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Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
The Castletownbere RNLI lifeboat's Y-boat with two crew aboard was launched to cut off the rope from the propellor of the stranded fishing vessel
In an Easter sea rescue operation, the Castletownbere RNLI lifeboat 'Annette Hutton' was launched to assist a local fishing vessel that had lost its ability to manoeuvre on the north side of Sheep's Head. The lifeboat received an alert at…
Map showing the Killaloe Bypass project plan with a new bridge over the River Shannon
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on the Shannon Navigation that in-river works for the construction of the Killaloe Bypass upper bridge superstructure are progressing as planned and will continue until October 2024. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the bridge…
Claud Monet’s impression of the August 1900 Sailing Olympics at Le Havre. This was the first modern Olympic Sailing event ever completed on salt water, and was the second stage of a two-part regatta in which Part 1 had been raced on the River Seine near Paris in May. A sailing event had been scheduled for the first modern Olympiad at Athens in 1896, but persistent gales on the Aegean Sea made its staging impossible. Image Courtesy MM
Olympians are different from you and me. In the final analysis, that’s what being Olympian is all about. For whether we like it or not, the vivid clarity of an Olympic medal is one of the few ways that sailing…
Elaine again, (GBR 1250N) at the IRC Three start on day one of the 2024 RORC Easter Challenge on the Solent
The 2024 RORC Easter Challenge got underway in ‘sporty’ conditions on Good Friday with strong gusty conditions in the Eastern Solent. The first European fixture of the Royal Ocean Racing Club 2024 programme is billed as a training regatta with…
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Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels that the winter mooring period will end this Easter Sunday, 31 March, on the Shannon Navigation and Shannon-Erne Waterway. Shannon Navigation Bye-law No. 17(3) will apply from 31 March, such that vessels should not…
First-place winners in each class of the 'March Hare' regatta with Malahide Yacht Club Commodore Margaret Faye and sponsor, Alan Early of Airport Driving School
Racing was like playing 'snakes and ladders' as wind shifts made Malahide Yacht Club's season-opening 'March Hare' regatta an interesting but challenging event. Postponed by 24 hours from the planned Saturday due to forecast strong winds, the event took place…
The Schull 1 team lift the Munster Schools Team Racing Event Trophy at Bantry Bay
On Sunday, March 23rd, Bantry Bay Sailing Club launched the Irish Sailing fleet of Fireflies at 9:10 a.m. They had collected the boats from Malahide and Cork for the Munster Provincial Schools Team Racing Event. It was a drizzly morning…
The prehistoric hill fort Dun Aengus on Inis Mor, the largest Aran Island off the coast of county Galway, recorded a 20% increase in visitor numbers
Coastal heritage sites such as Inis Mór’s Dún Aonghasa and Kerry’s Blasket Centre have recorded significant increases in visitor numbers, the Office of Public Works (OPW) says. Dún Aonghasa on Inis Mór- which was the winner of the European film…
The former beam trawler Mary Kate was bought in the Netherlands by CJ Gaffney of Arklow, Co Wicklow and his father in 2007
The European Ombudsman may be asked to examine the case of the Mary Kate, the fishing vessel which developed serious stability issues after it was bought by an Arklow family. An Oireachtas committee has also agreed to appoint an expert…
Andrew
UK Sailmakers Ireland is delighted to have Andrew "Hammy' Baker join our team in NI. Hammy has tons of experience and is well-known locally. Andrew grew up on Strangford Lough sailing in a family cruiser and as part of the…
The new J/99
Hello everyone, I am just back from coaching at the Etchells Worlds in Fremantle, Australia, so I am just coming up for air and wanted to share some news about North Sails Ireland. It's always an exciting time for us…
Royal Cork duo of Seáfra Guilfoyle and Johnny Durcan are the only Irish 49er racing at the 53rd Trofeo Princess Sofia in Mallorca from Monday, April 1st
Over 1,100 sailors from 75 countries have arrived in the Bay of Palma, Mallorca, Spain for the 53rd edition of the Trofeo Princess Sofia, which is set to run from April 1 until April 6. Among the participants are Irish…
Tight lineup - the
A resurgence in demand for top-grade team racing events has resulted in the revival of the renowned George Invitational. The event maintained over twenty years of continuity in the sport in Dun Laoghaire in the70's, 80's & 90's until the…
Galway RNLI lifeboat operations manager Mike Swan
How a wise kayaker rescued by east Cork’s Ballycotton lifeboat signed up as a volunteer and Galway city’s cross-agency rapid rescue system are among topics on RTÉ Radio 1’s special Seascapes series tonight. The final episode of the three-part series…
Guests at Larne RNLI’s gala ball at Magheramorne Estate on Friday 15 March
Larne RNLI in Northern Ireland celebrated the RNLI’s 200th anniversary with a gala ball held at Magheramorne Estate raising £4,657.63 to help the station continue to save lives at sea. The event, organised by the volunteer fundraising crew, was held…
Maeve Bell is a member of RYANI’s Hall of Fame
Last year marked 50 years since the founding of RYA Northern Ireland, and three of those who were there at the beginning have shared their memories of how it got off the ground. In 1973, amid the turmoil of the…
An aerial view of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed onto the bow of cargo ship Dali south-east of Baltimore, Maryland
The insurance loss related to collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge outside the port of Baltimore, USA this week is likely to be multiple billions of dollars. That’s according to Lloyd’s of London John Neal, who told Bloomberg that…
Minister of State with responsibility for the Irish Coast Guard Jack Chambers turns the sod on a new Coast Guard station for Westport in South Mayo
Minister of State for Transport Jack Chambers has paid tribute to the “dedication, commitment and passion” of members of the Irish Coast Guard. Speaking at the sod turning for the €6.8 million new Coast Guard station in Westport, Co Mayo,…
Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys who has announced funding of €4.1 million to develop and enhance over 150 outdoor recreation projects across the country. The funding can be used for upgrades and repairs to beach access points, mountain trails, forest walks and cycleway
Kilkee cliff walk in Co Clare and access to Galway’s Traught strand and Kerry’s Ballybunion beach are among projects awarded grants under the Government’s outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme. A total of €4.1 million to develop and enhance over 150 outdoor…
Lough Swilly RNLI lifeboat in operation
As the Easter weekend approaches, the Coast Guard, RNLI, and Water Safety Ireland are urging the public to take precautions to stay safe during water activities. With longer and brighter evenings, more people are expected to visit the coast or…

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