Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
CalMac's Summer Sailings Leave Just One Ferry on Ardrossan-Arran Route at Expense of Mull of Kintyre Service
6th March 2024 Ferry
Scotland's west coast operator, CalMac, has revealed their summer timetable - confirming a single ferry will service the Ardrossan-Brodick route at the busiest time of the year, using the company's oldest large vessel on the Firth of Clyde route. As…
Sitting of the Tynwald Highlights Funding Needs to Be Considered to Replace Fast-Ferry Manannan
6th March 2024 Ferry
In two years’s time, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co. is due to replace the fast-ferry Manannan which has operated on seasonal-only sailings since its introduction in 2009. The 865 passenger/200 car capacity catamaran routinely operates seasonal routes, chiefly…
Ireland's Marine Institute Leads €14.5m 'AQUARIUS' Project for Collaborative Marine and Freshwater Research
6th March 2024 Marine Science
The Marine Institute has announced that it will lead a major €14.5m Europe-wide project called Aquatic Research Infrastructure Services for the health and protection of our unique oceans, seas, and freshwater ecosystems (AQUARIUS). This 48-month project aims to provide free…
Classic Yacht Dublin Bay 24 Zephyra To Be Launched In June, Re-Born in Maine
6th March 2024 Historic Boats
The concept of the Dublin Bay 24, envisaged as a 24ft waterline 37ft LOA Bermuda-rigged racer-cruiser, was first suggested in 1934 at a Committee Meeting of the innovative yet “homeless” Royal Alfred YC in Dun Laoghaire by the owner-skipper of…
J80 Jambon Leads into Final Race of AIB DBSC Spring Chicken Series on Dublin Bay
6th March 2024 DBSC
A new overall leader goes into this Sunday's final race of the AIB DBSC Spring Chicken Series on Dublin Bay as sportsboats occupy the podium places. The fourth-placed J80 Jambon has moved to the front of the mixed cruisers handicap fleet (the…
Uniformed and Frontline Services Gather at Royal Cork Yacht Club for Volvo Cork Week Beaufort Cup 2024
6th March 2024 Cork Week
Representatives of the Defence Forces, the Fire Service, An Garda Siochana and the RNLI joined the Admiral of the Royal Cork Yacht Club, Annamarie Fegan, and Volvo Cork Week Chairman Ross Deasy for the launch of Beaufort Cup 2024 this…
The former flagship of the Naval Service, LÉ Eithne, RTE News reports, has departed the naval base at Haulbowline, Cork Harbour for the final time. Built as a Helicopter Patrol Vessel (HPV), the 1,920 tonnes ship is to be taken…
Royal Cork 49er Pair Breeze into the Lead of Irish Olympic Trial at Lanzarote World Championships
5th March 2024 Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing
On the first day of the Irish Olympic 49er trial, Royal Cork Yacht Club's Seafra Guilfoyle and Johnny Durcan had a better day than rivals Robert Dickson (Howth Yacht Club) and Sean Waddilove (Skerries Sailing Club) for the Paris 2024 berth later…
Cork-Belfast duo Peter O'Leary and Stephen Milne bounced back from an untypical low opening result in the 97th Bacardi Cup in Miami, Florida on Monday to post a top ten in the 66-boat fleet in the second race on Tuesday. The sole…
Tenders Invited for ‘Attractive Visitor Experiences’ at New Ulster Canal Marina
5th March 2024 Inland Waterways
Waterways Ireland, in partnership with Monaghan County Council and Fáilte Ireland, is inviting individuals, businesses and organisations to tender for contracts to create attractive visitor experiences at the Ulster Canal Marina in Clones, Co Monaghan as part of the redevelopment…
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has prosecuted a forestry owner who must now pay €10,000 for damage caused to a fish spawning habitat. Michael McHugh of Kilbride, Clonee, Co Meath was prosecuted for allowing large volumes of silt to wash into…
The Marine Institute welcomed Mari Skåre, the Norwegian Ambassador to Ireland, on an official visit to the Marine Institute’s headquarters in Galway on Tuesday (5 March). Commenting on the visit, Dr Rick Officer, chief executive of the Marine Institute said:…
Arklow Shipping’s Dutch G-Class Newbuild Makes Maiden Voyage to German Baltic Sea Port
5th March 2024 Arklow Shipping
After a tow from Ferus Smit’s Dutch shipyard in Westerbroek last month, newbuild Arklow Grace has since completed builder’s sea trials along with the cargo ship’s maiden commercial voyage, writes Jehan Ashmore. The tug Waterpoort towed the fourth of five…
At a Tynwald Select Committee, it was discussed whether the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company needs to maintain the former flagship ferry that served on the Douglas-Heysham route. The matter was raised at the committee sitting yesterday, as the…
Harland & Wolff Awarded Preferred Bidder Status for Falkland Islands Port Replacement Project
5th March 2024 Shipyards
Shipyard and multisite fabrication company Harland & Wolff, has been awarded as the preferred bidder status for the Falkland Islands Port Replacement Project (FIPASS). The project awarded to the London Stock Exchange (LSE) listed company is focused on strategic infrastructure…
Portugal Takes First Melges15 European Winter Series Event, Ireland in Hot Pursuit
5th March 2024 Melges 15
Home advantage proved the difference as local sailors Paulo Mansel and Tiago Leal took the first Melges 15 Winter series title in Cascais at the weekend. The reigning J70 European champion, Paulo set a fast pace that the Irish Armada…
Stena Line’s ‘Technical Issues’ Linger on Rosslare-Fishguard Route after Six-Week Suspension
5th March 2024 Stena Line
Stena Line’s Rosslare-Fishguard route, which was abandoned altogether for nearly six weeks, is still facing difficulties maintaining its southern corridor service between the Irish and Welsh ports. As the Irish Independent reports, maintenance work at the Welsh port's linkspan berth…
After a week that saw snowfall over large parts of Dublin and further afield on Friday, Sunday was, by comparison, a pleasant spring day with sunshine and a gentler breeze than the previous Sunday. The forecast had been a mixed…
The 97th Bacardi Cup kicked off on Monday in Miami, Florida with sixty-six Stars representing fifteen nations (including Ireland) for what turned out to be a light-wind tactical challenge and no more so than for Cork-Belfast duo Peter O'Leary and…
Solo yachtswoman Clarisse Crémer and her husband Tanguy Le Turquais have been cleared of allegations of misconduct relating to the 2020-21 edition of the Vendée Globe. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the pair strenuously denied claims made in an anonymous…