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Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Aurelia’s crew celebrate their runner-up slot in the Race Office in Dingle at 4.30 am this morning. Noted crew additions Maurice The Prof O’Connell of North Sails and Peter Ryan of ISORA are in middle of back row, while just visible on extreme right in background is Mark Pettit of current overall leader Rockabill VI
Day #3 - 8am  We concluded last night’s closing roundup of the continuing drama which is the 270-mile Volvo Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race 2019 by noting that for some crews, the race only seemed to become serious once they’d put…
The stamp by Clare artist Vincent Killowry depicts the Vimy Vickers above an Atlantic swell
When a Vimy Vickers bi-plane made a crash landing in Connemara a century ago, it not only marked the first transatlantic flight – but also the first such airmail delivery writes Lorna Siggins Aviator John Alcock, who flew with Arthur Whitten…
There was a a 100% turnout of all twelve DBSC Beneteau 31.7s
Despite 11 DBSC boats competing in this week's Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race, there was a fantastic turnout of 120 boats this evening, for Thursday night's DBSC racing on Dublin Bay including a 100% turnout of all twelve Beneteau 31.7s. Results are…
Now how on earth did they do that? Noel Butler helms the J/109 Outrajeous through the light spots after passing the Fastnet Rock while skipper Johnny Murphy ponders his options on how to get back into battle with the Shanahan family, who have just made a swift move to get ahead with sister-ship Ruth.
Day #2 10 pm – The Line Honours winner, the 94ft Windfall (Mick Cotter) may be finished with a new course record established, but for many boats you get the impression that the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race is only…
Mick Cotter on the wheel for Windfall's record breaking D2D finish in Dingle. It takes an impressive number of people to race a 94-footer, and there was jubilation across the board when Windfall crossed the line to pip the Dingle Race course record this evening
Day #2 - 7 pm While the current boat is bigger, everyone on the 94ft Windfall knew that the conditions were exceptionally favourable when Mick Cotter’s 78ft Whisper established the 1 day and 48 minutes course record for the Dun…
Michael Cotter's Windfall closes in on the County Kerry finish line but misses a sub 24-hour time
Day #2 - 6 pm Mick Cotter’s gallant tilt at getting the 270-mile Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race time through the 24-hour barrier by finishing before 6.0pm has been frustrated by a very few miles writes W M Nixon Earlier…
Forget about the Emerald Isle, this is Forty Shades of Grey. .….The Fastnet Rock as seen from Windfall as she passed at 1000hrs this morning, when she still held some breeze
Day #2 - 2 pm  Mick Cotter’s 94ft Windfall has to average “only” 11.25 knots over the shortest course from Dun Laoghaire to Dingle if she is to break the 24-hour barrier for this classic 270-mile race writes W M…
The Rosslare RNLI went to the assistance of a D2D competitor this morning
Rosslare Harbour RNLI Lifeboat came to the aid of eight people whose 10m yacht got into difficulty off the Wexford coast in the early hours of this morning (Thursday 13 June). The Rosslare Harbour volunteer crew launched their all-weather lifeboat…
Howth Yacht Club J109 Outrajeous off Ballycotton in fourth place on IRC
Howth Yacht Club J109 Outrajeous skippered by Johnny Murphy leads the potent J109 designs in fourth overall on IRC rating in the Volvo Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race this morning with 122 miles left to sail to the County Kerry finish line. Her crew…
Bird in the hand - Tom Dolan arrives on the dock with a feathered friend in Roscoff last night after another tough leg of the Figaro Race
“You need to be mentally strong for this type of sailing. You have to make tough decisions when you’re tired.” “Being by yourself, sailing solo, depends very much on the person and how you use your own resources,” The first…
The waters of Lough Leane turned a soupy pea-green colour last July due to the algae
Kerry County Council is once again warning pet owners to be vigilant around Lough Leane in Killarney after the detection of blue-green algae, as RTÉ News reports. Samples taken in recent days show the presence of the algae, which has the…
RYANI Says Volunteers Are Helping To Sustain Sailing & Boating Clubs Across Northern Ireland
More than 960 volunteers are helping to sustain sailing and boating across Northern Ireland each year, according to the RYA Northern Ireland. In 2017, over 91,000 people took part in a sailing or boating activity. And with 9,600 club members,…
Al Mennie getting a tow-in to his next big wave
Big wave surfer Al Mennie talks to the Belfast Telegraph about how he keeps fit and healthy between his challenging surfing experiences. In a candid Q&A, the Portrush surfer — who features in BBC Two NI show Tide this Sunday…
The Port of Waterford is planning for the future... so have your say on Wednesday, June 26th. Afloat adds the port's main terminal is located at Belview on the Co. Kilkenny side of Waterford Estuary.
On the southern tip of County Kilkenny is located the Port of Waterford which is beginning a public consultation process seeking inputs from all stakeholders on a proposed master plan setting out how the port could develop over the 25-year…
Rockall - Legal Experts Says Scotland Right & Ireland Wrong
Two Irish international maritime law experts have said that Scotland is within its legal rights to place a 12-mile territorial limit around Rockall writes Lorna Siggins. Statements made by Government ministers over the past week have been “incorrect”, as Rockall is…
Conor Doyle's Xp50 Freya. The Kinsale Yacht Club entry lost its A2 sail off Wicklow head last night which, says crew member Kenny Rumball, 'hurt us downwind from Wicklow to Tuskar'. Freya is currently lying third on the water
Day #2 - 9am The Volvo Dun Laoghaire Dingle racers have left the murkier weather of the east coast astern, and this morning finds them reaching along the south coast in what could best be described as serviceable northerlies writes W…
Port of Galway CEO Conor O'Dowd in front of a regular visitor to the city's Docks, the Corrib Fisher. AFLOAT adds the James Fisher Everard tanker operates from Whitegate Oil Refinery, Cork Harbour which was previously served by Galway Fisher.
Ferries from Galway City to the Aran Islands will after a lenghtly absence make their return to Galway Docks – with the announcement that Island Ferries will begin operating the service from next year. According to the Connacht Tribune from…
Brittany Ferries flagship Pont-Aven is to resume service tomorrow, Friday 14th June. Afloat adds this will involve an inward bound crossing from Roscoff to Cork.
It has been confirmed by Brittany Ferries that its Cork-Roscoff route will resume service this Friday as expected. The announcement reports EchoLive.ie comes three weeks after the Pont Aven ferry suffered a hydraulic failure impacting thousands of people expecting to…
The Freya crew this morning off Youghal
Kenny Rumball on the Kinsale Yacht Club XP50, Freya, currently in third place for line honours, reports snagging a lobster pot overnight in the Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race.  Conor Doyle's crew successfully disengaged themselves from the potline with some quick thinking and 'backing…
The Grand Soleil 34 Justina has retired into Kilmore Quay
Johnny Treanor and the crew of his Grand Soleil 34 Justina from the National Yacht Club have retired from the Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race. The crew are safe and heading to Kilmore Quay in County Wexford having suffered 'a total loss of…

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