Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
RS21 International Class Association Announces Entries Open for World Championship 2024
29th February 2024 RS21 Keelboat
The RS21 International Class Association has announced the opening of entries for the highly anticipated RS21 World Championship 2024. The championship, which is set to take place at the prestigious Club Nautic L'Escala in Spain from 21st to 28th September,…
Royal Ocean Racing Club Announces the Return of the Easter Challenge Regatta
29th February 2024 RORC
The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) has announced the return of its Easter Challenge, a much anticipated event that kick-starts the racing season for many teams. The training regatta, which has been running for over 20 years, offers an excellent…
We regret to record the death of Clayton Love Jr, a founder of the Irish Yachting Association, now Irish Sailing. Born in 1929, Clayton held the office of President of the IYA for a decade between 1962 and 1972, establishing…
Transition year students from a Kerry secondary school have urged the Government to take action to end “unsustainable pair trawling” in Kenmare Bay. The students from Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine Kenmare, Co Kerry had been invited to the Oireachtas on Wednesday,…
Coville Due on Ultim Challenge Finish Line Around 1300hrs Today, Armel Le Cléac’h Has Night of Repairs
29th February 2024 Ultim Challenge
Early yesterday evening, Armel Le Cléac'h, skipper of the Maxi Banque Populaire XI, reported that he had sustained damage of the foredeck of the boat which led to an ingress of water. After spending the night fixing the problem Armel…
The “gutting” of the Naval Service has exposed Ireland’s vulnerability to a “massive increase in drugs being channelled from Irish waters into mainland Europe”, according to Aontú candidate Patrick Murphy. Murphy, who is chief executive of the Irish South and…
Shipbuilder and shiprepairers, Cammell Laird on Birkenhead has secured a £2m contract to build two mooring dolphins on the River Mersey for Stanlow Terminals. Stanlow Terminals is a division of Stanlow Oil Refinery operator EET Fuels. Cammell Laird is set…
Nature Restoration Law Approval Welcomed by Two Government Ministers
28th February 2024 Marine Wildlife
Two Government ministers have welcomed the European Parliament vote approving the Nature Restoration Law. While the controversial legislation has a strong land-based focus, it includes important elements aimed at improving water quality in member states. Minister for Marine Charlie McConalogue…
Royal Cork Yacht Club Announce Waterman Kelly On Board as Sponsors for 2024 Irish Youth Sailing Nationals
28th February 2024 Royal Cork YC
Waterman Kelly Consulting Engineers has pledged its support for the upcoming Irish Youth Sailing Nationals, which is scheduled to be held at the Royal Cork Yacht Club in April. The Cork Harbour competition is expected to draw around 200 sailors…
Erne Head of the River Rowing Race 2024 Takes Place This Saturday
28th February 2024 Inland Waterways
Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels on the Erne System in Northern Ireland that the Erne Eights Head of the River rowing race will take place this Saturday 2 March. The event will start upstream of the Killyhevlin…
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterways users on the Erne System in Northern Ireland that a section of the navigation channel will be closed between the Killyhevlin Hotel and the Ardhowen for NIE works on the overhead power…
Olympian Alison Young to Coach Northern Ireland Sailors at ‘Female-Focused Camp’
28th February 2024 RYA Northern Ireland
Three-time Olympian and 2016 ILCA World Champion Alison Young will provide coaching for Northern Ireland sailors at RYA Northern Ireland’s ‘Female Focused Camp’ at Ballyholme Yacht Club on the weekend of 27-28 April. The camp is specifically targeted for junior…
Royal Ulster Yacht Club has launched Bangor Regatta 2024 with the publication of the Notice of Race and Entry Form for the event, which will be run in Belfast Lough out of Bangor from 27th till 30th June. Sixty boats…
Blessed with a perfect sunrise, flat seas and a modest 15kts breeze as he approached the long-awaited finish line off Brest on Tuesday (Feb 27th, 2024), Charles Caudrelier took time to enjoy the final ten miles of his Ultim Challenge…
Students from Kerry Participating in Inshore Fishermen's Presentation to Oireachtas
27th February 2024 Fishing
A group of Kerry secondary school students are participating in a presentation by inshore fishermen on the crisis in the sector, which will be delivered to Government TDs and senators on Wednesday (Feb 28). The National Inshore Fishermen’s Association (NIFA)…
European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) Conference 2024 Heads for Paris on 25-26 April
27th February 2024 Ports & Shipping
The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) is holding its Annual Conference in the heart of the Paris on 25 and 26 April. This year’s conference in the French capital can simply not be missed, for various reasons. We are listing…
1720 'Long Island Legend' Takes the Lead in AIB DBSC Spring Chicken Series on Dublin Bay
27th February 2024 DBSC
After four races sailed in the AIB DBSC Spring Chicken Series on Dublin Bay, the 1720 sportsboat Long Island Legend replaces the J80 Jambon at the top of the scoresheet. With two races to go in the series, only ten…
Key Yachting Host Special Gathering for J Boat and Grand Soleil Sailors This Friday at the Royal Irish Yacht Club
27th February 2024 J Cup Ireland
September's J Cup Ireland gets an early preview on Friday when J boat agents for Ireland, Key Yachting, will host a special gathering for J Boat and Grand Soleil sailors at the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Key…
With chilly conditions and a building easterly breeze very accurately forecast, the penultimate Sunday of the post-Christmas series of the HYC Dinghy Frostbites kicked off at the weekend to fight it out for the remaining races, and build on any…
Ireland's leading environmental NGOs and networks coalition, Fair Seas, has welcomed the announcement of €25 million in new funding for the protection of Irish seas. The European Commission has allocated €15 million, which is matched by €10 million from the…