Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
How Will Irish Olympic Sailors be Impacted if New Qualification Rules Apply for Last Tokyo Places?
21st March 2020 Tokyo 2020 What chances has Ireland got for the last Olympic places in the Finn, 49er and men's Laser classes if qualification changes are made? The IOC, in their determination to maintain normality – or to return to normality as soon as…
Brittany Ferries Cease All Route Network Including Ireland-France & Ireland-Spain
21st March 2020 Ferry Due to the Coronavirus pandemic and following advice given by governments in all countries in which Brittany Ferries operate the company have been forced to temporarily suspend passenger services connecting the UK, Ireland, France and Spain. All passenger sailings between…
Coronavirus: Marine Minister Says Talks On Possible Options With Fishing Sector ‘Constructive’
21st March 2020 Fishing Marine Minister Michael Creed spoke with representatives of the fishing sector yesterday (Friday 20 March) to discuss next steps amid the challenged of the Covid-19 outbreak. As reported on Afloat.ie by Lorna Siggins yesterday, fears have been growing that Ireland’s…
It's nice to be out there with the wind and the waves and as one letter writer to the Irish Times mentioned when he spotted boats sailing on Dublin Bay this week - 'what a way to isolate!' We think the…
And the Winner is.....Irish Sailor of the Year To be Announced at 6.30pm
21st March 2020 Sailor of the Year Tonight at 6.30 pm, Afloat along with Irish Sailing in an 'online ceremony' will be revealing the 2019 winner of the Sailor of the Year award. Selected from a shortlist of sailors who have already earned monthly awards, the Irish Sailing/Afloat…
Tom Dolan's Plans on Hold as Solo Maitre Coq & Transat AG2R La Mondiale Postponed
20th March 2020 Solo Sailing The Coronavirus outbreak has caused French organisers of the Solo Maitre Coq and the Transat AG2R La Mondiale to delay both events and with it the plans of Irish solo sailor Tom Dolan for an Irish bid in the Transatlantic…
RNLI Issues Safety Advice For Coastal Visitors During Covid-19 Outbreak
20th March 2020 Water Safety The RNLI is urging anyone planning a visit to the coast to stay safe and not take any unnecessary risks. Given the current Covid-19 outbreak in the UK and Ireland and the importance of social distancing and avoiding non-essential contact…
A number of offshore islands have gone into lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic with tourists and holiday home owners being discouraged from travelling there. Ferry companies serving the three Aran Islands (Inis Mór: see story) and Inishbofin have agreed…
The Doonbeg golf resort owned by US President Donald Trump has been refused permission to build a ‘sea wall’ of coastal defences, as RTÉ News reports. An Bord Pleanála’s decision published on Wednesday (18 March) said planners were not satisfied…
On the Irish Sea ferry company Stena Line has told staff they won't be paid their normal sick pay during the Covid-19 pandemic, a union has said. The Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMT) said the ferry giant has removed its…
This year’s Antigua Sailing Week, which was originally scheduled for Sunday 26 April to Friday 1 May, has now been cancelled amid the continuing coronavirus situation. In a statement, the major offshore regatta’s president Alison Sly-Adams said: “As a result…
The Scottish Series, Scotland's biggest sailing event scheduled for the Clyde on May 22 is the latest yachting regatta to become a casualty of Coronavirus restrictions. In a letter to competitors issued this morning, the 2020 cancellation stated that the decision…
Hong Kong’s Return To Racing Is A Confidence Boost For Irish Sailing Scene
20th March 2020 UK Sailmakers Ireland In light of the coronavirus situation effecting Ireland, Afloat.ie got in touch with Barry Hayes from UK Sailmakers Ireland, who has lived in three continents, to share his experience in Asia and what’s going on with Covid-19 in Hong Kong’s…
National Yacht Club Sun Fast 3600 'Hot Cookie' is Latest Round Ireland Yacht Race Entry
20th March 2020 National YC The latest entry into the SSE Renewables Round Ireland Race is Dublin Bay’s Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600, 'Hot Cookie'. As David O'Brien points out in this morning's Irish Times newspaper the race entry is building towards a record entry. The…
We hope you are all staying safe and healthy. In these difficult and unprecedented times, cancellations, postponements and disruption are all taking their toll. Irish Sailing, however, are starting to look ahead at what we can plan and put in…
Public demand for canned rather than fresh fish during the Covid-19 crisis and restrictions on Irish seafood exports are contributing to a looming storm in the fishing sector, an Irish industry leader has warned writes Lorna Siggins Fishing representatives are due…
The International Olympic Committee has confirmed that it continues to plan for the Olympic Games to take place in Tokyo in July this year, and that the qualification process for sports will be restructured over the coming weeks to reflect…
The Royal Irish Yacht Club will be launching boats in less than a fortnight for the summer sailing season at Dun Laoghaire on Dublin Bay. Details of the annual lift-in are contained in a bulletin to members that sets out…
In line with the UK Government's latest advice, and the Royal Yachting Association's (RYA) announcement to suspend events in light of Coronavirus (COVID-19), The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) has taken the decision to cancel the Easter Challenge which was…
Fishing Fleets Urged To Stay In Port This Weekend As Industry Threatened By Restaurant Closures
19th March 2020 Fishing Fishermen based on the South and West Coasts have been advised to pause fishing from this weekend until measures are put in place to protect the industry, after its main market collapsed due to European lockdowns against Covid-19. RTÉ News…
