborough along with more than 1,000 people attended the keel-laying ceremony of a new £150m polar research vessel at a UK shipyard yesterday. Construction of RSS Sir David Attenborough was officially started by the world-renowned naturalist…
#OPV90named - A new Irish Naval Service vessel costing in the region of €66m has been formally commissioned at a ceremony in Galway Port, reports RTE News. After an address by the Taoiseach at Galway Harbour yesterday, the LÉ William…
#VOR - The Rolex Fastnet Race has been named among the mandatory qualifiers ahead of the start of the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race. The famed run from the Isle of Wight to Fastnet Rock in West Cork joins the new…
Following the cancellation of two days racing in mid-series due to adverse weather, this year's MSL Park Motors Mercedes-Benz Autumn League competitors enjoyed two races this Saturday, affording the competing teams a real opportunity to challenge the leaders in all…
The salvage and disposal of a number of sunk and abandoned vessels from the Barrow Line of the Grand Canal at Lowtown took place on 12-13 October 2016 by Waterways Ireland. As part of the canals clean up a number…
Following a uniquely beautiful and challenging course, the Rolex Middle Sea Race, organised by the Royal Malta Yacht Club, is mentioned in the same breath as the top Rolex Fastnet, The Rolex Sydney - Hobart and Newport-Bermuda. It typically attracts…
