Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Joan Mulloy, the first Irishwoman to take up the Figaro Solo challenge in France, has gained a couple of places racing Taste the Atlantic in the second day of Stage 2 to northwest Spain, after being delayed by a broken…

#NYC - The National Yacht Club’s end of summer season fun race takes place this Thursday evening 6 September. The race is open to all yachts and dinghies owned or helmed by a member of the NYC. Entries are free…

The term ‘vintage’ is rarely used in respect of racing dinghies, however, in 1920 the Olympic Federation were felt that a suitable dinghy should be used in addition to the 40m.2, 30m.2, 15m., 12m., 10m., 8m., 7m., and 6m. keelboat…

#INSS - Saturday sailing with the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School’s Junior Club is back this coming Saturday 8 September. Students from the summer courses and new sailors alike are invited to continue sailing throughout the school term. The…

#Ports&Shipping - Afloat has previously reported on Liebherr cranes from it Killarney plant installed at the UK North Sea Port of Hull from where further northward in Scotland at the Port of Grangemouth news of a new multimillion pound container crane…

The Hobblers Challenge Trophy went to St. Michael’s Men and the brand new Hobblers Challenge Ladies Trophy goes to St. Michael’s Ladies 1. The race commenced at 10:20 on 1 September 2018. St. Michael’s Men completed the race in 2…

#Ports&Shipping - Arklow Wave became the first of a quartet of new enlarged versions of ships to be launched at a German shipyard, writes Jehan Ashmore. Launching of Arklow Wave (no. 447) took place last Friday at Ferus Smit Leer…

#RNLI - While on exercise yesterday afternoon (Sunday 2 September), the volunteer crew Crosshaven RNLI overheard a radio transmission to the coastguard explaining that a 23ft angling boat was aground on Black Rock near Whitegate oil refinery in Cork Harbour. As…

A broken main halyard at the start delayed Joan Mulloy’s departure yesterday in Stage 2 of the Solitaire URGO Figaro 2018, but Ireland’s other entry Tom Dolan is snapping at the heels of the top ten in this Stage, which…

Conor Doyle's new XP 50 Freya that expected to make her racing debut at the ill-fated ICRA Nationals in Galway Bay last month, won her maiden race instead at her home port of Kinsale last week. Competing in Kinsale Yacht…

#FerryNews - In south Wales, the former leader of Pembrokeshire County Council has said Fishguard is losing out to Pembroke Dock because the A40 road to the port is so bad. As BBC News reports, Councillor John Davies wants the…

#CruiseLiners - A Windstar Cruises boutique style luxury ship docked in Dun Laoghaire Harbour yesterday, though only as the second of just three callers due this season, writes Jehan Ashmore. Star Breeze operating with a mere 212 guest capacity had…

#RNLI - Two RNLI lifeboats were launched on Friday (31 August) at the request of Belfast Coastguard to assist a pleasure fishing boat with four people onboard off Carrickfergus. Bangor RNLI was first to launch at 3.15pm to reports that a…

#LiffeySwim - RTÉ journalist Paul O’Flynn fulfilled his “lifelong dream” of winning the Liffey Swim men’s race in the event’s 99th running yesterday afternoon (Saturday 1 September). The Half Moon Swimming Club member finished with a time of around 43…

#Optimist - James Dwyer-Matthews was the best of the Irish after the qualifying stage of the Optimist Worlds drew to a close in Limassol on Friday (31 August). The Kinsale YC youth is 12th overall in the 260-boat fleet, thanks to strong…

A final race win for Royal St. George's Michael O'Connor, the 2017 SB20 Corinthian World Champion, allowed him to produce the goods again for Ireland, this time on home waters, by taking third overall at the SB20 European Championships 2018 sailed at…

After her overall success, after 15 races and three discards, in Dublin Bay Sailing Club's Thursday Series in the Cruiser 0 class, the National Yacht Club's Tsunami (Vincent Farrell) was in winning form again on Saturday taking IRC and ECHO honours. Meanwhile,…

Dublin Skiff sailors Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove have won the 49er Under–23 Junior World title in Marseille, France. In a final race climax, the Howth and Skerries pairing won the last race from a chasing pack in the 52-boat fleet. The…

A Belfast man sustained a serious lower arm injury this evening after being bitten by a Blue Shark whilst angling. Crosshaven RNLI Volunteers received the information at 6 pm this evening and launched immediately. The Deep Sea Angling boat “…

#VikingMarine - Getting ready for the Laser Masters on Dublin Bay next week from Friday 7-Saturday 15 September? Stay local with Dun Laoghaire’s leading chandlery Viking Marine, who can help with their selection of Windesign Laser products and wide range…