Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
The US Coast Guard has shown concern at the number of distress calls made from yachts that do not include GPS position information to aid rescuers in their location. Already in the US, all newly installed VHF radios are required…
An Irish MEP has urged the new Government to exploit the "endless possibilities" of marine tourism in Ireland. Speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg earlier this week, Sean Kelly MEP said: "“My own constituency of Ireland South alone boasts…
Current Corporation has announced successful results of tests involving the simulation and detection of whale spouts with its new Night Navigator 3 thermal imaging camera system. http://www.currentcorp.com/current-corporation-detects-whale-spouts-at-night-at-distances-of-up-to-2km/ An air compressor was used to simulate the spout of a whale in…
The UK's Crown Estate has announced a consultation on making areas of Northern Ireland's sea bed available for renewable energy projects, Business & Leadership reports. The consultation process will inflence leasing rounds for offshore wind and tidal energy projects in…
Stena Line are to introduce two chartered sisterships in the Autumn to coincide with the opening of a £80m ferryport near Cairnryan, which is to replace Stranraer, as the new Scottish port for their route to Belfast, writes Jehan Ashmore. At 30,285grt…
Peter O'Leary and David Burrows lie fourth overall at the halfway stage of the Star class Bacardi Cup in Miami today having posted a 7, 2 and 5 in the 93-boat fleet. Promisingly for the Cork-Dublin duo their top results…
A UK registered fishing vessel the Lynn Marie was detained by the L.E. Orla (P41) seven miles off Bray Head in the early hours of Tuesday for an alleged breach of fishing regulations. L.E. Orla escorted the Lynn Marie into…
There was good news in Wicklow for watersports fans with the opening of the new public slip at Greystones harbour last August but there was disappointing news from Cllr Derek Mitchell yesterday who conceded that"currently not enough boat owners have…
If you fancy a rummage through a Bosun's locker then boat Jumble sales on three consecutive weekends and at three separate locations will satisfy all bargain hunters when the Irish boating season kicks off in a fortnight's time.Each show is…
Cork sailor Simon Coveney (38) has been appointed as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Marine in the new cabinet of the Fine Gael/Labour Government formed yesterday. The announcement has been welcomed by various marine interests pleased to see Marine back…
The Irish Cruising Club's acclaimed Sailing Directions, in two volumes, offer comprehensive coverage of the entire coast of Ireland, and their price has recently been reduced by £10.00 to £27.50 each (€32.50).These are the only cruising guides for the Irish…
Dun Laoghaire's Royal St. George Yacht Club has announced that its inaugural Junior Spring Open, sponsored by Craftinsure, will be held on the 19th & 20th of March 2011. This event promises to be a great kick start to the…
In the UK, National Fishing Month 2010 was a resounding success with 330 events taking place across the country attracting over 13,500 participants of all ages, ethnic backgrounds and social profiles. Research complied by Substance from a sample of 11%…
Two former Aran Islands fast-passenger ferries have been sold to a buyer in Mauritius, the island nation which lies southeast off the African continent in the Indian Ocean, and some 900km east of Madagascar, writes Jehan Ashmore. The ferries Clann…
Drogheda's port company has redrafted its plan to develop a €300 million deepwater harbour in north Dublin. The semi-State Drogheda Port Company previously failed to get approval from then Transport Minister Noel Dempsey when it first submitted proposals for the…
The Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI) has confirmed a number of reports of dead swans found along the Grand Canal in south Dublin. IWAI representative Colin Becker said some of the dead birds were taken away for analysis, while…
The new Government's plans to merge marine responsibilities into a single department has received a guarded welcome from Ireland's maritime bodies. In today's Irish Times, the Irish Marine Federation is quoted as saying a "single maritime authority is essential for…
Fastnet Line's 21,699 tonnes Julia which has been undergoing annual maintenance at a dry-dock in Swansea, is due to resume sailings for the 2011 season with a departure from the south Welsh port tomorrow night, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 1,500…
Waterways Ireland has reminded all Masters and users of the Grand Canal on Ireland's inland waterways that it intends to move vessels double or tripled berthed on the Grand Canal and Shannon Harbour that contravene the five day rule. The…
Here's a unique glimpse of a post World War One Dun Laoghaire Regatta in rare newsreel recently archived by British Pathe (below). The shots taken on August 2nd 1926 show a mixture of long shots of yachts sailing across Dublin…
