Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine

#CLIPPER – Clipper Ventures Plc announced at the London Boat Show today that it has signed a major sponsorship deal with Qingdao, host of the sailing events of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, to continue its participation in the Clipper…

#CLYDE – The first of the Clyde Cruising Club's Sailing Directions to be published under the Imray imprint is the 148 page Firth of Clyde book. The book is in fact the merger of Martin Lawrence's Yachtsman's Pilot series with…

#GENMAR – After delays due to bad weather, the operation to remove 54,304 tonnes of Vacuum Gas Oil from the merchant vessel Genmar Companion is expected commence imminently (6th January). Both ships are currently being manoeuvred together by tugs and…

#optimist – Impressed with the sailing success of 14-year-old Sophie Browne in New Zealand this week? Could you be the next to represent Ireland on the world stage? The Irish Optimist class is making every effort to bring on as…

#ISA – The Irish Sailing Association (ISA) is convening an extraordinary general meeting to propose a revised membership fee structure next month. The introduction of the 'joint membership scheme' in 1993 fundamentally changed the representative base of the Association and…

International Flavour Expected at 2012 Mitsubishi Youth Championships
5th January 2012 Youth Sailing
#YOUTH SAILING – 400 Irish youth sailors get the opportunity to fight for a place to represent Ireland at April's Misubishi Youth National championships on Dublin Bay. The massive junior event is a Test event for organisers of the ISAF…

#RESCUE - The Irish Times reports that an Air Corps maritime patrol aircraft joined a search and rescue mission to evacuate a fisherman off the West Cork coast today. The Casa CN 235 - one of two operated by the…

After a brilliant start the crew of Sara G has been finding the going much tougher as they attempt to set a new record for rowing across the Atlantic. Seasickness and difficult winds have not helped. The English station Heart…

#CORK HARBOUR - The Government has finally set a deadline for the clean-up of the toxic waste site on Haulbowline Island in Cork Harbour, under threat of massive fines from the European Commission. RTÉ News reports that a two-and-a-half year…

#CORK HARBOUR - Amateur birdwatchers in Cork were in a tizzy last week over the sighting of what appeared to be two penguins floating on an 'ice floe' near Crosshaven, the Cork Independent reports. The mystery was answered at 'press…

#FERRIES - As the adverse weather continues, ferry services across the Irish Sea remain affected, with several crossings cancelled, writes Jehan Ashmore. Irish Ferries 08.05hrs sailing this morning from Dublin to Holyhead operated by Isle of Inishmore, departed over three…

#SKIFF – ISAF has announced the venue and date for the equipment evaluation for the 2016 Olympic Women's Skiff and Mixed Multihull. The evaluation will be held from 17 to 25 March 2012 at Prince Felipe High Performance Sailing Centre,…

#WATERWAYSIRELAND – In its first notice to mariners of 2012 Waterways Ireland has published a list of the most important aspects of waterways regulations for boat owners. It includes the Registration of Vessels, Canal Permits, Events Held on the Waterways,…

#LASER – In one of the most competitive Howth Yacht Club Laser Frostbites in many years, Ronan Cull ended the first series as clear winner, discarding a second place in the 11-race programme. Conditions were very consistent throughout the series,…

#ISLANDS – A public meeting between the islanders of Cape Clear and the Cailín Óir Ferry Service will be held on Saturday 28th January, so to discuss proposed changes to the ferry schedule in 2012. The meeting is to be…

#SAR – Force 10 storm, zero visibility, 40ft waves, someone needs rescuing. It's time to go to work. Search and Rescue, the new blockbuster exhibition from National Maritime Museum Cornwall invites you to enter the world of the rescue services…

Port of Cork Schools Initiative Looks at Transport History of Cork Harbour
4th January 2012 Cork Harbour
#CORKHARBOUR – Calling all 5th Class Teachers! Win a Free Boat Trip around Cork Harbour for your class. The Port of Cork has launched their Schools Initiative for 2012 and is calling on all 5th class primary school teachers to…

#PORTS – The operator of Birkenhead Docks at Twelve Quays Terminal, says it is confident it will recover the business it lost when DFDS Seaways closed down ferry operations last year, according to a report in today's Liverpool Daily Post.…

#FIREBALL – Another two races, 5 & 6, were sailed in the Fireball Worlds in Mandurah today, with the end result that the order of the top five changed. The report on the Yachts and Yachting website describes the wind…

#VOLVOOCEANRACE – The Discover Ireland backed Team Sany entry in the Volvo Ocean Race has been busy discovering Madagascar over the past few weeks as they awaited new rigging for their stricken yacht that pulled into the port of Talanero…