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Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
The last island boat builder on Lower Lough Erne was Douglas Tiernan of Owl Island who built his last boats there in the 1960s prior to his death
In the 1800s and into the 1930s, double ended Clinker built boats, yawls, were seen and used on Lower Lough Erne. These historic boats were about 17 or 18 feet in length and about 5 feet wide and were propelled…
Despite going to sea, the DBSC Spring Chicken Series was one of three sailing fixtures cancelled yesterday due to strong winds
Strong and bitterly cold north-westerly winds scotched racing in Dublin Bay and Kinsale yesterday. Winds gusting to 30–knots in snow showers. it was more than enough to put paid to the second race of the DBSC Spring Chicken Series, the…
Peter and Robert O'Leary sailing their new Star boat Dafnie were clear winners of the American Mid Winters in Miami
Cork Harbour brothers Peter and Robert O'Leary have stunned the international Star Keelboat fleet by winning the 'Walker Cup' as part of the Star American mid-winters championships in Miami in their new boat 'Dafnie', beating the famous America's Cup helmsman…
Francesca Clapcich at the helm of Turn the Tide on Plastic
#VOR - Conditions are fast, wet and wild for the Volvo Ocean Race fleet on Sunday(11 February) as they charge to the southeast, finally heading in a direction where miles sailed translate into miles towards the finish in New Zealand,…
Santa Serenity Coast’s crew caught in a squall
#ClipperRace - Relief is the overriding emotion among the Clipper Race fleet on Day 12 of Race 7: The Forever Tropical Paradise Race as the trade winds which continue to boost progress at the front have now also kicked in…
The Shannon Dolphin Centre in Kilrush
#MarineScience - The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group’s Shannon Dolphin Project is seeking research assistants from May-September 2018 based in Kilrush, Co Clare. Research assistants will be required to conduct monitoring surveys from dolphin-watching tour boats, spend a considerable amount…
#FerryNews - Danish shipping giant, DFDS has just reported another record result for 2017, the year followed the 150th anniversary of the shipping company established in December 1866.  The operating profit according to DFDS was DKK 2.7 billion. The record…
The MaRei Centre in Ringaskiddy
#MarineScience - Applications are invited for the post of Senior Post-Doctoral Researcher to join the MaREI Centre for Marine and Renewable Energy in University College Cork (UCC), based at the Beaufort Building in Ringaskiddy. MaREI is a key research centre…
Dog’s Bay in Connemara, with its distinctive white sand
#MarineScience - This Friday 16 February is the deadline for applications to the Hardiman PhD Scholarships — and if beaches and coastal research are your passion, NUI Galway lecturer Eugene Farrell wants you to get in touch. High achievers with…
‘It’s a varied and exciting career’ says IFI senior research officer Dr Fiona Kelly
#MarineScience - Today, Sunday 11 February, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is marking International Day of Women and Girls in Science by highlighting the key role that women play in the organisation. According to UN Secretary-General António Guterres: “We need to…
2018 sees North Sails completes a ten–year move from 3DL string laminates to 3Di 'moulded composite sail structures'
The beginning of 2018 marks a milestone for North Sails as the international sailmaker completes a ten–year transformation from 3DL string laminates to 3Di moulded composite sail structures. It's a development that North Sails Ireland chief Nigel Young says is…
(From left) Regatta organiser Charles Dwyer (and fouth overall) with Darragh O'Sullivan with the Yard of Ale trophy. Chris Bateman second overall and first Junior and Ronan Kenneally first Master and third Overall at the Monkstown Bay Laser League prizegiving
A westerly wind of ten knots brought Monkstown Bay Sailing Club's Laser League to a conclusion on Saturday writes Bob Bateman. Kinsale's Darragh O'Sullivan, who did not contest the final races of the series, was very much in evidence at the…
Day 4 of Leg 6 on board Turn the Tide on Plastic, as Liz Wardley and Bianca Cook rig up some new sheets
#VOR - Saturday 10 February sees the Volvo Ocean Race fleet continuing the perverse scenario of sailing away from the finish line in New Zealand. While the fleet is split in two, reflecting differing tactical choices, all six boats have…
The bow of Dutch patrol vessel Barend Biesheuvel berthed in Dun Laoghaire Harbour. The 61m 'Kustwacht' /coastguard vessel is visiting the port this weekend, however will not be open to the public. The patrol craft can be easily observed from the public plaza beside the disused ferry terminal.
#DublinBay - An unusual visitor to Dun Laoghaire Harbour is a Dutch patrol vessel not to be confused with their navy but belongs to the coastguard service, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 61m patrol vessel Barend Biesheuvel operated by the Netherlands…
A replacement ro-ro ferry, Stena Carrier is to take over in a freight-only mode, sailings on the Rosslare-Cherbourg route while routine ropax ferry Stena Horizon is drydocked. Afloat adds Stena Carrier is operated by a subsidiary of the ferry group, Stena Ro Ro which charters vessels to third parties.
#FerryNews - Around 35,000 calves are expected to be exported via the replacement ferry on the Rosslare-to-Cherbourg route during the four-week period that the Stena Horizon is out of action. According to Agriland, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the…
Conor Fogerty receiving the Volvo Irish Sailor of the Year Award for 2017 at the RDS tonight
#SailorOfTheYear - Conor Fogerty has been named Afloat Irish Sailor of the Year for 2017 for his astonishing performance in the Single-Handed East-West Transatlantic Race last summer during what was a particularly strong year for Irish offshore sailing. June’s Offshore…
The Laser class has a new sponsor for its Munster Championships in Baltimore
Craftinsure Ltd will be supporting the 2018 Laser Munster Championships taking place over the Easter Weekend at Baltimore, Co. Cork. The Laser partnership builds upon close links already well established with IODAI and the Optimist Class in Ireland by the…
To showcase the opportunities on offer, the Louth based events company in partnership with the ferry firm are to host an open day (15 February) on board the Pride of Hull.  The cruiseferry one of the largest serving in UK waters operates the Hull-Rotterdam route.
#FerryNews - A Louth based events company is riding on crest of a wave after being hand-picked to work in partnership with P&O Ferries on an exciting new venture. As the Louth Leader reports the company First Media will be…
Role reversal. A year ago, when Olympic Medallist Annalise Murphy became Volvo Sailor of the Year 2016, monthly award winner Conor Fogerty got together with her for a quick snap. Now, she is on the high seas, racing the Hong Kong to New Zealand leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. And Conor Fogerty is now Volvo Sailor of the Year 2017
As he commented at last night’s annual Volvo Sailing Awards ceremony, our Sailing on Saturday columnist reckons that anyone who thinks they really understand every aspect of the Irish sailing and boating scene obviously isn’t a part of it. It’s…
Heavy weather sailing at the DBSC Turkey Shoot last December on Dublin Bay. Graham Curran of UK Sailmakers Ireland shares some sailmaking 'nuggets' below
In every industry there are 'nuggets' of information which can completely change how you look at things. Sailmaking is no different. Sometimes these nuggets are so obvious that you kick yourself for not noticing them before but often they only…

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