Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
It may be just three miles long by one mile wide but there's heaps of maritime activity on Ireland’s southern most inhabited Gaeltacht island, Cape Clear. Removed from the hustle and bustle of mainland life, Cape Clear offers relaxation, nature…
#VOR - Experienced offshore sailor and Kerry’s own Damian Foxall will set sail again in the Volvo Ocean Race — this time with the former Team Vestas Wind. The five-race VOR veteran (who won with Groupama in the 2011-12 race)…
#tallships - The magnificent historic French tallship Belem dating to 1896 is to make a visit to Galway Port early next month and will be open to the public, writes Jehan Ashmore. 121 years ago the three-masted Belem was constructed…
The good news for West Cork boaters is that the €200,000 pontoons procured for Cape Clear island's North Harbour will be installed this Summer. And as our photo taken this week shows there's little doubt that they will be put…
#Windsurfing - Ireland’s windsurfing community will take over Downings in Co Donegal this coming weekend (22-23 July) for the 2017 Irish National Youth Championships. The Blue Flag beach in the Donegal Gaeltacht has hosted a windsurfing competition each July since…
The exotic if brief spell of summer as we all remember it from childhood may be drawing to a close writes W M Nixon. But while it was at its height, photographer Bob Bateman captured the mood in Cobh with…
We know that RIB crews and Instructors in our Junior Sailing Programmes are given the most rigorous training in safety writes W M Nixon. Yet over the years who hasn’t occasionally seen an outboard-driven RIB being treated as though it’s…
#RNLI - Newcastle RNLI was involved in a major air, sea and land search at Tyrella on the Co Down coast last night (Monday 17 July) after walkers reported seeing someone struggling in the sea. Newcastle RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Eliza…
#MarineWildlife - Once was exciting enough — but a Kerry trawler had landed a second giant squid in as many months, as RTÉ News reports. Local fisherman Pete Flannery landed what was the first giant squid recorded in Irish waters…
#CheekiRafiki - The director of the yachting company that operated the Cheeki Rafiki has been convicted of failing to ensure the vessel’s safety when it was lost in the Atlantic three years ago. James Male, Andrew Bridge, Steve Warren and…
When Gary MacMahon of Limerick brought the 57ft Conor O’Brien ketch Ilen back from the Falkland Islands in 1998, the 1927-built former inter-island trading and passenger transport vessel was in danger of becoming a ghost ship writes W M Nixon.…
The new Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mícheál Mac Donncha, today took to the waters of Dublin Bay to take part in the annual “Casting of the Spear” ceremony. The “Casting of the Spear” is a tradition dating back 529 years…
#Angling - Young people from Darndale and Whitechurch in Dublin were among the first groups to get out fishing as part of the Dublin Angling Initiative’s 2017 summer season. Sphere 17 Youth Services from Darndale in North Dublin took a…
A potent line–up of Irish offshore performers will be lining up for the record breaking Fastnet Race entry – the world's largest offshore race that starts in less than three weeks time. The 605nm race was full in under five…
#corkharbour- Following last year’s 75th anniversary of the Maine Maritime Academy, their flagship trainee schoolship returned to Cork Harbour as part of an annual cruise programme, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 12,000 gross tonnage TS State of Maine had sailed from…
#ferry - According to Manx Radio the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company says a rejection of its offer to continue providing sea services will result in the deal being withdrawn. It comes ahead of a Tynwald motion this week,…
#navalvisits - A pair of 25 knot fast patrol and training boats from the British Royal Navy will be making a two-day visit to Dublin Port, writes Jehan Ashmore. The ‘Archer’ class patrol boats HMS Dasher and HMS Express are…
After a fine display of Team Racing by the Irish Optimist Team in Thailand, Ireland had a spectacular win over France to finish ninth overall in the Team Racing World Championships 2017. Things were looking good for Team Ireland when…
The Cruising Association of Ireland held its summer cruise to Belfast Lough in early July 2017. Fourteen boats comprising over forty sailors of varying ages gathered in Bangor Marina, County Down and were welcomed there by David Meeke and Betty…
The next wave of Irish Laser Olympic prospects were out in force at the Radial Youth Sailing European Championships from 6th–13th July in Gdynia Poland. Conditions were light for most of the event with strong winds on the last day. In the…
