Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

#Fishing - Fishing ports in Howth and Castletownbere were raided by gardaí and State agencies yesterday (Wednesday 5 October) in a sting operation focused on undocumented workers, as The Irish Times reports. The raids come after revelations last November in…

#BullochHarbour - Permission is being sought to develop a mixed housing and commercial scheme at the former premises of Western Marine at Dalkey’s Bulloch Harbour. The planning application by Bartra Property Ltd calls for the demolition of the existing warehouses…

#Coastguard - Early this morning the Sligo-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter completed the medical evacuation of an injured crewman from a large tanker some 350km off Eagle Island in Co Mayo. The overnight operation was jointly co-ordinated with the UK…

#CalMacContract - The £900m ferry contract to operate Scottish west coast services awarded to CalMac Ferries Ltd by Transport Scotland earlier this year, has been in force for almost a week. The contract that began last Saturday, 1 October is…

The €2.75 million urban beach proposed for Dun Laoghaire Harbour is 'currently on hold' pending 'organisational restructure', according to a report in the Irish Times. A spokesman for the state company told the newspaper 'we hope to have it back…

Read Afloat's e–news below with all the latest sailing and boating highlights including: Winter crib sheets: How to breathe new life into your sails; Westerly's wizard choice for manageability; and why we’re in need of Newfound pride Sign up for a…

#Top5UK - Milford Marina, south Wales was among the top five marinas in the UK announced at the Southampton Boat Show having been voted by magazine readers of the 'Sailing Today' Awards.  The 328 berth marina at Milford, Pembrokeshire, was…

In these hectic times, with volatility a fact of life, the new buzzword is “manageability” writes W M Nixon. It may not provide slogans which set the world on fire. You won’t see people marching in their droves along O’Connell…

#Schedule -Ireland’s longest river crossing by car ferry, operated by Shannon Ferries, have introduced a winter schedule timetable, writes Jehan Ashmore. A winter sailing frequency on their 20 minute crossing of the estuary along the Wild Atlantic Way, between counties…

#Viral - A short video demonstrating the importance of weight distribution for boaters with car trailers has gone viral on Dun Laoghaire Marina’s Facebook page. Since the clip was posted by Dun Laoghaire Marina on Monday evening (3 October), it’s…

A unique refit process is underway in Lisbon, with the first of the fleet of seven one-design Volvo Ocean 65s going in for a complete overhaul ahead of the next edition of the Volvo Ocean Race this time next year.…

#SkelligMichael - The Department of Heritage has approved a film shoot by drone at Skellig Michael, despite the use of drones being prohibited on the island. According to The Irish Times, a guide on the Unesco world heritage site has…

#Angling - Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is looking for public feedback via an online survey on its current funding programmes, having awarded over €3.4 million to angling projects and fisheries initiatives in communities nationwide over the past five years. Current…

#TrafficGrowth - Two Irish Sea routes linking Belfast to English ports of Liverpool and Heysham operated by Stena Line have shown significant growth following their acquisition from DFDS five years ago.  Since the £40m purchase in 2011, Stena Line’s carryings…

#ExportBrexit - In the 'Top 150 Born in Ireland' report, according to the Irish Exporters Association (IEA), leading companies in that sector generated around €140bn in turnover last year. The Investec-backed study lists Ireland's largest indigenous companies by sales with…

#RecordRescue - Records were broken by LÉ Samuel Beckett last night with the biggest migrant total transported to safety in one single day, writes The Irish Examiner. The Naval Service patrol ship was steaming towards an Italian port with 652 rescued…

Following its lively Southern championships at the weekend, the SB20 Ireland AGM takes this Friday October 7th 2016 at the Royal Irish Yacht Club. The meeting will be boosted by an influx of new blood into the class as it…

I have spent many years trying to create more interest in the maritime sphere. Sometimes it can be frustrating and disappointing to see the continued level of disinterest, particularly amongst our political fraternity, most of whom seem to have little…

URGO, a leading French healthcare group which specialises in advanced dressings and bandages for wound care and family medication, and OC Sport Pen Duick, experts in the organisation of ocean races, have announced today that URGO has become the Title…

Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched to assist four people after their 34ft–cruiser ran aground by the Scilly Islands on Lough Derg today. At 1.39pm, the lifeboat launched with helm Ger Egan, Lian Knight and Delia Ho on board. Winds was east-southeasterly,…