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Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
With 20 420 dinghies in attendance, the sailors are ready to focus on practical training and improvement at Kinsale Yacht Club
Kinsale Yacht Club is again hosting the annual Craftinsure Irish International 420 Dinghy Spring Training, marking the start of a new sailing season for the fleet. The event started on Monday, 12th February and will conclude with the 420 Munster…
The RNLI relief fleet all-weather Shannon lifeboat RNLB Bridie O’Shea departs Wicklow Harbour to rescue a fishing vessel with mechanical problems
Three fishermen were rescued by the Wicklow RNLI on Saturday afternoon (10th February) after their 12-metre vessel developed mechanical problems off the Wicklow coast. The Coast Guard requested the RNLI relief fleet all-weather Shannon lifeboat RNLB Bridie O’Shea at 12.50pm,…
What is the future of the Isle of Man Steam Packet’s former flagship, Ben-My-Chree which remains in Douglas, which is to be discussed in the House of Keys.
As 3FM radio reports, what's next for the Isle of Man Steam Packet ferry the Ben-My-Chree? The ropax is the the former flagship of the Manx Government owned company which after 25 years last year was replaced by newbuild Manxman when…
Tom Gillard and Andy Thompson (from East Antrim Boat Club) number 15122 in 20 knots of breeze in the second race of the Fireball World Championships in Geelong, Australia
The 2024 Fireball Worlds is shaping up to be one for the ages, with a mix of light and heavy conditions on the second day, and the results so far offer no clear premonitions at this early stage. Even after…
Armel Le Cleac'h on the Max trimaran Maxi Banque Populaire XI has hit a speed of 47 knots in the Ultim Challenge race
Very early Monday morning, at 00:40hrs UTC, Thomas Coville, skipper of Sodebo Ultim 3 passed Cape Horn in third place on the Ultim Challenge solo round the world race. Coville crossed almost five days after race leader Charles Caudrelier and…
Businessman and sailor Enda O’Coineen
Businessman and sailor Enda O’Coineen is spearheading a 14 million euro project to build a replica of adventurer Ernest Shackleton’s most famous ship, Endurance. As The Sunday Independent reports, details of an “Endurance II” construction will be outlined at events…
Ian Travers (right) and Keith O'Riordan lead the Squib division at Kinsale Yacht Club's Custom Rigging Frostbite Series in Kinsale Harbour
After six races sailed at Kinsale Yacht Club's Custom Rigging Frostbite Series, Ian Travers and Keith O'Riordan sailing Outlaw are overall Squib keelboat division leaders on seven points, four points clear of Harvey Tucker and Harvey Matthews in Fagan. Springtime weather greeted the competitors for the third…
The Admiral's Cup will take place between 17th July - 1st August 2025 at Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK
Following The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) announcement that it has received expressions of interest from all around the world to compete in the rebaked Admiral’s Cup, an advisory committee has been established for the 2025 event. The event is being…
A former Costa Cruises vessel, Costa Atlantica, is having a large-scale transformation to interiors where the makeover of the cruise ship at Harland & Wolff, Belfast, as seen on arrival, will reflect the ship’s cruises to the Caribbean for new owners, Margaritaville at Sea. The US east coast company, are to introduce the 2,380 passenger flagship as Margarita at Sea Islander also to the Gulf of Mexico.
A cruiseship of 85,861 gross tonnes which served a career in China before been laid up in the Mediterranean, is at Harland & Wolff Group’s Belfast shipyard following a repositioning voyage from Sardinia, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 2,680 guest capacity…
Ballycotton coxswain Patrick Sliney, Mrs Sliney and son William at an annual meeting in 1936
As the RNLI prepares to celebrate its 200th anniversary on 4 March, the charity has brought some of its rich history to life with the release of a stunning collection of colourised images. From community events to candid snapshots, 11…
Aasleagh Falls in Co Mayo
“My favourite waterbody” is the title of a nationwide photo competition initiated by the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO). “Ireland is bountiful with iconic waterways and scenic landscapes, and we know how important these waters and wetlands are to people,”LAWPRO…
Armel Le Cléac’h rounded Cape Horn this Sunday morning in the Ultim Challenge
Second-placed Armel Le Cléac’h crossed Cape Horn in the Ultim Challenge very manageable conditions this Sunday morning at 05:01:50hrs UTC. In fifth Éric Péron was about to enter the Pacific this morning. Third placed Thomas Coville had a big scare…
The Government has updated Ireland’s national energy and climate draft plan for Europe, which has been opened for public consultation this week
Ireland’s strategy for offshore renewable energy are among topics incorporated in an updated draft of Ireland’s national energy and climate plan for Europe, which has been opened for public consultation this week. Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon…
Marine Institute marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science
The Marine Institute has shared its pride in celebrating the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on Sunday 11 February. The United Nations Theme for the ninth International Day of Women and Girls in Science is “Women in…
Gary Fyfe
Tributes have been paid to Red Bay RNLI helm Gary Fyfe after his sudden death on Thursday night (8 February). As the Belfast Telegraph reports, the 46-year-old died at the scene of a single-vehicle crash in Cushendall, Co Antrim. His…
A studio portrait of Irish polar explorer Ernest Shackleton
Celebrations are planned for Dublin and London for the 150th anniversary of the birth of Irish Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton on Thursday (15 February). Born in Co Kildare, Shackleton led three expeditions to the icy regions of the South Pole,…
Monkstown Bay Sailing Club Yard of Ale Trophy. Jacqui O'Brien Commodore MBSC presenting the trophy to winner Chris Bateman
Monkstown Bay Sailing Club's ever-popular Laser Frostbite League concluded in Cork Harbour on Saturday afternoon (February 10th). A cold north-easterly wind and heavy rain were present on the final day of racing. This did not phase the eager competitors in…
Denis Byrne of Crosshaven is multi-tasking in 2024 as Commodore of ICRA and Vice Admiral of the Royal Cork YC
Royal Cork Yacht Club's Denis Byrne has been elected Commodore of the Irish Cruiser Racing Association at today's national cruiser conference and AGM and will lead the national cruiser-racer body for the next two years. Byrne takes over from Howth Yacht Club's Dave Cullen,…
The 2025 edition of Kinsale Yacht Club's Sovereign's Cup and ICRA National Championships will be held from June 25-28, 2025
The 2025 ICRA National Championships will be held at Kinsale Yacht Club it has been confirmed.  Newly elected ICRA commodore Denis Byrne announced at Saturday's AGM that after examining several submissions, the cruiser-racer national championships would return to the biennial…
A scene from Cork Week 2022 in Cork Harbour
Sailing event organisers from across Ireland convened on Saturday to coordinate actions on the national sailing events calendar. The high-powered meeting, described as 'informal' was held immediately after the ICRA AGM at Dun Laoghaire Harbour and was attended by representatives…

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