Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine

Dublin Bay Old Gaffers Will Show That Worse Things Can Happen at Sea
6th January 2021 Dun Laoghaire Harbour News
If you think that life is tough under the current pandemic, then the Dublin Bay Old Gaffers Association has just the thing to put current national and personal problems into perspective, with a comprehensively illustrated Zoom talk by noted maritime…

After two decades of printing hard copy yearbooks, the International Dragon Association has launched its first-ever digital edition. The bumper edition has 54 pages of entertaining and informative reading about one of the leading racing keelboats. Despite many predictions over…

RTÉ Nationwide Checks In on Donegal Man’s Challenge to Swim Around Ireland
6th January 2021 Maritime TV
A Donegal swimmer’s epic challenge to circumnavigate the island of Ireland will feature on RTÉ Nationwide tonight, Wednesday 6 January. As reported in October on Afloat.ie, Henry O’Donnell has been donning his fins and taking to the water — as…

Seafood Businesses Urged to Familiarise Themselves with New Rules to Reduce Impact of Brexit
6th January 2021 Aquaculture
Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Ireland’s seafood development agency is today urging every seafood business who trades with or through Great Britain, no matter how small his or her operations, to continue to familiarise themselves with the impacts any new rules…

A new report submitted to the Oireachtas has slammed the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) as “not fit for purpose”, according to the Irish Examiner. Capt Neil Forde of maritime consultancy Marine Hazard Ltd claims that the MCIB has not…

House of Lords Plead to Reinstate UK-Europe Route of Hull to Zeebrugge in Belgium
6th January 2021 Ferry
As Ireland-mainland Europe freight ferry capacity recently increased and this week's new route to France opened following start of the EU-UK 'Brexit' border, British ministers have urged the House of Lords to reinstate a passenger ferry route from Hull to Belgium.…

Cork based Irish Mainport Holdings acquisition of a five year old utility and offshore supply vessel from Africa that arrived in late 2020 to the southern port, has since relocated downriver to lower Cork Harbour for drydocking, writes Jehan Ashmore.…

Young Northern Ireland Sailors Awarded Funding by Mary Peters Trust
6th January 2021 Northern Ireland Waters
Five young sailors have been given a unique chance to boost their training and skills after they were awarded funding from the Mary Peters Trust. The Trust aims to help aspiring young athletes, whatever their sport or social background, to…

Due to Covid-19 outbreaks, the Naval Service has been forced to take two more of its ships off operations, while a third vessel is under scrutiny after a crew member reported symptoms. The news comes following concerns expressed by Irish…

ICG Boss of Irish Ferries Says Exporters to Continue Using ‘Faster, Cheaper’ UK Landbridge Despite Brexit
6th January 2021 Ferry
The CEO of the company that operates Irish Ferries has said that exporters will continue to use the ‘faster, cheaper’ UK landbridge between Ireland and mainland Europe despite Brexit. As Extra.ie reports, goods going between EU countries and Britain now…

Early One Design Class Interest in July's New Format Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta is Strong
6th January 2021 Dun Laoghaire Harbour News
A positive 25 one design entries received so far into ten divisions of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2021 has been welcomed by organisers as the combined Dun Laoghaire clubs regatta rolls out its new COVID-compliant format event that splits the…

The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed it is in contact with UK officials after a Donegal trawler was prevented from fishing around Rockall. RTÉ News reports on the incident yesterday (Monday 4 January) in which the Greencastle-based Northern Celt…

(Vendée Globe Day 59 - Leader 750 miles east of Puerto Santa Cruz, Argentina) Rested and fully energised in beautiful sunshine, climbing north up the South Atlantic, the mercury rising and sailing in a moderate breeze, Vendée Globe leader Yannick…

Registration for the 49th Rolex Fastnet Race begins at 1000 UTC on Tuesday 12th January 2021. The RORC Race Team are concerned there will be a repeat of the 2019 rush to enter when the race became oversubscribed in less than five…

Rower Sanita Puspure was honoured at The Irish Times / Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year Awards after she successfully defended her European title in Poznan, Poland. Despite having her training regime seriously disrupted and the European Championships being her…
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Irish Jeanneau agents MGM Boats are targeting this summer for the delivery of the stunning Jeanneau NC 33. With a hull design by Michael Peters, the new NC 33 is powered by twin diesel engines with Joystick Docking Control. It…
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A Happy New Year everyone from all of us here in North Sails Ireland! Fingers crossed that the next few months will see a brighter future for us all and our sport that we love. Here at North Sails we…
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Key Yachting has announced a change of ownership, as Wayne Palmer and Hayley Quinn from Hampshire-based Thinking Space Systems have purchased the company from Marie-Claude Heys. “After 25 years, I am delighted to hand the helm over to Wayne and Hayley,”…

Ireland's former Round the World race Green Dragon will start as favourite in this weekend's 2021 RORC Transatlantic Race. Run in association with the International Maxi Association, the race is scheduled to start from Puerto Calero, Lanzarote on January 9th, 2021.…

Royal Irish Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Offshore Champion 'Mermaid' To Defend Title
5th January 2021 Royal Irish Yacht Club
The defending Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta offshore champion is among the first six entries into that division for July’s regatta, a class that looks set to become one of the biggest fleets of the biennial event again. As regular Afloat…