Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

#BelfastLough - Belfast's Window on Wildlife is the new name for the RSPB's nature reserve on Belfast Lough, which reopens tomorrow (Wednesday 18 February). As Birdwatch reports, the opening comes after an extensive refurbishment project that will allow visitors to…

#MarineWildlife - The mysteries of Ireland's humpback whales have got the 'TouchCast' treatment as part of RTÉ's new interactive storytelling format. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, scientists have recently tracked first the firm time ever whales travelling between popular spots…

#WaterfrontProperty - The Irish Examiner reports on a new arrival to the waterfront property market in Woodville House, a unique country home on the banks of the River Blackwater in Co Cork. With an asking price of €625,000, this five-bay…

#FoynesPort - Work on a major restructuring of Foynes Port, Co. Limerick according to RTE News involving the first element is to begin this month. The project is part of a €50 million investment in transforming the port into one…

#MarineScience - The Atlantic Ocean: Our Unknown Treasure was on the agenda at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in San Jose, California on Saturday 14 February. Marine Institute chief executive Dr Peter…

#FerryÉconomie - Brittany Ferries are to expand their fleet and offer more no-frills 'économie' UK sailings to Le Havre and Bilbao with the launch in May of chartered ro-pax Baie de Seine, writes Jehan Ashmore. Baie de Seine was the…

#teamrace – The Schull Alumni team showed themselves to be the 'in form' team, confirming their ITRA Irish team racing Champion status. The ISAF Team Racing World Championship is the ultimate test of the three boat versus three boat format.…

#matchrace – London Olympic sailor Scott Flanigan of Howth Yacht Club was sailing with the Great British Match Racing Team again at the weekend and won the Scarlino Grade 3 match race event, beating world number 17 Tomislav Basic in…

#rorc – An amazing fleet of yachts from around the globe, have come together for a spectacular Caribbean rendezvous and there are some key Irish crew involved writes Louay Habib. Fort Charlotte, Antigua will be the starting and finishing point for…

#waterquality – Inland Fisheries Ireland through the MulkearLIFE project has been awarded 'Most Significant Contribution to Water Quality' at the recent Local Authority Members Association (LAMA) Community and Council Awards 2015. The announcement took place at a ceremony last month at…

#hyc – Howth Yacht Club's Pat Murphy presents the life of Asgard, this famous yacht in Irish history from her launch in 1905 to her current conservation in Collins Barracks Museum and the 100th commemoration in 2014. The venue for…

#ShipsSwap – Stena Nordica is due to leave the Dublin-Holyhead route next month in a swap that sees replacement 'Superfast X' which as previously reported had served on the Straits of Dover, writes Jehan Ashmore. Stena Line are to transfer the outgoing 'Nordica'…

#A&Pfalmouth – Hoegh Osaka, the 51,770grt vehicle-carrier towed to Southampton following a deliberate grounding incident to save the vessel from sinking in the Solent last month, is undergoing repairs at A&P Falmouth, writes Jehan Ashmore. The stricken-ship which had listed…

#pyfleet – The PY fleet turned out in good numbers for yesterday's DMYC frostbite series and despite the weather had a great day's racing after all writes Hugh Sheehy. Cold water temperatures and winds gusting from 10 knots to 28…

#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI's all-weather lifeboat Annie Blaker launched just before 1pm yesterday (Sunday 15 February) to assist a fishing vessel with mechanical problems north of the harbour. The skipper of the fishing vessel, which was approaching Wicklow, made contact…

#SailingArabia – After 21 hours of racing, Ireland's top offshore sailor Damian Foxall on EFG Bank (Oman) has won the opening leg of the Tour of Arabia. Second was Royal Cork's David Kenefck as a driver/trimmer on Team Avera.  The wind increased to…

#kinsale – After last week's postponement, KInsale Yacht Club race organisers were delighted to get three races in today although only the Full Rig Lasers, Squibs and a solitary RS 400 braved the elements. Winds were Southerly veering to South…

#laser – The Howth Yacht Club Laser Frostbiters were treated to a fantastic two races this morning writes Daragh Sheridan. The race committee set a Windward / Leeward course for the first race of the day. A shift shortly before the…

#49erfx – Saskia Tidey and Andrea Brewster's Olympic skiff campaign has been boosted by support from Club commodore James Horan of the Royal Irish Yacht Club.  The RIYC duo are currently seeking Olympic selection in the 49er FX Skiff Class for…

#frostbites – Only five Fireballs sailed the single race in today's offering from the DMYC's Frostbite organisers. Messrs, McCartin, Butler, Rumball, Clancy, their respective crews and Louise McKenna and crew made up the starters writes Cormac Bradley.  The weather station…