Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
#dAmicoEcoShips - Dublin based d’Amico International Shipping S.A. (DIS) announced the recent launch of two eco-ships at the shipyards of Hyundai Vinashin Shipyard Co. Ltd in Vietnam, bringing the fleet to a record number of over 50 units. The operator…
Phil Hagen has been appointed Regatta Director of Cowes Week. Phil takes the reins from Stuart Quarrie, who retired following this year's regatta in August. Phil is no stranger to Cowes Week, having started as a course setter 11 years ago.…
I was doing the RTE television commentary at the start of the 2005 Tall Ships Races from Waterford. Three Irish tall ships led the international fleet ASGARD II, JEANIE JOHNSTON and DUNBRODY, with the State’s vessel, ASGARD, accorded the honour…
Two Dublin University Sailing teams are competing in this week's 35th edition of the Student Yachting World Cup (SYWoC) that began in France today. Both Dublin University (Trinity) and UCD Sailing Clubs return to France for the highlight of the Student sailing…
‘No Passport Required’ As Fred.Olsen Cruises Round UK and to Irish Ports
13th October 2015 Cruise Liners
#NoPassportCruise - Boudicca, one of Fred. Olsen Lines quartet of cruiseships is currently on a ‘No Passport Required’ circumnavigation of the UK having departed Newcastle almost a week ago, writes Jehan Ashmore. The aim of the ‘Myths & Legends of…
#NavalBudget - An allocation of €904m in Defence funding for 2016 was announced by Minister Coveney today. The increased allocation for 2016 represents a new very significant commitment to Defence and will allow Defence to deliver on the commitments outlined…
#NMCIopenDay - The National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) is set to open it’s doors to the public for the annual College Open Day on October 22nd. The college located at Ringaskiddy in lower Cork Harbour will be open between…
Greystones Marina Fuel Berths (Petrol & Diesel) Ready for 2016 Season
13th October 2015 Greystones Harbour
Greystones Harbour Master Alan Corr has revealed the latest plans at Ireland's newest coastal marina facility are to include both diesel and petrol pontoons at the 200–berth marina, bringing much needed waterside fuel supplies to the Wicklow coast. 'We are in…
The 2015 edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race, organised by the Royal Malta Yacht Club, will start this Saturday, 17th October, in Grand Harbour, Malta. For the second year in succession, well over 100 yachts will be competing, flying…
HRH The Duke of Kent Opens RNLI’s First Permanent Inland Lifeboat Station at Carrybridge
13th October 2015 RNLI Lifeboats
HRH The Duke of Kent officially opened the RNLI’s first permanent inland lifeboat station at Carrybridge this afternoon. The lifeboat station has been fully operational on Upper Lough Erne in County Fermanagh since March this year. Officially declaring the lifeboat…
Sunday afternoon saw the second race of the Lisglass Builders Icebreakers Series with a wide range of dinghies across all classes. The Topper class is still depleted with squad training going on elsewhere but it was good to see Freya…
A bit more breeze on Sunday morning on Belfast Lough encouraged Autumn Series Race Officer Aidan Pounder to give the fleets a longer course than has been experienced in the previous lighter weekends. Racing got away promptly and immediately there…
The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) and Rolex has announced five male and five female nominees for the 2015 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards, half of those shortlisted are British. Set to be held on Tuesday, 10 November…
#PolarLectures - The Nautical Institute Ireland Branch and the Irish Institute of Master Mariners are pleased to present a lecture by: Captain David (Duke) Snider FNI FRGS on The Polar Code and Ice Navigation. The lectures take place this month…
#AranIslands - The Irish spoken on two of the Aran Islands may have branched out quite recently from that spoken in Connemara, according to the results of a 25-year study of the language. Galway Bay FM reports on the intensive…
#Rowing: Ronan Byrne of Shandon Boat Club and Margaret Cremin of Lee Rowing Club lead the Cork Sculling Ladder. The two leaders both placed well in the single sculls tests at the Ireland trial at the National Rowing Centre on Sunday.…
# Rowing: Leonora Kennedy and Barbara O’Brien won the women’s pair final at the Ireland trial at the National Rowing Centre, beating the combination of Monika Dukarska and Aifric Keogh. Michael Maher, a former lightweight international, competed in the heavyweight…
16–year–old Howth Yacht Club sailor Aoife Hopkins will compete in an Irish Radial Olympic trial for Rio against Annalise Murphy and potentially several other female sailors who have yet to declare. The Radial trial devised by the ISA consists of three…
#DoverFreightRecord - A record volume of freight has been carried between Dover and Calais by operator P&O Ferries in the third quarter of the year. According to Lloyds Loading List, the ferry company transported 367,000 units of freight across the…
Five out of five races have been sailed for Autumn League competitors in the MSL Park Motors Mercedes Benz Autumn League at Howth Yacht Club. With all races now completed by the competing classes, hopes are high that this year's event…