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Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Olympic medalist Marit Boumeester of Holland competing in the ILCA 6 European Championships in Andora, Italy
Irish Sailor of the Year Eve McMahon of Howth Yacht Club finished a promising 12th in fickle conditions in her first race in the yellow flight of the  ILCA 6 European Championships in Andora, Italy. Both ILCA 6 Women’s groups were…
Eight salmon seized in the IFI operation to combat illegal netting at Garnish Bay in West Cork on 28 June 2022
Two Cork men have been fined a combined €4,000 over an incident in June last year which resulted in the seizure of a 500-plus-metre net and eight illegally caught salmon. Frank Sheenan of Dursey Sound, Co Cork and Denis Healy…
Associated British Ports (ABP) has won the ‘Employer of the Year’ and ‘Maritime 2050’ categories at the MaritimeUK Awards held in Hull, the English north-east port on the North Sea.  ABP is the UK's largest port operator including the Irish Sea, supporting 119,000 jobs and contributing £7.5 billion to the economy every year.
The UK’s largest ports group, Associated British Ports (ABP) has won in two categories at the prestigious Maritime UK Awards. The ceremony was recently held in Hull, the Yorkshire port on the North Sea, which also is fittingly home to…
The Pride of Schull: four generations of the O'Keeffes of Schull have sailed the Lady Min, recently restored by Tiernan Roe of Ballydehob
A year ago, the world of classic boats in Ireland was on a high with the news that maritime polymath Hal Sisk of Dun Laoghaire had been acclaimed as International Classic Boater of the Year, while Steve Morris of Kilush Boatyard…
At the dockyard of A&P Falmouth, south-west England is where the largest passenger ship in more than 60 years to use the facility was Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Bolette. On completion of refurbishment in Cornwall, the flagship which operates UK-based cruises, is currently in Norway and AFLOAT also adds that twin fleetmate, Borealis is to call to Irish ports and cruise off Tory Island and Arranmore, Co. Donegal as part of a UK & Ireland cruise in July.
The dockyard of A&P Falmouth in south-west England has completed a multi-million-pound programme of works on the largest passenger ship to visit the facility in over 60 years. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ flagship MV Bolette which carries up to 1,338…
The light dues from ships calling to UK and Irish ports are to increase for 2023 to 2024 has been announced by the UK Government’s Maritime Minister. The light dues are paid by the shipping industry to fund the financing of the three General Lighthouse Authority’s (GLA) that work in the seas of the UK and Ireland. Above the aft-deck of Irish Lights aid to navigation vessel, ILV Granuaile.
Light dues from ships calling to UK and Irish ports which are paid by the shipping industry are to increase following an announcement by the British Government's Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport. Transport secretary, Baroness Vere last week…
Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta organisers will raffle off a great high-capacity Duffel Bag between all paid-up entries received before midnight Sunday, March 19th
The early bird entry discount for Ireland's largest regatta at Dun Laoghaire closes on March 31st  As an added incentive, the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta organisers will raffle off a great high-capacity Duffel Bag between all paid-up entries received before…
The 1720 crew of Optique, skippered by Colin Byrne (right) of the Royal Irish Yacht Club, were the overall winners of the 2023 AIB DBSC Spring Chicken Series on Dublin Bay
The 1720 sportsboat crew of Optique, skippered by Colin Byrne of the Royal Irish Yacht Club, were the overall winners of the 2023 AIB DBSC Spring Chicken Series at the National Yacht Club today. A final light race decider on…
Fishing trawlers in port. The Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation (IS&WFPO) has welcomed a Court of Appeal ruling that the Government policy directive introducing a ban on trawling inside the six nautical-mile limit is invalid and of no legal effect
Two fishermen have won an appeal over a ban on trawling inside the Irish six-mile limit. A judgment issued by the Court of Appeal has ruled that the Government policy directive introducing a ban on trawling inside the six nautical-mile…
Drone’s eye view of Team Holcim-PRB on Sunday 12 March
Two weeks after the start of The Ocean Race 2022-23’s third stage in Cape Town, skipper Kevin Escoffier and his crew mates on Team Holcim-PRB have collected maximum points, leading the IMOCA fleet through the Leg 3 scoring gate at…
Light winds for the first race of the ILCA 7 Europeans in Andorra with Ireland's Ewan McMahon pictured fifth from left
The National Yacht Club's Finn Lynch took a top-five result in his flight in the opening race of the ILCA 7 European Championships at Andora, Italy. The race was sailed in a breeze of only three to five knots with…
Wind energy turbine as seen from below
Mac Lir Offshore Wind Limited (MLOWL) is undertaking a geophysical reconnaissance survey within an area of survey off the coast of counties Wicklow and Wexford for a proposed offshore wind energy project. The survey was expected to commence Sunday 12…
The Anchorage makes the most of its small footprint on the waterside in the Summercove area of Kinsale
Two-and-a-half million euro could snag you a stunning home right on the waterside in the Summercove area of Kinsale. The Anchorage dates from the Victorian era when it was home to a British navy admiral. In more recent times, Hollywood…
Thomas Chaix leads the IODAI Optimist development team to France
The Irish Optimist Dinghy Association will continue with its coaching arrangements in 2023, IODAI President Paddy Ryan has confirmed. Dennis Paaske, Soren Laugesen and Thomas Chaix will resume their roles from the successful National Training Week on Lough Derg last November.…
Royal Irish previously hosted the ICRAs, one of the key fixtures of the Irish sailing season, in 2006 and 2014, featuring a 100-boat-plus fleet
Following last week's ICRA announcement that the 2024 Cruiser Nationals will return to the Royal Irish Yacht Club in September, ICRA Commodore Dave Cullen has confirmed the Dun Laoghaire dates as 6th-8th September.  As Afloat previously reported, the RIYC hosts the ICRA's for the third…
Brian Carroll's Elan 40 Chancer won on both ECHO and IRC  in the first race of the Kinsale Yacht Club Cruiser-Racer March League
The Kinsale Yacht Club’s 2023 cruiser-racing season kicked off on Sunday, March 12th, with the first race of the Frank Godsell-sponsored March League. On a damp misty day, five boats came out to race on a course set by Race…
Ballintoy beach on Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast
Water quality activists have alleged that people are “getting ill” after swimming at beaches in Northern Ireland, as BelfastLive reports. Campaign group Surfers Against Sewage suggests that the public is being let down by NI’s water testing system, which currently…
Pegasus of Northumberland, GBR 715, an Open 50 sailed by Ross Hobson and Adrian Banks, will attempt the doublehanded Round Ireland speed sailing record from Dublin Bay
An attempt on the doublehanded Round Ireland speed sailing record is imminent.  UK sailors Ross Hobson and Adrian Banks from Northumberland are on their way to Dun Laoghaire Harbour and will be on standby for the record bid as soon as…
Mateusz Kusznierewicz/Bruno Prada make history by winning their fourth successive Bacardi Cup
It all came down to the final race in the battle for the 96th Bacardi Cup in Miami on Saturday, with eight teams theoretically in the running for the trophies. After two general recalls, the elite of Star sailing embarked…
Port aft wide shot of Team Holcim-PRB on Friday 10 March
It’s been a record-breaking day in The Ocean Race as the four IMOCAs racing through the south are pressing hard to gain position — and points — at the Leg 3 scoring gate. Conditions have certainly been favourable for making…

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