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Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Rowan Byrne’s 2006 photograph of a young leatherback sea turtle as it appears on an upcoming US Postal Service stamp
A photograph taken by an Irish marine biologist will feature in a new set of stamps from the US Post Office celebrating sea turtles. As the Irish Independent reports, Rowan Byrne snapped his picture some 18 years ago while working…
The late Don Street on his beloved 1905-built yawl Iolaire in the Caribbean
Afloat.ie regrets to record the death of Don Street of Glandore in his 94th year. For many years a Caribbean enthusiast, writing a series of successful pioneering pilot books for the area, he was also a renowned authority on ocean…
No. 3 Pansy, sailed by Vincent Delany and Emma Webb were winners of the DBSC Water Wag race at Dun Laoghaire Harbour
On Wednesday evening, 22 boats turned out for the second Water Wag race of the AIB DBSC 2024 season at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Race Officer Tadgh Donnelly set a three round windward/leeward course in a six-knot ESE’ly breeze. The strong…
Enough fresh air for a week – the crew of Nierulargo in Kinsale YC after winning Class 1 in the Axiom Spring Series, RCYC Admiral Annamarie Fegan third from right, back row
The Royal Cork YC’s Grand Soleil 40 Nieulargo is always a busy boat, and usually successful too. But things are in over-drive for 2024 and 2025, as co-owner-skipper Annamarie Fegan - aka Mrs Denis Murphy - is also the RCYC’s…
Keeping her slipping along….Simon Knowles at the helm of Indian, named in honour of the classic motor-cycle brand
Most offshore sailors would be well pleased to have notched their season’s start with a win in April, but Howth’s Simon Knowles goes into May with two bullets already in the bag for the J/109 Indian in the first races…
Never mind the weather - Clementine van Steenberg and Jessica Riordan on their way to 29er victory in the Youth Nationals at Crosshaven
The nuclear fusion generated by the focus of elite 29er training in Dun Laoghaire – currently centred on the National YC with Thomas Chaix – meant that the class was one of those that elected to have a four-day series…
Irish offshore solo sailor Tom Dolan competing in the 2024 Solo Maître CoQ
Irish offshore solo sailor Tom Dolan is currently sitting in 14th place (results downloadable below as a pdf) from 34 starters at the Solo Maître CoQ Figaro circuit event in France’s Vendée region. Dolan expressed his 'frustration' after the second…
Caroilin Callery Irish Famine Way presenting Captain Denis Rowan, RV Celtic Explorer, with replica Bronze Shoes that are to be transported and presented in Canada during a Marine Institute research trip to mark the launch of the Global Irish Famine Way
The Bronze Famine Shoes, an iconic representation of Ireland’s historic Famine Heritage Trail will soon be making their way across the Atlantic Ocean to Canada aboard the Marine Institute’s Research Vessel Celtic Explorer. The symbolic sculptures, crafted by artist Alannah…
P.S. Waverley, the world’s last seagoing paddle steamer, has been announced with the prestigious status of ‘National Flagship of the Year’ by National Historic Ships UK. AFLOAT adds as part of Waverley Excursions extensive season, the historic vessel is to return to Warrenpoint Port, Co. Down, following its inaugural season last year, with an evening cruise on May 28th, sailing down Carlingford Lough and out to Kilkeel Bay. A second cruise linked to the Newry Maritime Association will take place on May 29th, involving an extended cruise down Carlingford Lough and along the coast to Dundrum Bay, giving views of St. John’s Point.
