Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

An international gathering at the Ilen School, Roxboro, Limerick of expert marine traditional riggers, sailmakers and classic boatbuilders, might induce one to speculate that a sailing ship is somewhere in Ireland nearing completion. And yes, this gathering of last Friday,…

#MaidenVoyage- Arklow Vale, the newest addition to Arklow Shipping's Dutch division has been handed over to her owners following builders sea trials, writes Jehan Ashmore. The newbuild departed Delfzijl on her maiden voyage to the inland port of Ghent in…

Forty-two rescuers from twenty-four dramatic near-death incidents will receive recognition at Irish Water Safety's National Annual Awards Ceremony at The Print Works Conference Centre, Dublin Castle tomorrow. Twenty-eight lives were saved from drowning through the brave actions of these rescuers.…

#RigContract -Harland and Wolff, Belfast has completed the dry docking and SPS Class Renewal Survey of the Byford Dolphin Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) during the summer. The offshore oil rig platform departed Belfast following a six-month dry docking in…

There was a packed clubhouse for the Pyewacket Trophy presentation and Junior Sailing Laying Up supper and prizegiving writes Claire Bateman The juniors were out in force for their Laying Up supper last Friday night,with over 80 young sailors and…

#RNLI - The crew of Clifden RNLI had an early start in dark and dangerous conditions yesterday morning (Sunday 15 November) when an emergency medical evacuation was required from Inishbofin. After a 5.43am pager alert, the volunteer lifeboat crew consisting…

A two day meeting of the ISAF Council followed by the Annual General Meeting drew the 2015 Annual Conference to a close in Sanya, China at the weekend. More than 500 delegates met on the Chinese island of Hainan from…

Yet again, the race management team of Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club were able to defy the weather forecast and get a race completed in the Frostbite Series in Dun Laoghaire harbour writes Cormac Bradley. From the middle of last…

Baltimore RNLI Tamar class Lifeboat Alan Massey launched last night to go to the assistance of a fishing vessel which ran aground in Glandore Harbour. The Lifeboat was tasked at 2125 and arrived in Glandore Harbour where the Union Hall…

Ireland’s 49erFX team of Andrea Brewster and Saskia Tidey will compete for a qualifying place at the next Olympics at the class world championships in Argentina this morning. As Afloat.ie previously reported, the Irish pair are seeking one of only…

#Rowing: Queen’s Univerity’s senior men’s eight, competing in the first of two races, were far and away the fastest crew at the Bann head of the river at Coleraine on Saturday. The host club’s own junior coxed four was the…

Three generations of the Goodbody family from the Royal Irish Yacht Club collected prizes at DBSC's annual prizegiving on Friday night. Tim Goodboby, was the winner of both Thursday and Saturday racing overall in the Sigma 33 class. Son Richard…

#Kish50HSSgone - An exhibition in Dun Laoghaire celebrating the Kish Lighthouse 50th anniversary on Dublin Bay is currently on display, however the Stena Line HSS service to Holyhead which was withdrawn only last year has been outlived by the iconic…

#ShippingReview – Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene where among the stories are outlined below. Irish Continental Group (ICG) has acquired four lo-lo containerships for €24.2 million. A large UK harbour tug firm, SMS…

Anyone with whatever you like in the way of a boat and a selection of sundry sails to power her along can have a season of pleasant memories - provided there’s a summer of reliably good weather. It takes an…

#Rowing: The School Indoor Rowing Blitz in Trinity College drew hundreds of competitors. Borris Vocational School from Carlow won the Girls under-15 section ahead of Gaelcholáiste Ceatharlach, and Limerick school Laurel Hill won the girls under-14 category. The top under-14…

#StarWars - Star Wars may be returning to Kerry for more filming in the New Year – this time on the mainland. According to RTÉ News, producers with Disney Lucasfilm have signed contracts with landowners at Ceann Sibéal on the…

#Fishing - Wildlife conservationists have called for an independent observer to be placed aboard a supertrawler previously banned from Australian waters that's returned to Ireland's fishing grounds. According to The Irish Times, the Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT) has urged Marine…

#BeckettRescues- Following yesterday's rescue by LÉ Samuel Beckett and in the transfer off 99 people to MSF Dignity 1 off Tripoli, Libra, the OPV was involved today in further humanitarian missions in the Mediterranean Sea. This brings to a total…

#RNLI - The Volunteer lifeboat crew at Portaferry RNLI launched yesterday (Thursday 12 November) to the aid of three men in kayaks on Strangford Lough. Portaferry's Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat launched at 12.38pm having received a launch request from the…