Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
World Sailing has cancelled the 2020 edition of the Youth Sailing World Championships that was scheduled to be held in Salvador, Brazil from 12 – 19 December 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In its 50-year history, the Youth Worlds…
In the light of recent UK Government announcements, it has become clear that the 2020 Landsail Tyres J-Cup will be postponed and not take place in July. The new date, confirmed by an amendment to the Notice of Race, will…
Loss Ness Mometer & Other Seismometers Retrieved by Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies Expedition
13th May 2020 Marine Science Marine Scientists on the RV Celtic Explorer have collected a network of seismometers recording valuable data over the past 19 months in Irish, British and Icelandic waters. The 18 seismometers had been deployed in 2018 over a 1500 kilometre area…
Ferry and airline passenger figures from the Central Statistics Office today show a huge fall in overseas travel to and from Ireland in March as Covid-19 restrictions started to be imposed. The CSO said there were 635,000 arrivals into Ireland…
Cancellation of Traditional Boats’ Cruinnui na mBad in Kinvara in August is Evidence of Continuing Covid-19 Threat
13th May 2020 Historic Boats The annual Cruinnui na mBad (the Gathering of the Boats) at the very hospitable port of Kinvara in the southeast corner of Galway Bay is one of the most popular events in the western sailing programme, and it was hoped…
Operator P&O Ferries has been criticised for announcing 1,100 job cuts after taking advantage of the (UK) government's furlough scheme. The RMT and Dover's mayor said P&O had announced the cuts after receiving taxpayer support in a move that would…
Waterways Ireland has advised masters and owners of vessels that low water levels exist on Lough Key, on the river section between Clarendon Lock to Tarmonbarry and on the river section in the vicinity of Meelick and Victoria Lock. Water…
Danish shipping group AP Moller-Maersk has today warned of a sharp drop in global container volumes due to the coronavirus pandemic, sending its shares down sharply. The coronavirus epidemic has thrown the global container shipping trade off balance as global…
Dingle Dolphin Concerns are a Reminder that Baltimore Pioneered the Special Dolphin Concept
13th May 2020 Marine Wildlife There’s concern in West Kerry and worldwide among his fans and friends that Fungie the Dingle Dolphin is becoming depressed. He is being made gloomy by the lack of company and an audience for his usual summer season starring role,…
Preparations for the start of the next Vendee Globe are going ahead in an uncertain context in terms of public health and the economy. The Vendee Council and the SAEM Vendee are doing their utmost in conjunction with all the…
Olympic sailing silver medalist Annalise Murphy joined four Dun Laoghaire-based 29er sailors and their coach in their bid to ‘virtual cycle’ around Ireland in aid of the RNLI. As Afloat reported earlier, Max Goodbody, Nathan van Steenberge, Sam Ledoux and…
Howth RNLI launched their inshore lifeboat last night (Tuesday 12th May) to reports of a person stranded in a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) with engine trouble while fishing off Howth. The RNLI pagers sounded at 7.25 pm after a call…
A Glimmer of Hope for a Return to Boating in Northern Ireland?
12th May 2020 Northern Ireland Waters The RYA Northern Ireland has welcomed the announcement by the Northern Ireland Executive in its Coronavirus recovery strategy published today, (12th May), which provides an outline of the approach that will be taken to any potential modifications going forward. RYANI…
Bangor Marina on Belfast Lough may be closed but the Harbour is certainly not out of bounds to commercial traffic and the 120-ton displacement tug Coastworker arrived yesterday afternoon. She will tow the modular barge currently berthed alongside the commercial…
Redbay Boats ‘At Your Service’ for TV Hospitality Ace John Brennan
12th May 2020 Northern Ireland Waters Renowned hospitality specialist John Brennan of Dromquinna Manor and the Park Hotel in Kenmare in County Kerry is best known for his entertaining and informative “At Your Service” double act on television with his brother Francis. In it, the brothers…
Irish Sailing 'Return to Sailing' Plan (Phase1) Downloadable Here!
12th May 2020 Coronavirus and Boating Harry Hermon, Irish Sailing Chief Executive, has published the "Return to Sailing” Scheme today (May 12 2020). The PDF document is downloadable below. The CEO says: The Phase 1 Guidelines from the “Return to Sailing” Scheme are designed to support…
Freight Forwarder Confident of ‘Relatively’ Quick Bounce Back for Box-Boat Shipping
12th May 2020 Ports & Shipping Shipping container demand will bounce back relatively quickly as lockdowns are eased worldwide, believes leading digitally driven freight forwarder iContainers, bringing potential new challenges as well as opportunities. “I’m cautiously optimistic that we will see a relatively quick recovery when…
Leisure Boating Makes Its Return In France & Spain — Under Certain Conditions
12th May 2020 Cruising The first phase of Spain’s transition towards its ‘new normal’ amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic saw boat owners yesterday (Monday 11 May) allowed to set their vessels free from moorings, as International Boat Industry reports. ‘Non-commercial cruising’ in limited groups,…
Ron Holland Begins RIYC’s New Online Talks Series On Yacht Design
12th May 2020 Royal Irish Yacht Club This week’s slot in the Royal Irish Yacht Club’s ‘Home Together’ series of online talks sees yacht designer Ron Holland headline a new mini-series featuring some of the best known names in international yacht design. Julian Everitt, Mark Mills and…
Cruise jobs of around 450, reports LiverpoolEcho, are to be axed by Carnival UK which operates cruise lines Cunard and P&O Cruises amid the coronavirus pandemic. The company said it wants to treat everyone "with fairness and respect" but said…
