Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

It’s the time of the year when anyone thinking of a brand new boat will be close to making a final selection in order to have the dreamship delivered comfortably on time for next season writes W M Nixon. But…

#OceanWarming - Warming oceans are not only throwing marine ecosystems into disarray, but are also encouraging the spread of water-borne bacteria and viruses around the world, a new study warns. The Irish Examiner reports on new findings from the International…

#Inishbofin - Archaeologists say a decorated stone found recently on Inishbofin was once part of a 'lost' castle stronghold of Connemara's 'pirate queen' Grace O'Malley, as The Irish Times reports. References to two castles held by the O'Malley clan on…

#RORC - Royal Cork Yacht Club is bidding to host the IRC European Championship once again in 2020 after a successful inaugural event during Volvo Cork Week this July. Royal Ocean Racing Club Commodore Michael Boyd made the announcement at…

Being a marine journalist brings the opportunity to meet interesting people in pleasant locations….So it was that I had coffee in the Dropping Well, a very pleasant bar and restaurant in a very nice location at Milltown in Dublin, which…

There was some more Aussie cheer, on Day Two of the Etchells World Championship. Irish born Noel 'Nitro' Drennan, has raced Etchells with Dennis Connor and John Bertrand, and his experience showed today, nailing the pin end of the start…

#Rowing: Limerick rower Ailish Sheehan (23) is in critical condition after a fall after she had competed at the World University Rowing Championships in Poznan, Poland.  Sheehan apparently fell on a footpath when celebrating taking a bronze medal while competing…

The One Ton Cup owned by the Cercle de la Voile de Paris and presented by Hamble Yacht Services is just a few days away. As Afloat.ie previously reported, the Cup is considered to be one of the most prestigious…

#ProposedTerminal - According to CruiseEurope authorities in Liverpool last month approved a £950,000 (€1.12m) feasibility study into a proposed new cruise terminal development. The west coast UK port has long held ambitions to expand its offer with the construction of…

#MCIB - Poor mooring configuration and adherence to safety procedures have been identified as main factors in the interim report on an incident involving a 'handy size' bulker at Greenore Port last year. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the MV Cielo…

One of last year’s most successful events was September’s Cruising Association of Ireland Rally in Dublin’s River Liffey writes W M Nixon. This involved the varied fleet – many of them much-travelled cruising boats – going in convoy through all…

#TitanicBelfast - Titanic Belfast is Europe's leading tourist attraction, after scooping a top gong at a major industry awards ceremony. Paying tribute to the ill-fated ocean liner RMS Titanic and its history in the city, the Belfast Lough visitor centre…

#MarineNotice - Site investigation works are being carried out at Dingle/An Daingean Fishery Harbour Centre in Co Kerry, according to the latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. The works involve the drilling of multiple boreholes…

#TallShipsRace - Bulker Arklow Meadow departed Aughinish, Shannon Estuary last week bound for the Port of Blyth, where the UK port was host to the North Sea Tall Ships Race, writes Jehan Ashmore. The Irish flagged Arklow Meadow had loaded…

Great entry of 25 Lasers, average turnout around 15, two shortish races every Tuesday night for 5 months with only 2 cancellations. Great DBSC race management with good courses in gorgeous Scotsman’s Bay or inside our historic old harbour when…

Prizes in 14 divisions plus were presented at Dublin Bay Sailing Club's (DBSC) MGM Cruiser Challenge on Sunday after two days of competition at the annual end–of–season regatta hosted this year by the Royal St. George Yacht Club.  Race results…

The 2016 Etchells World Championship started in earnest today, with two intensely competitive races in the Central Solent. It took four attempts to get the fleet away for Race One and the U-Flag start produced several casualties, including reigning Etchells…

Dragons from the Dun Laoghaire, Kinsale and UK fleets joined the large Glandore Harbour Yacht Club fleet for the Irish South Coast Championships last weekend. Racing began on Friday in a fresh 15–knot breeze when International Race Officer, Alan Crosbie,…

The annual Rush Regatta took place this weekend at Rush Sailing Club with 2 races planned for both Saturday the 3rd and Sunday the 4th of September. A very wet and windy Saturday morning saw 14 boats entered, busy rigging…

A world-beating performance in the Rio Olympics, with a Silver Medal convincingly taken in the final excruciatingly tense double-scoring Medals Race, has elevated the National YC’s Annalise Murphy to global sailing superstardom. The final two countdown months to this great…