Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
#fireball – In what appears to have been a light wind conclusion to the Fireball worlds in Pattaya, Thailand, hosted by the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, two races have been sailed to close out the ten-race series writes Cormac Bradley. A…
Naval Service Newbuild OPV L.E. Samuel Beckett Conducts Sea Trials in Bristol Channel
4th April 2014 Navy
#LESamuelBeckett – The Naval Service newest newbuild OPV L.E. Samuel Beckett (P61) this week has undergone her shipbuilders sea-trails in the Bristol Channel, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 1,900 tonnes OPV90 class 'enhanced Roisin class' which cost €49m was floated-out in…
#FerryBreakers – In 2011, Afloat.ie reported on a trio of Irish Sea Larne-Fleetwood (since closed) ro-ro freight vessels which Stena Line sold to Russian interests in the Black Sea and understood for use in the recently held Winter Olympics in…
#ArklowNewBULKER – Arklow Shipping Ltd's newest and largest bulk-carrier Arklow Spray is currently heading along the Western Scheldt leading to Antwerp, having departed Liverpool's Gladstone Dock lock mid-week, writes Jehan Ashmore. Arklow Spray which was berthed at Liverpool's Royal Seaforth…
#NewStenaRoute - Following the recent acquisition of Rosslare-Cherbourg ferry service from Celtic Link Ferries by Stena Line, the ferry company has started operating the service under its ownership from the start of April. The first round-trip sailing between Ireland and…
Three Wins for Annalise Murphy, James Espey Drops Back as Strong Winds Sweep Through ISAF World Cup
3rd April 2014 Olympic
#TrofeoSofia – Strong Spanish winds marked a return to form for Ireland's Annalise Murphy this afternoon with three straight wins in the silver fleet of the Laser Radial class at the Trofeo Princesa Sofia in Palma. The Laser European champion swept to three…
#PatrolBoats – Two Royal Navy P2000 'Archer' class inshore fast-patrol and training boats will have visited both Dublin Bay ports by the middle of next week, writes Jehan Ashmore. HMS Exploit (P127) which recently paid a visit to Dublin Port…
#CoastalNotes - An animal welfare officer has described as "planned and sinister" the dumping of a number of horse and cattle carcasses at the foot of the Baltard Cliffs in Doonbeg, Co Clare this week. As The Irish Times reports,…
#TrawlerFire - RTÉ News is reporting on a fire on a fishing trawler in Galway Harbour that's prompted the precautionary evacuation of buildings in the area. Though the fire has been put out by emergency services, there is some concern…
#Seafood - Marine Minister Simon Coveney has welcomed plans by the Killybegs Fishermen’s’ Organisation (KFO) and a Norwegian partner to build the largest marine food ingredients plant in the world in Killybegs, Co Donegal. The plant, due to become fully…
#DublinBay - Peggy Bawn Press publisher - and Afloat.ie Sailor of the Month for March 2012 - Hal Sisk will give a lecture tonight Thursday 3 April titled 'Dublin Bay, the Cradle of Yacht Racing' at the Poolbeg Yacht and…
#sb20 – Following the successful 90 boat fleet at the 2013 Audi SB20 World Championship at Hyeres, France last September and ahead of the 2014 World Championship at the Yacht Club Hercules in St. Petersburg, Russia this coming September, the SB20 fleet…
#boatinsurance - Visitors to the Craftinsure.ie website will notice a big difference following a major upgrade which went live on 1st. Apart from looking more up to date, the site, says Craftinsure's Rod Daniel is even easier to navigate and use.…
#sailorofthemonth – Simon Doran of Courtown SC sailed his fourth intervarsities for UCD in Wexford five weekends ago, and played a key role in bringing the Dublin College in as Irish Champions for 2014. The name Doran will not disappear from the UCDSC…
Sail On Board Classic Tallship Voyage to the Drogheda Maritime Festival 2014
2nd April 2014 Tall Ships
#SailBessie – A fantastic opportunity to sail on a voyage to Drogheda to coincide with the maritime festival, is to see the 1904 built West Country trading ketch, Bessie Ellen set forth from Scotland on 7 June, writes Jehan Ashmore.…
#TrofeoSofia – The harsh reality of the mid week split hit home this morning as the Trofeo Princesa Sophia fleet was separated into gold and silver fleets for the next stage of the regatta, the finals series. Only Ireland's James Espey still…
#LoughRee - Belfast's News Letter reports that the boat carrying three anglers that capsized in Lough Ree nearly two weeks ago has been recovered as the search continues for one of the party. Daryl Burke has not been seen since…
#Surfing - Do you know the best places to surf in Ireland? Perhaps you've read our many stories on the brave and bold waveriders at Mullaghmore Head. Or the dangerous surf at Lahinch in Co Clare that caused significant damage…
#InlandWaterways - Can you help pupils at Blackrock's International School Dublin identify the stream behind their building? The 9-to-12-year-olds in Miss Nelson's class have been researching the natural history of the neighbourhood surrounding their school in South Co Dublin, but…
#Liverpool2 – The Peel Ports group which operates the Port of Liverpool has dismissed claims of delays and budget overrun of the £300m Liverpool2 container terminal project is over budget and behind schedule. The scheme is to expand the Royal…