Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
South Connemara Abalone Farm Participating In European Study on Benefits of a "Nature-Positive" Economy
7th March 2024 Aquaculture
A south Connemara abalone aquaculture farm is one of over 100 ocean farming and marine businesses across Europe participating in an international study on the “challenges and benefits of a nature-positive economy”. The Western Development Commission (WDC) and Trinity Business…
A Co Wexford boatyard says that a €340,000 investment under the Brexit Blue Economy enterprise development scheme will allow it to work with heavier fishing and leisure vessels for dry dock and repair. New Ross Boat Yard has taken delivery…
Frank Godsell's Unequalled Sponsorship Commitment for 42 Years at Kinsale Yacht Club
7th March 2024 Kinsale
The 42nd annual Frank Godsell League kicks off this Sunday at Kinsale Yacht Club, located on the South Cork coastline. The cruiser league will run for three weeks, with two more races to follow after Sunday's opening. The next race…
Marine Ireland Industry Network (MIIN) Event: Skilling Up - Meeting the Future Needs of the Marine Industry
7th March 2024 Jobs
Marine Ireland Industry Network (MIIN) is to hold an online event, Skilling Up: Meeting the Future Needs of the Marine Industry, on Tuesday, 28th March (between 14:30 and 16:00). MIIN represents and promotes the interests of their members working in…
'Purple Haze' Arrives on Strangford Lough: Vintage Quarter Tonner Will Contest 2024 ICRA Nationals and IRC Europeans on Dublin Bay
6th March 2024 Quarter Ton
The Ker 32 Hijacker was a popular competitor owned by Stuart Cranston of Strangford Lough YC at Whiterock and the nearby Down Cruising club, but he was struggling to get enough regular crew (eight) so downsizing was the answer, and…
Irish Sailors Seek Gold Fleet at 49er World Championship in Lanzarote
6th March 2024 Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing
Dublin sailors Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove made a strong start on the second day of racing at the 49er World Championship in Lanzarote, Spain on Wednesday. Despite challenging conditions, including an unstable northerly wind, the duo managed to score…
Peter O'Leary's Star Keelboat 'The Iron Lotus' Now 18th After Three Bacardi Cup Races
6th March 2024 Star
Cork-Belfast duo Peter O'Leary and Stephen Milne continue their march back up the 97th Bacardi Cup in Miami, Florida, on Wednesday after Monday's low opening result. The sole Irish pair, sailing IRL 8118, 'The Iron Lotus,' finished 39th in the opening race. With a…
Shannon Navigation: Tarmonbarry Lifting Bridge to Remain Closed for Essential Works
6th March 2024 Inland Waterways
Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that the lifting bridge at Tarmonbarry in Co Roscommon will remain closed until Friday 5 April to facilitate essential maintenance works. Works at Tarmonbarry were previously…
CalMac's Summer Sailings Leave Just One Ferry on Ardrossan-Arran Route at Expense of Mull of Kintyre Service
6th March 2024 Ferry
Scotland's west coast operator, CalMac, has revealed their summer timetable - confirming a single ferry will service the Ardrossan-Brodick route at the busiest time of the year, using the company's oldest large vessel on the Firth of Clyde route. As…
Sitting of the Tynwald Highlights Funding Needs to Be Considered to Replace Fast-Ferry Manannan
6th March 2024 Ferry
In two years’s time, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co. is due to replace the fast-ferry Manannan which has operated on seasonal-only sailings since its introduction in 2009. The 865 passenger/200 car capacity catamaran routinely operates seasonal routes, chiefly…
Ireland's Marine Institute Leads €14.5m 'AQUARIUS' Project for Collaborative Marine and Freshwater Research
6th March 2024 Marine Science
The Marine Institute has announced that it will lead a major €14.5m Europe-wide project called Aquatic Research Infrastructure Services for the health and protection of our unique oceans, seas, and freshwater ecosystems (AQUARIUS). This 48-month project aims to provide free…
Classic Yacht Dublin Bay 24 Zephyra To Be Launched In June, Re-Born in Maine
6th March 2024 Historic Boats
The concept of the Dublin Bay 24, envisaged as a 24ft waterline 37ft LOA Bermuda-rigged racer-cruiser, was first suggested in 1934 at a Committee Meeting of the innovative yet “homeless” Royal Alfred YC in Dun Laoghaire by the owner-skipper of…
J80 Jambon Leads into Final Race of AIB DBSC Spring Chicken Series on Dublin Bay
6th March 2024 DBSC
A new overall leader goes into this Sunday's final race of the AIB DBSC Spring Chicken Series on Dublin Bay as sportsboats occupy the podium places. The fourth-placed J80 Jambon has moved to the front of the mixed cruisers handicap fleet (the…
Uniformed and Frontline Services Gather at Royal Cork Yacht Club for Volvo Cork Week Beaufort Cup 2024
6th March 2024 Cork Week
Representatives of the Defence Forces, the Fire Service, An Garda Siochana and the RNLI joined the Admiral of the Royal Cork Yacht Club, Annamarie Fegan, and Volvo Cork Week Chairman Ross Deasy for the launch of Beaufort Cup 2024 this…
The former flagship of the Naval Service, LÉ Eithne, RTE News reports, has departed the naval base at Haulbowline, Cork Harbour for the final time. Built as a Helicopter Patrol Vessel (HPV), the 1,920 tonnes ship is to be taken…
Royal Cork 49er Pair Breeze into the Lead of Irish Olympic Trial at Lanzarote World Championships
5th March 2024 Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing
On the first day of the Irish Olympic 49er trial, Royal Cork Yacht Club's Seafra Guilfoyle and Johnny Durcan had a better day than rivals Robert Dickson (Howth Yacht Club) and Sean Waddilove (Skerries Sailing Club) for the Paris 2024 berth later…
Cork-Belfast duo Peter O'Leary and Stephen Milne bounced back from an untypical low opening result in the 97th Bacardi Cup in Miami, Florida on Monday to post a top ten in the 66-boat fleet in the second race on Tuesday. The sole…
Tenders Invited for ‘Attractive Visitor Experiences’ at New Ulster Canal Marina
5th March 2024 Inland Waterways
Waterways Ireland, in partnership with Monaghan County Council and Fáilte Ireland, is inviting individuals, businesses and organisations to tender for contracts to create attractive visitor experiences at the Ulster Canal Marina in Clones, Co Monaghan as part of the redevelopment…
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has prosecuted a forestry owner who must now pay €10,000 for damage caused to a fish spawning habitat. Michael McHugh of Kilbride, Clonee, Co Meath was prosecuted for allowing large volumes of silt to wash into…
The Marine Institute welcomed Mari Skåre, the Norwegian Ambassador to Ireland, on an official visit to the Marine Institute’s headquarters in Galway on Tuesday (5 March). Commenting on the visit, Dr Rick Officer, chief executive of the Marine Institute said:…