Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
#Rowing: Ireland’s Paul O’Donovan and Gary O’Donovan won their heat of the lightweight double sculls in dreadful conditions at the World Cup Regatta in Poznan, Poland. China would not yield easily, and while the Ireland crew took over in the…
Preserving traditional boats is very important, using them even more so and racing them a sight to behold writes Tom MacSweeney. All can be seen this weekend at Crosshaven in Cork Harbour where vintage boats of all types, shapes and…
#Rowing: Mark O’Donovan and Shane O’Driscoll won their test race of the lightweight pair at the World Cup Regatta in Poznan, Poland this morning. Britain tested them through three-quarters of the race, but held off when it was clear they…
D2D Afloat.ie Prediction: Rockabill VI Favourite But Chasing J/109 Mojito Will be Faster If Winds Lighten
16th June 2017 Dun Laoghaire Dingle
As the 2017 Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race enters its closing stages, Afloat.ie sticks its neck out and predicts how the race will pan out later today. Tide may yet play a big part in this race that looks set…
#Launch – Once again it was a Dutch yard that launched a cargoship for Arklow Shipping and that took place on this Bloomsday morning, writes Jehan Ashmore. Arklow Venture with yard no. 727 represents the seventh so far of 10…
#Rowing: Denise Walsh took a fine second place in her heat of the lightweight single sculls to qualify directly for the semi-finals of the World Cup Regatta in Poznan, Poland, today. Patricia Merz of Switzerland won, while the Skibbereen woman…
This morning Paul O’Higgin’s JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI has finally begun to see a more confortable gap between her overall lead position in the Volvo Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race 2017 and the chasing trio of J/109s Mojito (Peter Dunlop…
Ocean to City 'An Rás Mór' Results Are In For Cork Harbour Coastal Rowing Race
16th June 2017 Coastal Rowing
The River Lee was filled with colour, excitement and drama with over 30 different types of boats all competing in Ocean to City – An Rás Mór on Saturday 10 June. Ireland’s premier coastal rowing race had to make a…
BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Levante (M.Leahy/J.Power), 2. Extreme Reality (L Balfe), 3. Bluefin Two (M & B Bryson) BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Levante (M.Leahy/J.Power), 2. Levana (Jean Mitton), 3. After You Too (M Blaney) CRUISERS 1 - 1. Black Velvet…
“Anybody who finishes this race deserves a prize......” So said one battered yet usually successful old salt after retreating into Dunmore East writes W M Nixon. And for a while early this afternoon, retirals were coming so thick and fast…
#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI's all-weather lifeboat launched at 2.50pm yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 14 June) to assist the crew of a whelk fishing vessel off the Wicklow coast. The skipper contacted Wicklow Head Coast Guard by VHF radio for assistance after…
If you want to choose an especially rugged piece of water in which to make to windward into a southwesterly which is a solid Force 6-7 plus, then the southeast corner of Ireland would come up tops on all search…
D2D Fleet Slugging Along South Coast in Search of Speed & Sunshine
15th June 2017 Dun Laoghaire Dingle
A Force 5 to 6 breeze from west’sou’west, blowing straight out of a rain-free sky along Ireland’s south coast, can make the Fastnet Rock, not to mention Dingle, seem a very long way away when you’re somewhere out at sea…
Welsh J109 'Sgrech' is Latest of Six Yachts Out of Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race
15th June 2017 Dun Laoghaire Dingle
Welsh offshore champion yacht Sgrech skippered by Stephen Tudor is the lastest retiral from the Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race. The former ISORA champion retired last night just hours in to the race as a precautionary measure after discovering a 'hull…
#TallShips - This year’s Belfast Maritime Festival kicks off tomorrow (Friday 16 June) with a chance to climb aboard some of the visiting tall ship flotilla, as the Belfast Telegraph reports. The Phoenix, Earl of Pembroke and Kaskelot welcome visitors…
Fogerty Maintains Ostar Transatlantic Progress, Autopilot Malfunction is Main Concern
15th June 2017 Solo Sailing
Conor Fogerty is making great westerly progress this morning following a windshift last night in the closing stages of the OSTAR Transtlantic Race. The Howth Yacht Club sailor is vying for overall honours after a storm ravaged crossing. He has…
#Delays - The Scenic Carlingford Ferry, which was set to launch this month has stated that it is "looking like it could be another couple of weeks" before the car-ferry is ready to get underway. In the Dundalk Gazette, the Chief…
Rockabill VI Leads as Dingle Race Leaders Hard on the Wind After Tuskar
15th June 2017 Dun Laoghaire Dingle
Although a fairly consistent southwest breeze gave the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle race fleet a useful slant from Arklow southwards through the night, they’re currently rounding the Tuskar with the expectation of a dead beat most of the way to…
All Shipshape: HMS Caroline Greets Tourists Again After Major Refurbishment
15th June 2017 Historic Boats
#HMScaroline - An historic ship with a wartime past that is a modern day Belfast tourist attraction has had its future secured thanks to a major programme of innovative repairs, safety upgrades and improvements. As the Belfast Telegraph writes, HMS…
A Tall Ship For Ireland: Is There a Lack of Joined–Up Thinking in Sail Training?
15th June 2017 Island Nation
Hello and you’re welcome to my weekly podcast on Afloat, based on my This Island Nation radio programme. While debate continues – and so do efforts – to get another Tall Ship for Ireland – that would provide sail training…
