Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
![Howth 17s are one of several fleets travelling to compete in Saturday's National Yacht Club Regatta sponsored by Davy Group](/media/k2/items/cache/d7fd048abd4be2008d3799cbb0896380_L.jpg)
The National Yacht Club on Dublin Bay is gearing up for its Open Regatta this weekend. Sponsored by Davy Group, the annual club highlight will have over 160 boats racing across three courses. As part of the fleet, the NYC will…
![Start day on the final leg of the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race](/media/k2/items/cache/222cf83b45a212ea92d538a71297dc98_L.jpg)
Early Advantage To Dongfeng Race Team On Critical Final Leg Of Volvo Ocean Race
21st June 2018 Ocean Race
#VOR - Three teams started the final leg of the Volvo Ocean Race on Thursday afternoon (21 June) in an unprecedented dead-heat on the overall leaderboard. And in the winner-take-all sprint from Gothenburg to The Hague, it was Charles Caudrelier’s…
![Kyne Welcomes Positive Outcomes From International North Atlantic Salmon Discussions](/media/k2/items/cache/da42ed2330b184c1f5e422c9aebb3788_L.jpg)
Kyne Welcomes Positive Outcomes From International North Atlantic Salmon Discussions
21st June 2018 Fishing
#Fishing - Sean Kyne TD, Minister with responsibility for the inland fisheries sector, today (Thursday 21 June) welcomed the positive outcome from the international discussions at the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) annual meeting in Portland, Maine, USA. “Our…
![At the Launch of Childrens book "You'd Be Filled With Wonder", published to commemorate the Bicententenary of Dun Laoghaire Harbour. L to R front : Susan Gibney BEC director, Jean Duffy Minister of State for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O'Connor T.D., Eithne Scott-Lennon Dun Laoghaire Harbour Co chairperson, Grainne O'Malley co-author of the book and Ileane Pierce. L to R back: Gerry Dunne DLHCo CEO, Noel Brien, Carolyn Hanaphy DLHCo commercial executive, Rob Goodbody, Colin Scudds co-author of the book, Seamus Cannon, Author of "You'd Be Filled With Wonder" and Anna Scudds also a co-author.](/media/k2/items/cache/6e1dbb94856a13d15fe982c5dfd41ce3_L.jpg)
Launch of Children's Book: You’d Be Filled with Wonder, The Story of Dun Laoghaire Harbour
21st June 2018 Dun Laoghaire Harbour News
#DunLaoghaireBook - “You’d Be filled With wonder, The Story of Dun Laoghaire Harbour! is the title of a new publication to celebrate last year's Bicentenary of Dun Laoghaire Harbour. The harbour which began construction in 1817, has caught the imagination…
![Jib and Tonic (Morgan Crowe) from the Royal Irish Yacht Club competing at Calves Week. The Dublin Bay boat is one of two Irish entries in next month's Round the Isle of Wight Race](/media/k2/items/cache/59547ed73e821ba253814fa2fdcf38ab_L.jpg)
Round the Island Race Welcomes Three Irish Entries for Isle of Wight 50–Mile Test
21st June 2018 Racing
Three Irish entries are among a flurry of international entries to sign up for the 50nm blast round the Isle of Wight next month. With less than three weeks to go until the start of Round the Island Race 2018…
![Gregor McGuckin departs Ireland for his race around the world](/media/k2/items/cache/884708e691ff72d09035c9df49cfd086_L.jpg)
President & Taoiseach Wish Gregor McGuckin Well in Golden Globe Race
21st June 2018 Golden Globe Race
In the space of just a week, both President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar have given their support to Dublin sailor Gregor McGuckin ahead of his solo non-stop sailing lap of the planet as part of the Golden…
![Arklow Ruler (2006/2,999grt) became the first agri-bulk vessel for clients in Glasgow (Clydeport) which is operated by the Peel Ports Group. The 'R' class cargoship is seen been discharged in King George V Dock which Afloat adds is a stone's throw from the site of the former Govan Shipbuilders that during the 1970's built bulk-carriers for Irish Shipping Ltd which went into liquidation in 1984.](/media/k2/items/cache/06019fe657d02a5d5249b20080d1a501_L.jpg)
Irish Flagged Trader Becomes Peel Ports Glasgow First to Handle Animal Grain Imports
21st June 2018 Ports & Shipping
#Ports&Shipping - An Irish flagged cargoship became the first agri-bulk vessel for global animal feed trader ADM Arkady, a client of Peel Ports Glasgow (Clydeport) where a facility has undergone upgrading. According to the UK ports group, the Arklow Ruler…
![The workhorses in waiting……Howth Yacht Club’s flotilla of J/80s which fulfill half a dozen roles at various levels of training each week](/media/k2/items/cache/a333bd7f729c490c864ed8dab47e96d5_L.jpg)
