Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Chris Bateman of Cork Harbour is “Sailor of the Month (Dinghies)” for December
1st January 2024 Sailor of the Month
Former junior champion Chris Bateman is a top sailor who leads by example and inspiration. Having decided that the ever-young Fireball is the answer for junior and adult dinghy sailors who don’t want to go down the cheque-book route to…
His many sailing friends on both sides of the Irish Sea have been saddened to learn of the death of Richard Tudor of Pwllheli, an inspirational figure in sailing and across a wide spectrum of interests in boats. He was…
Brilliant events, informative shows and some new records broken by RS Sailing and RS sailors. It was a brilliant summer of events for RS Sailing. Highlights include the RS Feva World Championships which saw 422 sailors coming with their families…
Promoted
To celebrate the launch of the European Winter Series in Cascais, Portugal, Melges Ireland is offering a double discount on the purchase of new boats for Irish sailors chartering at the series. With a promotional charter fee of €475, new Melges…
Entries Open at Viking Marine DMYC Frostbites Series Two for Enthusiastic Leinster Dinghy Sailors
1st January 2024 DMYC
With the days getting longer, the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club Viking Marine Sponsored Dinghy Frostbites Series resumes on Sunday, 7th, January, with 12 Sundays of racing in Series 2 until the end of March. Entries are open for any…
Marine wildlife documentary Ken O’Sullivan, who first filmed basking sharks “speed dating” off the west coast, has confirmed dates for his nationwide “Into the Deep” tour. As The Sunday Independent reports, O’Sullivan’s material is now being used on two Junior…
Howth and Pwllheli Crews Will Sail For Irish Sea in RORC Caribbean 600
1st January 2024 Caribbean 600
Howth Yacht Club J/109 skipper Simon Knowles – the inshore and offshore campaigner of Indian in Irish waters – and noted Pwllheli father-and-son offshore team of Andrew and Sam Hall, will be ensuring that the Irish Sea is well represented with…
Skerries RNLI were tasked on Saturday morning (30 December) following a call to Dublin Coast Guard reporting that a kitesurfer was in difficulty off Portrane beach. The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Louis Simson was launched by s shortly after 11.30am.…
Marine Notice: International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships Ballast Water and Sediments
31st December 2023 Ports & Shipping
The final Marine Notice of 2023 draws attention to and provides information regarding the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention). These 2023 regulations give effect to the Convention in Ireland and…
Lough Derg Lifeboat Launches to Reports of Cruiser Aground in Severe Weather
31st December 2023 RNLI Lifeboats
On Saturday 30 December, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI to launch to investigate whether anyone was in trouble aboard a 20ft cruiser reported aground west of Garrykennedy Harbour. At 3.30pm the inshore lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Eleanor…
River Shannon Focus of Major Incident Exercise Planned for UL Students
31st December 2023 Shannon Estuary
A swift water rescue in the River Shannon is one of several situations which students will have to respond to at a major incident exercise at the University of Limerick. Loading a stretcher onto an Irish Coast Guard helicopter while…
The RNLI has declined to accept proceeds from a foxhunting event which was due to take place today (Dec 31) in Dungarvan, Co Waterford. As first reported by The Waterford News and Star and then The Daily Telegraph, the event…
Former Flagship Ben-My-Chree Returns to Isle of Man As Successor Sails on Seasonal Belfast Crossings
31st December 2023 Ferry
Former Isle of Man Steam Packet Company flagship, Ben-My-Chree has returned to its homeport yesterday (30 December) following repairs. As ManxRadio reported, Ben-My-Chree had spent some time on Merseyside (Cammell Laird, Birkenhead) where dry-docking took place to enable repairs made…
We'll be carrying a full review of the Irish in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race 2023 in due course, but meanwhile, this sunny photo shows that the weather is on the mend down in Tasmania and that Kinsale YC members…
"My Toughest 48 hours at Sea"- Pam Lee from Greystones On Her Transat Jacques Vabre Yacht Race (Podcast)
30th December 2023 Wavelength Podcast
Let’s do that again, but do it better – they are the words of a very determined Pam Lee from Greystones, who came 29th with Tiphaine Ragueneau in the 30th Transat Jacques Vabre yacht race from Le Havre to Martinique.…
East Down Yacht Club To Stage 2024 Impala European Championship on Strangford Lough
30th December 2023 Northern Ireland Waters
East Down Yacht Club in Northern Ireland will host the Impala European Championship on 25th/26th May next year. The event will incorporate the UK and Irish National Championships of the 28-foot one-design keelboat class. The club has a nine-acre site on…
Anglers Appeal Proposed Development of Nearly 250 Homes in Killarney Over Wastewater Fears
30th December 2023 Angling
Anglers in Killorglin are appealing plans recently green-lit by Kerry County Council for a development of nearly 250 homes outside of Killarney. As the Kerryman reports, the Laune Salmon and Trout Anglers’ Association says it “did not receive the regard…
Howth RNLI Rescue Two People on Yacht in Difficulty off North Dublin Coast
30th December 2023 RNLI Lifeboats
The volunteer lifeboat crew of Howth RNLI launched their All-Weather Lifeboat yesterday (Friday, 29 December) to reports of a yacht with two people on board that was being blown offshore and unable to make its way back to safety. Shortly…
Yacht Week is looking for talented skippers and hosts to work in the Mediterranean this summer. Dun Laoghaire Sailing School, the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School, has teamed up with the Yacht Week to get Irish sailors working in…
“On the application of the local residents, the RNLI committee decided to open a lifeboat establishment on Arranmore Island. The site for the boathouse and slipway was kindly granted by the landed proprietor Lieutenant F Charley, and the expense of…