Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

#BoatTheft - An email alert system is among the tools being used by a new cross-agency initiative to fight back against boat thefts in West Cork, as the Irish Examiner reports. Mizen Coastal Watch – which comprises members of Cork…

#MarineScience - An international team of scientists led by Prof Andy Wheeler of University College Cork have discovered a new habitat for coral in Irish waters – possibly doubling the amount of cold water corals previously thought to exist in the area…

#DredgingWaterford – Dredging maintenance operations are underway on Waterford Estuary as Causeway is kept busy to ensure shipping lanes are of the required depth, writes Jehan Ashmore. The Irish Dredging Company Ltd which is an agent for Dutch based global…

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, has secured Government approval for the Harbours Bill 2015. The purpose of the Bill is to provide the necessary legal basis to allow for the later transfer by Ministerial Order of…

#vor – Irish global boating shoe manufacturer Dubarry has congratulated to Ian Walker and Cork bowman Justin Slattery and the crew of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing on their victory in the Volvo Ocean Race yesterday. As Afloat reported previously, the…

#holyisland – Clare County Council has confirmed it is seeking tenders from professional experts to produce an implementation strategy for visitor management and sustainable tourism development on Holy Island. Earlier this month, the Local Authority acquired 41 acres on the…

#dublinport – Dublin Port Company today announced that it will pay a dividend of €8.8 million to the State for the 2014 financial year. The payment represents 30% of the port's distributable profits for 2014. Since 2007 Dublin Port Company…

#NewEUmigrantMission - L.É. Eithne has rescued a further 519 migrants yesterday, as part of the coordinated response to the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean which was welcomed by Minister for Defence, Mr. Simon Coveney, T.D. The Minister commented "L.É. Eithne…

#FerryTT2016 – According to the Isle of Man Steam Packet, the P&O Express fast craft will not be joining the island operators fleet during the 2016 TT Races. The fastcraft P&O Express has been a regular in Manx waters for…

#dragonsailing –After a weekend of intense Dragon keelboat action on Dublin Bay, Class Captain Conor Grimley writes that after eight decades in the making, the Dragon class is breathing new fire into the Irish sailing scene – and it’s much more accessible…

#vor – Team Alvimedica's skipper Charlie Enright won the final offshore battle of the Volvo Ocean Race, but the overall trophy belonged firmly with his rival from Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, Ian Walker with Cork's Justin Slatter onboard. The Turkish/American…

#sailability – On the 26th June four sailing cruisers from Lough Foyle will set off from Greencastle in Donegal on a round trip passage of Ireland stopping at each Sailability Club around the coastline of Ireland. This is to promote…

#FirstMaritimeWinners - Ireland's maritime and marine sector were recognised at the inaugural Maritime Industry Awards held last week. The awards took place in Dublin at the Ballsbridge Hotel last Thursday and were hosted by Colm O'Regan of 'Irish Mammies' fame.…

#sigma33 – The Dublin Bay Sigma 33 fleet held their inaugural race to Greystones last Saturday for the "Night Cap Trophy". A fleet of six boats competed. The race was from Dublin Bay to the Mouldich and then to the…

#gp14 – Always be apprehensive of a GP14 venue described as picturesque... Lough Erne was described as the most picturesque venue one would ever sail and it definitely delivered on that promise. I got to see every nook and cranny of the beautiful…

#rorc – 108 yachts crossed the start line for the 2015 Morgan Cup Race, the seventh race of the Royal Ocean Racing Club's season points championship writes race reporter Louay Habib. Although the race started at 7pm on Friday evening,…

#CoastalNotes - Doolin expects to double the number of visitors on its ferry route to the Aran Islands after the opening of its new €6m pier last week. As the Irish Examiner reports, it's envisaged up to 200,000 people will…

#WaterSafety - RNLI lifeguards commenced full-time summer patrol on 10 beaches in Northern Ireland at the weekend. Following weeks of intensive training in preparation for the new season, the lifeguards will be keeping visitors safe on seven beaches along the…

#CoastalNotes - 'Poor' water quality off Youghal have seen the Cork town's beach subject to bathing advisories for the remainder of the summer season, as the Irish Examiner reports. Stricter EU regulations on bathing water quality have prompted Cork County…

#isora – The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) in London and Dublin's headquartered Irish Sea Offshore Racing Association (ISORA) have joined forces to offer a unique offshore offering to Irish Sea sailors in July.  ISORA boats can look forward to…