Howth Yacht Club’s Junior Organiser Sara Lacy has been working through a highly productive eighteen months of research and implementation since being appointed to the post on her election to the General Committee in December 2016 writes W M Nixon.…
![Ron Holland addresses a crowded bar at Kinsale Yacht Club](/media/k2/items/cache/14c3e19c7e74341996d94002035720b7_L.jpg)
Ron Holland has been back in Ireland this week, at two yacht clubs he knows well - Kinsale Yacht Club and the Royal Cork Yacht Club at Crosshaven, across the Owenabue River from Currabinny where he designed race-winning yachts. “If…
![IRL 3087 Anchor Challenge (Paul Gibbons) at a busy mark rounding at the Quarter Ton Cup in Cowes](/media/k2/items/cache/211ce4e5411ca389d1a471189f818305_L.jpg)
Two Irish boats are in the top ten after the opening day of the 2018 Revival Quarter Ton Cup Regatta, being held off Cowes from 20 to 22 June, got off to a flying start with four cracking races in…
![The three-man Sportsboat Championship will be held over three days (29th 30th June & 1st July) at the National Yacht Club](/media/k2/items/cache/a8d38d986aaf2194e0510aff63944d19_L.jpg)
Dun Laoghaire Crews Are Favourite for SB20 Crown as National Yacht Club Stages Irish Championships
20th June 2018 SB20
Current form shows Royal St. George and Royal Irish Yacht Club crews are the ones to watch when the SB20 National Championships sets sail on the home waters race track of Dublin Bay at the end of this month. In a busy…
Operators Stena And Irish Ferries Targeted in Animal Rights Group Bid to Halt ‘Vital’ Live Exports
20th June 2018 Ferry
#FerryNews - The animal rights Group Compassion in World Farming Ireland is to target key ferry operators in their latest bid to halt live exports. The group writes Independent.ie is to target Niclas Martensson CEO of Stena Line and Eamonn…
![Northern Ireland's Oisin McClelland](/media/k2/items/cache/b2ba9f01163ca338b77d507f94d058f5_L.jpg)
Ireland has two Olympic class Finn sailors in action at Kiele Woche Regatta, Germany this morning, an important build-up event before August's Sailing World Championships in Denmark where a quarter of Olympic places are up for grabs. Both Fionn Lyden and…
![Sailing at last year’s SeaFest in Galway Docks](/media/k2/items/cache/99ba62293612591dc57ea06c9e575b0c_L.jpg)
#SeaFest - This year’s SeaFest in Galway is offering activities specifically for children with sensory issues as well as watersports sessions for children and adults with disabilities or impairments. Irish Sailing and its team of volunteers from sailing clubs across…
![Dead crayfish in the River Suir last year](/media/k2/items/cache/29201998165dc376414053b6e54796a8_L.jpg)
#Crayfish - The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is investigating the widespread deaths of white-clawed crayfish in Lough Owel that may be linked to an outbreak of crayfish plague. As TheJournal.ie reports, the Co Westmeath inland waterway is home…
![Coney Island in Lough Neagh has a history dating back to Neolithic times](/media/k2/items/cache/4f93379f179dfea9121eb4e629404383_L.jpg)
#LoughNeagh - The UK’s National Trust is seeking a new warden — or wardens — to care for the historic Coney Island in Lough Neagh, as Belfast Live reports. The island’s restored 19th-century cottage, which until last year was home…
![Nicholas 'Nin' O'Leary onboard his IMOCA 60 that is advertised for sale](/media/k2/items/cache/dd4e2339af64614dd7a9e1eafe607705_L.jpg)
Nicholas O'Leary's Vendee Globe 2020 Bid Makes 'Great Strides' as Boat Goes Up for Sale
20th June 2018 Vendee Globe
Nicholas O'Leary's 'Ireland Ocean Racing team' say it is making 'great strides' towards securing the Cork solo sailor a position on the Vendee Globe 2020 startline despite the fact his boat, purchased last November, has appeared on the international boats…
![Royal St. George's Ross O'Leary was a competitor in tonight's DBSC Laser Race](/media/k2/items/cache/5e210484ee7120322195ea102cdc3293_L.jpg)
Cruiser 3 Tuesday ECHO: 1. Papytoo, 2. Pamafe, 3. Maranda PY Class: 1. G Bua, 2. T Hennig IDRA 14: 1. Slipstream, 2. Doody, 3. Sapphire Laser PY: 1. R Wallace, 2. M Sorgassi, 3. R O'Leary Race 2: IDRA…
![From 01 September 2018 payment will be by Smart Card only.](/media/k2/items/cache/7915b9e2613828ed25c1bdf41720f514_L.jpg)
Masters and users of the Shannon Navigation are advised that a Smart Card system will be introduced at all locks on the navigation from 01 July 2018. As Afloat.ie reported in March, Waterways Ireland says Masters of vessels will be…
![Squib keelboats](/media/k2/items/cache/4f8d8079583e7c72c8088229d19553a7_L.jpg)
Many events have been organised this season to celebrate the 50th birthday of Oliver Lee’s National Squib two-man keelboat. One of those events was the open Welsh Championship raced at South Caernarfonshire Yacht Club, over the weekend of 15th to…