Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

There are times in your boat-owning life when you need to step back and evaluate your vessel's set-up. With an eye towards optimising the boat for the way you sail it, you can opt for different sails, winches, running rigging,…

The last two days in March were busy for Bangor Coastguard Rescue Team with incidents on Tuesday 30th and Wednesday 31st March in Strangford Lough. On Tuesday the team responded to a report of a person in the water near…

The Wicklow all-weather lifeboat RNLB Joanna and Henry Williams launched at 4:10 pm this afternoon following a launch request from the Coast Guard, to assist a 10-metre fishing vessel in difficulties ten miles offshore. The lifeboat crew located the stricken…

Portrush RNLI’s volunteer crew launched their inshore lifeboat to reports of a fishing vessel in difficulty just outside the Northern Ireland harbour yesterday evening, Wednesday 31 March. The 26-foot vessel with three on board lost power just outside the North…

Canal-boat restaurant operators on the Grand Canal in Dublin have spoken out after they were banned from providing takeaway meals amid the current pandemic restrictions. According to The Irish Times, at least one eatery is out of pocket by thousands…

Dublin Bay Old Gaffers Association invites you to join their next Zoom session, which will be on The Building of Howth Harbour and presented by Rob Goodbody on Thursday, 8th April at 20:00hrs. The present Howth Harbour celebrated its Bicentenary…

The Marine Institute has announced funding of €0.24 million for the first two Eoin Sweeney PhD Scholarships to run over the next four years. This Scholarship Programme has been established by the Marine Institute and Plataforma Oceánica de Canarias (PLOCAN)…

The RNLI and the Irish Coast Guard are urging people who will be spending time on or near the water during the Easter break to take note of the relevant water safety advice for their activity and to raise the…

Communities who believe they are at risk from wind turbines and other proposed new infrastructure deserve more than just a tightly managed consultation exercise, however, well the consultation is conducted. That’s the view of chartered surveyor Michael Ocock, who has…

European ports in recent months have been playing a critical role in the supply and distribution of essential goods and in keeping the economy running. As gateways to the world, being at the crossroads of supply chains, hubs of energy,…

Afloat.ie in association with Dubarry brings you a bi-monthly nautical crossword competition (No. 190). Win a pair of Dubarry Commodore X LT or Sailmaker X LT deck shoes! Complete the crossword below and add your details below and the first…

It says everything about the quality of the Dickson-Waddilove team's securing of the Tokyo Olympics 49er place, that it not only sent the spirits of the Irish sailing community soaring skywards, but in these difficult times, it helped to raise the…

A secretive organisation known as SFA (the Studying Feasibility Alliance) is working behind the scenes to encourage the establishment of a professional body for one of the fastest-growing business sectors in the marine and other spheres in Ireland, the lucrative…

Advance planning has started on creating the capital's newest golf course on a spit of sand close to the Merrion Gates junction in Dublin's Sandymount/Merrion area. Local golfing enthusiasts are excited at the prospect of a southside Royal Dublin style…

With the Easter holidays now begun in Northern Ireland, Larne RNLI is encouraging anyone planning to visit the coast to know the risks to protect themselves and their families and to heed key sea safety advice. Larne RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat…

Waterways Ireland advises that a Canoeing Ireland selection event will take place this Saturday 3 April on the Grand Canal at the Celbridge Paddlers Canoe Club–Alymer’s Bridge area. This event is part of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic qualification pathway…

Northern Ireland surfing pro Al Mennie was among the volunteers who joined fire fighters battling a gorse blaze on Castlerock Beach in Co Derry last night (Tuesday 30 March). As the Belfast Telegraph reports, 40-year-old Mennie was out catching the…

Howth Yacht Club Commodore Paddy Judge says currently the 'only certainty' following yesterdays announcement of the easing of lockdown restrictions is that junior sail training can recommence from the 26th April with more general sailing probably in May. ‘We welcome the…

West Cork's Kinsale Yacht Club is looking forward to having members who live more than five kilometres from Kinsale visit the club marina to use their boats for family cruises from 12th April. Club Commodore Mike Walsh says KYC is…

Royal Cork Yacht Club in Cork Harbour has expressed disappointment that there has not been more clarity on when sailing can see a full return to the water following yesterday's Government announcement on the easing of lockdown restrictions. RCYC Admiral Colin Morehead…