Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Over 170 Young Sailors Compete in Ireland's Largest Youth Regatta in Cork Harbour
4th April 2024 Youth Sailing
Over 170 young sailors are set to compete in Ireland’s largest youth regatta, which starts today, April 4th at Crosshaven in Cork Harbour. The 2024 Irish Sailing Youth National Championships, which will be hosted by the Royal Cork Yacht Club…
ISORA Sailors Braced for First Coastal Race Cancellation at Dun Laoghaire Unless Forecast Improves by Friday Lunchtime
3rd April 2024 ISORA
ISORA's first Dublin Bay Coastal race of the season is in doubt due to this Saturday's forecasted strong southerly winds. A new JPK design is set to challenge reigning ISORA champion Rockabill VI in the Viking Marine-sponsored race to and…
Boss of CalMac Steps Down 'With Immediate Effect' after Scottish Ferry Operator's Leadership Review
3rd April 2024 Ferry
Caledonian MacBrayne's (CalMac) chief executive is stepping down as the Scottish state-owned ferry operator faces ongoing challenges with its aging fleet. The ferry company announced on Wednesday (3 April) that Robbie Drummond is stepping down with immediate effect from the…
Arklow RNLI in Co Wicklow were requested to launch early on Tuesday morning (2 April) following reports of a large yacht with four crew onboard in difficulty near the Arklow Bank. Shortly after 6.30am, Arklow volunteers launched the station’s all-weather lifeboat…
Irish Sailors All Racing in Gold Fleet at Trofeo Princesa Sofía Trophy in Mallorca
3rd April 2024 Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing
Another sea breeze day kept the giant 53 Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca by Iberostar rolling through a demanding schedule of races. Across the classes are some marked, understandable differences between the mindsets of those who are in the throes of…
Met Eireann Issues Small Craft Warning for All Coasts of Ireland as Breezy Weekend is Forecast
3rd April 2024 Weather
Ahead of a forecasted breezy weekend, Met Eireann has issued a small craft warning for all coasts of Ireland valid from Thursday afternoon. Easterly winds, veering southwesterly in southern sea areas, will reach force six or higher, the State forecaster…
Marine Advisers to Help Select Replacement for Naval Service Former Flagship LÉ Eithne
3rd April 2024 Navy
Advisers from the marine sector have been appointed to help procure a multi-role vessel (MRV) to replace the former flagship of the Naval Service, the LÉ Eithne which was decommissioned in 2022. According to the Tánaiste, Micheál Martin, who is…
Bob Fannin Jnr feels most at home on the high seas. For as the Bristol-based writer, broadcaster and university lecturer told the members of the Cruising Group at his former club of Howth on Tuesday night, when sailing the sea,…
Suction Sail Assisted Cargo Ship Calls to Port of Cork Sees Same Technology Benefit Airbus On Board Ro-Ro Across the Atlantic
3rd April 2024 Ports & Shipping
Dock operatives of Ronayne Shipping, part of Irish Mainport Holdings, were discharging fertilizer in the Port of Cork recently from a short-sea cargo ship that had distinctive towers mounted at the stern, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 2,850-dwt vessel, Eems Traveller,…
Ballycastle to Host Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in 2024
3rd April 2024 Northern Ireland Waters
Ballycastle, Northern Ireland, is all set to host a leg of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2024. This July, the global event will witness the world’s best cliff divers competing against each other on the beautiful Causeway Coast.…
Double-Handed Offshore Duo Cian McCarthy and Sam Hunt Saluted by Kinsale Yacht Club
3rd April 2024 Kinsale
Cian McCarthy and Sam Hunt were honoured at home on the Easter weekend by Kinsale Yacht Club, the West Cork club joining a long list of organisations that saluted the duo's Christmas 2003 achievements competing in Australia's Sydney Hobart Race.…
EU Transport Sector Calls for Robust Funding Instrument to Continue Its Strategic Role for Europe
3rd April 2024 Ports & Shipping
European transport organisations (totalling 44), representing the key spectrum of Europe’s transport network, operators and stakeholders, are again joining forces in a campaign to call the Council and the European Parliament for a robust transport funding instrument in the upcoming…
Finn Lynch Moves Up to 11th in ILCA 7 Dinghy on Day Two of Trofeo Princesa Sofía Trophy in Mallorca
2nd April 2024 Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing
Great Britain’s Olympic hopeful Micky Beckett took advantage of a dramatic change of conditions at the 53 Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca on the second day of the World Cup Series event. Ireland's Finn Lynch also made good on a lighter…
Cork Sailor and Former Marine Minister Simon Coveney Announces Surprise Step Down From Cabinet
2nd April 2024 Cork Harbour
Former Marine Minister Simon Coveney announced his surprise step down from Cabinet on Tuesday (2 April). The Fine Gael TD for Cork South Central said his tenure in Cabinet “has been an amazing experience for 13 years” but that “the…
Met Éireann has indicated that last month was among the “top ten” wettest months of March on record. Sea surface temperatures over the North Atlantic have also been at record high levels now for over a year. As RTÉ News…
Irish Government Criticised by Fair Seas for Missing Deadline on Marine Protected Areas Bill
2nd April 2024 Marine Planning
The Irish government has come under fire from environmental groups for failing to introduce the Marine Protected Areas Bill, which would commit to effectively protecting 30% of Ireland's seas by 2030, as promised since July 2023. The Fair Seas coalition,…
ESPO Congratulates Eco-Port Member Port of Dover with Third 'Port Environmental Review System' (PERS) Certification
2nd April 2024 Ports & Shipping
The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) has congratulated the Port of Dover (UK) for being certified through the EcoPorts’ environmental management standard (PERS). The ferry port of Dover is a long-standing EcoPorts member, being in the Network since 2003 and…
Trinity House, the General Lighthouse Authority for England, Wales, and the Channel Islands, has appointed Lance Batchelor as the Chair of its Lighthouse Board, succeeding Sir Alan Massey. Since becoming an Elder Brother in 2022, Lance has been sitting as…
Passengers for Isle of Man Steam Packet Company - Highest Since 2017's TT Centenary Anniversary
2nd April 2024 Ferry
The ferry operator, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, has confirmed that final 2023 passenger statistics show the highest number of passengers and vehicles carried since 2007, TT’s 100th anniversary. In 2023, the Company transported 623,037 passengers and 196,430…
A Journey Around the Sea Area Forecast with Meteorologist Joanna Donnelly
2nd April 2024 Wavelength Podcast
Met Éireann meteorologist Joanna Donnelly recently earned the title of “Optimist of the Year” from an Irish Times letter writer for her take on yet another wet spell. As correspondent Kate Power recalled, Donnelly had been describing a rainfront that…