Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
My Explorers Seashore Guide Work Book Published on International Biological Diversity Day
22nd May 2020 Marine Science Celebrating the United Nations International Day for biological diversity (22nd May), the Marine Institute's Explorers Education Programme has published My Explorers Seashore Guide Work Book with support from the National Biodiversity Data Centre's Explore Your Shore! project, to raise awareness…
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Quantum Sails Ireland is now 110% operational within COVID-19 guidelines and open for business for new sails, sail service and covers. Since mid-March, a lot has been going on behind closed doors with two new machines fitted and building work…
Howth Yacht Club to Test the Sailing Waters in Emerging From Covid-19 this Weekend
22nd May 2020 Coronavirus and Boating Howth Yacht Club will be testing sailing options this weekend within parameters outlined by Commodore Ian Byrne in a missive direct to members and on the club website, issued late Thursday night. After more than two months of total Covid-19…
'Top Secret Plan B' for Solo Sailor Tom Dolan if Figaro Race is Cancelled
22nd May 2020 Solo Sailing In the wake of the two-month lockdown from which it emerged on May 11th, France has reopened the coast and allowed all types of marine activities along the Atlantic. This is, of course, good news for Tom Dolan. The skipper…
US businessman Gregg Bemis, owner of the Lusitania which was torpedoed off Co Cork with the loss of 1,200 lives during the first World War, has died in New Mexico. Mr Bemis was due to mark his 92nd birthday next…
Despite a strong entry list from the United States and abroad including Ireland, and the exhaustive efforts of the New York Yacht Club along with the governing bodies for the ORC and IRC rating rules, the decision has been made…
'Lack of Advice' Poses Questions For Northern Ireland Sailing Clubs Over COVID-19
21st May 2020 Northern Ireland Waters The latest statement from the Royal Yachting Association Northern Ireland, the governing body for all water activities in Northern Ireland says “In the absence of any further guidance from Government Departments, our current interpretation is that this does permit all…
'Shaped By the Sea' Is Example of Northern Ireland's Literary Talent
21st May 2020 Northern Ireland Waters There is a hidden wealth of literary talent in the North which deserves greater exposure and the book Shaped by the Sea produced by a team of volunteers in the East Antrim area is an excellent example writes Betty Armstrong…
An Irish Coast Guard helicopter successfully completed a long range rescue operation off the south west coast to bring a sick seaman from a Norwegian naval ship to hospital in Cork. The Shannon based Irish Coast Guard Sikorski helicopter, Rescue…
West Cork's annual celebration of traditional boats has joined the ever-lengthening list of cancelled sailing events writes Tom MacSweeney The organisers of the Baltimore Wooden Boat Festival, scheduled for the end of this month, on the weekend of Friday, May…
Lessons from Strangford Lough: Whales, Wales, Sailing & Sustainability
21st May 2020 Marine Wildlife As sailors, if we want to preserve our playgrounds, or at least slow their destruction, we have to talk to others writes Strangford Lough's Robbie Gilmore While I was at school, I gave a speech about a voyage my Dad…
The Lough Erne branch of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI) welcomes the return to Lough Erne where boat owners with craft on the waterways can enjoy once more the beautiful scenery of this part of County Fermanagh, with…
Kinsale Yacht Club have today confirmed that the 2020 Dragon Gold Cup, due to be sailed from the 5 to 11 September, has been cancelled. “Clearly the global COVID-19 crisis has already impacted many events and our thoughts and prayers…
World Sailing has cancelled the 2020 Offshore World Championship, due to be held alongside October’s Rolex Middle Sea Race in Valletta, Malta, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The many uncertainties created by the COVID-19 pandemic have forced the…
Titanic’s Belfast & Dublin Links Remembered With Retrieval of Sunken Ship's Marconi Radio
20th May 2020 Northern Ireland Waters An ambitious project to retrieve the most famous marine radio in the world from 2.5 miles down in the Atlantic has finally secured legal approval. The saving of the Marconi radio which sent out the distress signals from the sinking…
Ireland Marine Sector Collaborates to Celebrate European Maritime Day Virtually
20th May 2020 Marine Science In recognition of European Maritime Day on 20th May and World Oceans Day on 8th June, the Marine Institute and partners will celebrate our seas, our world’s shared ocean and our connection to the sea through our Oceans of Learning…
Concern Lockdown Will Take Considerable Time to Unwind: Restart Sailing Survey
20th May 2020 Coronavirus and Boating The UK government’s easing of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions has brought relief to many aspects of life and, particularly certain sports. Sailing is one of those fortunate past-times that is now allowed in England, along with all other forms of watersports…
An investment of €525,000 is to be put into four piers and harbours in Co. Mayo. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed announced details of a €3.1m package to assist 10 coastal local authorities undertake and…
Irish Sea: No Customs Infrastructure Needed in North, Says UK Government Brexit Paper
20th May 2020 Ferry UK government rules out any new customs infrastructure at ports on either side of the Irish Sea to implement the post-Brexit Northern Ireland protocol. In a paper outlining how it will implement the protocol, which was agreed alongside the withdrawal…
Safehaven Marine has emerged from ‘lockdown’ with the launch of its new pilot boat for the Port of San Ciprian in Spain. The Cork-based performance boat specialists put production on pause at the end of March, following strict Government restrictions…
