Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

#Biodiversity - Climate change is putting increasing pressure on natural habitats for Irish wildlife, particularly where biodiversity is affected by human action. That's the conclusion of the first National Biodiversity Indicators report, which sought to measure changes affecting marine wildlife…

#StormEva - A Status Orange gale warning is in effect for all Irish coastal waters as the fifth winter storm of the season moves in from the Atlantic today (Wednesday 23 December). Storm Eva will see south to southwest gales…

The 628 nautical mile Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is the most challenging offshore race in the world and is affectionately known among the sailing fraternity as ‘The Great Race’. With the current forecasted weather conditions, the 2015 edition promises…

The 2016 Irish Sailing Annual published this week at €6.50 includes a sailing season review, a preview of an action packed 2016 including an ISA calendar of events plus a line up of Afloat's Sailors of the Year. Check out…

The world sailing organisation has changed its name – and about time too! The initials, ISAF, had to be explained in the English language as – International Sailing Federation. Having to explain an organisation’s name does it no favours. The…

There are two meanings of the word open when it comes to sailing writes Richard Aspland. You have 'open' which is both male and female in the same fleet racing against each other. Then you have the kind of open…

City of Edinburgh Council planning committee have granted planning consent to the revised masterplan for Edinburgh Marina. ­The 300 berth marina, residential, retail and spa hotel developmentwill be the focal point of Granton Harbour’s regeneration, just 2.5 miles from Edinburgh…

Cork Boat club in Blackrock Village, Cork has celebrated the completion of an 18-month programme of renovation of its clubhouse with a re-opening ceremony attended by club members and their families, as well as local public representatives. As Afloat.ie reported…

#Rescue - An elderly man with a suspected broken ankle was rescued from one of Northern Ireland's most popular coastal walks at the weekend, as the Belfast Telegraph reports. The injured man was on a part of the Causeway Coast…

#PortChristening - Arklow View a newbuild cargoship which was launched last week without official ceremony as previously explained on Afloat, will however be given the opportunity of a christening ceremony, writes Jehan Ashmore. Royal Bodewes, the Dutch shipyard in Hoogezand,…

#FishFarm - Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) has withdrawn the application for its controversial fish farm proposal for the Aran Islands ahead of new plans to limit the size of aquaculture projects. As the Irish Examiner reports, campaigners against the ambitious…

Five years ago the Olympic Finn class carried out a wide ranging survey of its top sailors to accumulate data regarding the weight, height and age of its sailors. A new survey published in October 2015 reveals that the trend…

#ThirdHybrid - The third of three cutting edge 'hybrid' ferries MV Catriona, was launched on the Clyde this month at Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd's (FMEL) shipyard in Port Glasgow. She is to serve the Scottish government-owned operator, CalMac. The unique…

Kilrush RNLI Lifeboat crew on the Shannon Estuary launched early this morning in gale force conditions to assist 43ft motor vessel that had fouled its propeller south of Moneypoint. At 4.59am Shannon Coast Guard tasked Kilrush RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew…

#FinalFestiveCall - Marco Polo, Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) classic cruiseship, it now transpires has become the latest and final caller to Cobh in 2015 on this day of the winter-solstice, writes Jehan Ashmore. It was in October, that Afloat.ie…

#TallShips - Dublin backed out of its bid to host the 2019 Tall Ships Races after Dublin City Council deemed the €3 million costs too high. As the Irish Independent reports, the council said in defending the decision that the…

#Oil&Gas - A drop in exploration costs alongside the fall in commodities prices is driving increased interest in Providence Resources' Barryroe prospect, as The Irish Times reports. "Work continues with a number of parties to progress the Barryroe farm out…

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has launched a summary report on the findings of fish stock surveys undertaken in all water bodies (lakes, rivers and transitional waters) during 2014. The report, ‘Sampling Fish for the Water Framework Directive’, also outlines the…

#Rowing: The Cork Sculling Ladder had a set of races on Sunday, December 20th at the Marina. In springlike conditions of showers and sunshine, water conditions were suprisingly good. Luke Guerin, who was late for his race with Conor Twohig,…

#DriftingCargoship – A drifting cargoship on the way from Rotterdam to Ireland has been rescued off Plymouth by the RNLI, coastguard and a Dutch tug. The Plymouth Herald writes that the 130m ship suffered engine failure and began dragging anchor…