Four historic vessels from around the UK have been chosen as this year's Flagships of the Year by National Historic Ships UK, the official voice for historic vessels in the country. The annual Flagship Awards, which have been running since…
A Team Racing event is quite different from a fleet racing event. Competitors do not need to bring their own boats, but instead swap out of different boats throughout the day
On Sunday 21st April, the Royal Saint George Yacht Club at Dun Laoghaire Harbour hosted the Irish Schools Team Racing Association (ISTRA) Leinster Championships. The event saw 16 teams from 12 schools around Leinster compete in a Team Racing event,…
The Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) is a Division within the Irish Maritime Directorate of the Department of Transport. Its mission is to deliver a world-class search and rescue, maritime casualty, and pollution response service. The IRCG currently have six vacancies…
Fingal, a former Northern Lighthouse Board lighthouse/buoy tender built in 1963, is now a double-award-winning floating 5-star luxury hotel! Tripadvisor announced it is the No. 1 luxury hotel and No. 1 small and boutique hotel in the UK. AFLOAT highlights the vessel, while assisting duties in the Irish Sea 30 years ago, made a once-off call to Dun Laoghaire Harbour, the homeport and depot of Irish Lights.
Near the Scottish capital is berthed a historic former lighthouse tender which has been named one of the best hotels in the world at the Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Awards. Fingal, which is the name of the luxury floating hotel, is…
Three kites - Ger and Robyn Owens (pink), overall winners of the 2024 Mirror Eastern Championship at Blessington Sailing Club with Juliet Ryan and Ella Rock (yellow) and Aurele Dion and Ben Chaix (Blue)
The Mirror dinghy season kicked off with a bang as 13 boats landed in Blessington Lake Sailing Club; a little apprehensive about how the weekend would unfold but certainly excited to get back afloat. There were some new faces and…
A highlight of the event is its poster, always a testament to local artistry and available for purchase in local shops. This year’s poster, crafted by Ryan Lavin, pays homage to the esteemed artist Joe Boske, known for his past iconic Fleadh na gCuach designs
Fleadh na gCuach or the Cuckoo Fleadh will transform the south Galway Harbour of Kinvara over this coming May bank holiday weekend. The traditional music and community-based art festival is known for its vibrant ambiance and exceptional talent, attracting musicians…
An example of an ad on social media promoting cruising holidays on the River Shannon. In total, the campaign will create over 14 million impressions or opportunities to see what a boating holiday on the Shannon has to offer
Tourism Ireland in Germany is rolling out a new campaign to promote Ireland’s Hidden Hidden Heartlands and cruising holidays on the River Shannon. This year, 240 inland cruisers on the Shannon are switching to sustainable HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) fuel,…
Stena Line has appointed Dennis Tetzlaff as the new Chief Operating Officer Fleet
As of today (1 May), Dennis Tetzlaff is Stena Line’s new Chief Operating Officer Fleet, and he joins the group management team. Dennis Tetzlaff enters his new role with a wealth of experience, having worked in various professions within the…
The ILCA 6 Connaught Championships start line at Lough Ree Yacht Club. Fortune favours the brave
Light winds in Lough Ree did not stop the ILCA fleet from completing two days of very tight racing in 5 to 10 knots. In stereotypical lake sailing weather, the light northerly breeze kept all three fleets with their heads…
File image of the RV Tom Crean
Applications are currently being accepted for ship time on Ireland’s national marine science research vessels in 2025 and 2026. In addition to the RV Tom Crean and RV Celtic Explorer, time is also offered on the ROV Holland I as…
MCIB logo
The Department of Transport has issued a reminder to fishing vessel owners, skippers and crew of the safety requirements for the use of cranes and other lifting equipment on deck. In comes after a recent Marine Casualty Invesigation Board (MCIB)…
Dublin Port Company has launched its Conservation Strategy, an ambitious document which maps the layers of Dublin Port - what’s on the floor of Dublin Bay, what’s underground on the Port estate and the heritage value of the built environment still standing. The strategy aims to put the rich legacy of Port Heritage in context and provides a framework for future planners to preserve and celebrate it across a range of initiatives, including cultural practice, community outreach and climate change action
Dublin Port Company (DPC) has mapped its rich natural, industrial, and cultural heritage in a new Conservation Strategy, which Minister of State Malcolm Noonan, TD, launched today. The ambitious document maps Dublin Port's layers, including findings on the floor of…

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