Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
America's largest recreational boat retailer, announced today in its fiscal 2008 financial results that the company lost $134.3 million on year-over-year revenues that fell by nearly 30 percent. Revenue for the company’s fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2008, dropped 29.7…
Alex Thomson has officially retired from the Vendee Globe race today. The damage sustained to his IMOCA Open 60 yacht HUGO BOSS on Monday night is not repairable by next Wednesday’s restart deadline. It is thought the damage was sustained…
Madrid, Spain: Following discussion and recommendations in the Match Racing, Women's Sailing and Equipment Committee meetings earlier in the week, the Events Committee approached the selection of equipment for the 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition head on.
Dungarvan, Ireland prepares to host the 2008 World Speed Windsurfing Championships from the 29th November to 6th December.This is the first time the Speed Windsurfing tour has visited Ireland, and the 'Copper Coast's' beautiful golden beaches will welcome the worlds…
Now in its 23rd year, the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) has always attracted an international audience, and 2008 is no exception. The 220 yachts lining up to participate in ARC 2008 are representing 21 nations, and with 25 nationalities…
All the 30 Vendée Globe skippers were expecting an extremely tough opening 24-48 hours of racing, and that's what they got with eight boats now having returned or on their way back to port since the start in Les Sables…
After 32 hours of horrendous Biscay conditions in the Vendee Globe race, Alex Thomson is returning to Les Sables d’Olonne following the discovery of a structural problem onboard HUGO BOSS. A crack has appeared on the port side hull, the…
Bangor in Northern Ireland has a new boat brokerage business, Blue Flag Boat Sales, being run by Lee Stevenson, a yacht broker with seven years experience selling boats in Ireland and the UK. Lee is also an RYA powerboat instructor…
As part of Ireland’s biggest regatta in 2009, Volvo Dun Laoghaire week will host the first ever White Sail World Cup and now the race is on to assemble the world’s biggest fleet. The east coast port is set to…
Four races cancelled – two for lack of wind and two for too much – meant that the GreenWorks-sponsored 2008 Autumn League at Howth Yacht Club had to be decided on the basis of just two races, making it the…
It’s been a tough first night in the sixth Vendée Globe, with the fleet facing headwinds of 20-30 knots and 4-6 metre seas, and two boats already returning to port — Dominque Wavre on Temenos returned soon after the start…
Suzuki Ireland has acquired Suzuki Marine distribution for the Republic of Ireland. Previously distributed by White Water Marine Ltd, Suzuki Ireland has now been appointed as Suzuki Marine distributors, with effect from 1st November 2008. Based at the headquarters for…
The drugs yacht 'Dances with Waves', a 65' pilot house cutter, has arrived at the harbour in Castletownbere, Co Cork, escorted by the Irish Navy. Analysis is expected to begin on the huge haul of cocaine seized on the yacht…
A 60 foot yacht on a transatlantic passge fom the Caribbean has been intercepted on the southwest coast by Gardaí, the Naval Service and Customs. A consignment of at least 1.5 tonnes of cocaine found on onboard has seized.The crew…
The organisers of the Sail, Power & Watersports Show has announced that Dubarry of Ireland is the Show’s Official Footwear Partner. Dubarry is supplying the Show team with a range of men’s and women’s marine footwear.
The sixth ICRA Annual Conference will be held in the Sheraton on Saturday, 29th November 2008 where the ICRA boat of the year will be announced. The principal speaker this year will be Bill Gladstone of North sails. Bill is…
The GP14 Class Association of Ireland held their season finale over the weekend of the 18th-19th October 2008 at Sutton Dinghy Club, sailing on Dublin bay. Tim Corcoran and Brendan Brogan of SYC who almost had a clean sweep of…
TG4's coverage of the 2008/09 Volvo Ocean Race will continue on Saturday morning at 11am with all the latest highlights, news and action from the end of the 1st leg from Alicante to Cape Town. The programme will be repeated…
Plans for the biggest sailing event of 2009 are well underway - even though there is still 246 days to go. Online entries opened on November 1st for next July's Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta . At least half a dozen…
As part of Ireland’s biggest regatta in 2009, Volvo Dun Laoghaire week will host the first ever White Sail World Cup and now the race is on to assemble the world’s biggest fleet. The east coast port is set to…
