Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

The buildup to the 41st edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Offshore Race from Malta on Saturday (October 17th) continues in Valetta in muted style in line with pandemic restrictions, and while yesterday's traditional preview event, the Yachting Malta Coastal…

A vacancy at sea is sought from the Commissioners of Irish Lights for the position of an Operations Officer on board their aids to navigation management and maintenance tender ILV Granuaile. The role in Irish Lights will be both challenging…

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D., has earmarked the purchase of a new marine research vessel for the State in his Department's 2021 Budget. As Afloat previously reported, €25m was allocated in Tuesday's budget to progress…

Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence Simon Coveney TD addressed members of the Irish Exports Association (IEA) during a webiner to give an update on EU-UK negotiations, Brexit readiness and what exporters and importers can expect from 1 January 2021.…

Female Two-handed Round Ireland Record Day Three 0900hrs: At 0745 hours this morning, Pamela Lee and Catherine Hunt in the Beneteau Figaro 3 Iarracht Maigeanta had put County Mayo's northwest headlands of Eagle Island and Erris Head well astern, and were…

The Russian Tall Ship, Sedov, has reported a successful transit the full length of the legendary Northern Sea Route. After departing from Vladivostok, Russia in mid-August, the Sedov completed the east-west passage passing the southern tip of the Novaya Zemlya…

Female Two-handed Round Ireland Record Day Two 1800hrs: As Pam Lee and Cat Hunt continue to make good progress on Ireland's west coast northwards towards Connacht with light to moderate winds in the easterly sector, the developing weather for their Round…

Shipping container giant, Maersk revealed that it will make around 2,000 staff redundant due to changes to the organisation linked to the integration of Damco into its Ocean Logistics business and the removal of the separate Safmarine brand, which it…

Female Two-handed Round Ireland Record Day Two 1400hrs: The Great Foze Rock has come and gone well to starboard at 12.15hrs today in the lengthening litany of marks of the course as Pam Lee and Cat Hunt continue their impressive campaign…

Irish WASZP youth sailor Charlie Cullen was pipped by an Australian Olympic sailor for first prize in last weekend's climax of the Global GPS Racing Dinghy Series.  The Dun Laoghaire Harbour skiff sailor was in pole position to win the first…

A memorial to commemorate those lost to the sea is finally in sight for a coastal village in West Cork. For the past twelve months, Baltimore Rath & the Islands Community Council has been liaising with Cork County Council and…

The Irish Institute of Master Mariners (IIMM) presented the annual Don Curtis Award to a student of the National Maritime College of Ireland. Sponsored by the IIMM the award was presented by Captain Dermot Gray, the Institute's President to student…

Despite a year of "cancellations and disappointments" there have been more people sailing this Summer in Cork Harbour, with families racing together, more young sailors taking to cruisers and a growth of interest in dinghy sailing. That is the positive,…

Lydia Millar, a final year student at Queen's University Belfast, joined the university's sailing club to help improve her mental health. Describing herself as 'an emotional sponge,' Lydia believes that no matter how cold you may get on a winter…

The RYA Dinghy Show is to be a virtual event for 2021 due to the current escalation of Covid-19. The show had been due to take place over the weekend of 27-28 February at its new venue, Farnborough International Exhibition…

Female Two-handed Round Ireland Record Day Two 0900hrs:  The Magenta Round Ireland two-handed record challenge Record campaign from Dublin Bay by Pam Lee and Cat Hunt of RL Sailing and Greystones has logged an excellent start in its first 24…

The Government has allocated €13 million in increased funding to promote the” environmentally sustainable development” of the seafood industry. Budget 2021 has approved total funding for the Irish sea fisheries Programme at €151 million. Minister for Marine Charlie McConalogue welcomed…

The Olympic Federation of Ireland today welcomed the Government’s budget announcement that Sport Ireland will receive an additional €36m in funding next year. The OFI Board has welcomed the long-term planning that is now being applied to sport through the…

Skippingstone Beach is a popular swimming venue a short distance to the west of Bangor Harbour on Belfast Lough and sadly was the scene this morning (13th October) of a fatality. It is only a few hundred yards from the…

Female Two-handed Round Ireland Record Day One 2000 hrs: The Round Ireland two-handed record challenge by Pamela Lee and Catherine Hunt, which started from the Kish in Dublin Bay at 0745 this morning, had been accelerating westward well out to sea…