Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
#Optimist - Howth YC/National YC sailor Luke Turvey secured third place in the Under 13s fleet in Spain’s Torrevieja Trophy last weekend (26-28 January). Turvey, who travelled as part of Irish Sailing’s 16-strong Optimist squad, topped the Irish contingent by…
#IrishSailing - Irish Sailing has received the second-highest allocation from Sport Ireland for High Performance Programmes in 2018. On Thursday 1 February, Sport Minister Brendan Griffin announced this year’s around of investment for 2018, which sees Ireland’s national governing body…
Kinsale Yacht Club's Laser Sailor Darragh O'Sullivan is on Course For Yard of Ale Prize
4th February 2018 Laser
Another three race wins at the Monkstown Bay Sailing Club Laser League in Cork Harbour on Saturday means Kinsale Yacht Club's Darragh O'Sullivan has it all sewn up before the final race and he'll claim the traditional 'Yard of Ale' first…
More Heavy Lift Operations At Cork Dockyard as 'HHL LAGOS' Arrives at Port of Cork
3rd February 2018 Port of Cork
Since Friday (2nd February 2018) planned heavy lift operations at Cork Dockyard involve the loading of cargo onto the vessel ‘HHL Lagos’. Last February, as Afloat.ie reported at the time here, the same Cork Harbour dockyard was the site selected…
Flying Fifteens Join 36–Boat DBSC Spring Chicken Fleet for First Dublin Bay Race
3rd February 2018 DBSC
Keelboats ranging in size from 20–foot keelboats such as Flying Fifteens right up to 35–foot J109s are back on the water tomorrow (Sunday, 4th February) on Dublin Bay for the DBSC Rathfarnham Ford Spring Chicken Series, a forerunner to the…
While stocks last CH Marine Chanldery is continuing its Zhik marine clothing sale. The Cork store has value across the Australian brand range including a Superwarm skiff suit €195 and a Superwarm Top €155. Other examples include Microfleece skiff suits €169, Aroshell…
#ClipperRace - And they’re off! Much to the delight of the majority of Clipper Race skippers and their crews, the fourth day of Race 7: The Forever Tropical Paradise Race to Sanya, China has brought about some long-awaited breeze which…
#VOR - There is a new leader in the Volvo Ocean Race In-Port Race Series, after MAPFRE won the Dongfeng In-Port Race in Guangzhou, China today (Saturday 3 February). The win puts the Spanish race leader alone at the top…
The annual RORC Caribbean 600 in late February is now a pillar event of the international offshore racing programme, despite the fact that it was only first sailed – and on a rather experimental basis at that – as recently…
#NavyVisits - HNLMS Walrus which is one of the world's most sophisticated submarines arrived in Cork City yesterday for a courtesy visit this weekend, writes Jehan Ashmore. The non-nuclear powered submarine is the leadship of the 'Walrus' class which was…
#Angling - Inland Fisheries Ireland has confirmed that the first spring salmon of 2018 was caught earlier this week in Co Leitrim. Well-known local angler Bill Likely landed the 7.5lb salmon on the River Drowes on Tuesday 30 January. The…
Clogherhead & Skerries Lifeboats Rescue Skipper After Fishing Boat Breakdown
2nd February 2018 RNLI Lifeboats
#RNLI - Clogherhead and Skerries RNLI rescued a man whose fishing boat got into difficulty north of Dublin Bay yesterday afternoon (Thursday 1 February). The volunteer crews were requested to launch the all-weather lifeboat from Clogherhead and the inshore lifeboat…
The Jacksons To Headline Dun Laoghaire’s Beatyard Festival This Summer
2nd February 2018 Dun Laoghaire Harbour News
#Beatyard - The Jacksons will play their first ever Irish show as a part of this summer’s Beatyard festival in Dun Laoghaire Harbour, with tickets going on sale next week. Tito, Jermaine, Jackie and Marlon will headline on Friday 3…
#FerryNews- Services on Stena Line's Belfast-Scotland and England routes in 2017 marked another record trading year for freight and passenger operations. Freight volumes on its Belfast to Cairnryan, Liverpool and Heysham routes exceeded a record 514 000 units, which represents…
Cork Week Announces Further Early Bird Offers for Cork Harbour Sailing Regatta
1st February 2018 Cork Week
Following the recent announcement of the Volvo Cork Week ‘Super Early Bird’ competition winners who won back their full entry fee for the regatta, event organisers have announced a new enticing deal for those who sign up before March 31st.…
Countdown for Dubliner to Become First Irish Man to Sail Non-Stop Single Handed Round the World
1st February 2018 Solo Sailing
Gregor McGuckin (31) is attempting the gruelling feat of becoming the first Irish man to sail non-stop single handed around the world using no modern technology in the upcoming Golden Globe Race. In 150 days, Gregor will set sail from…
Gary MacMahon of Limerick is Afloat.ie 'Sailor of the Month' for January
1st February 2018 Sailor of the Month
In the depths of this winter, traditional boat enthusiasts worldwide were thinking of Oldcourt in West Cork, where the traditional ketch Ilen, having completed her basic restoration, had to be moved in difficult and cramped conditions out of her building…
Last October there were 15 boats at the Irish J109 National Championships, a very impressive turnout for a 35–foot Cruiser Racer. What's more 109s have won ISORA overall in the last three seasons and filled the first four places last…
Photographer John Coveney captures the second Full Moon of January 2018, a "blue" moon, breaks through the clouds over Dublin Bay at dusk on 31st January. Sorrento Terrace in Dalkey is in the foreground. The Muglins Light (left) and the…
#Surfing - German big wave surfer Sebastian Steudtner has set an unofficial record for the biggest swell ever surfed. As the Washington Post reports, Steudtner was filmed a fortnight ago surfing a wall of water off Nazaré in Portugal that’s…