Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine

As if written into the script, the final race was the one that mattered when it came to who would take the PRADA America’s Cup World Series Auckland trophy. With Emirates Team New Zealand and American Magic on even points,…

A “giant-size” towel collage has been spread out at Blackrock’s Seapoint shoreline in Dublin Bay on Saturday to highlight the need for action over Dublin Bay water quality. Open water swimmers suspended hostilities over whether dry robes or towels were…
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Christmas is coming and MGM Boats at Dun Laoghaire Harbour is taking the opportunity to present the latest Zodiac RIB, the 'Medline 6.8 m' in detail. As regular Afloat readers will know, the first pictures of the new marque appeared…

In normal times, the yearly Irish sailing fixtures list is a reasonably harmonious programme based around annual or biennial pillar events of various types and sizes, an ongoing succession of regattas and championships which slot together in a reasonably meaningful…

Waterways Ireland to Commence Ulster Canal €6m Programme Following Shared Ireland Fund Announcement
18th December 2020 Inland Waterways
Waterways Ireland has welcomed the significant funding announcement today by Minister Daragh O'Brien TD and Minister of State Noonan TD from the #Shared Island Fund to support the implementation of Phase 2 of the work on the Ulster Canal. Phase…

Marine Institute Director Elected Chair of JPI Oceans Management Board
18th December 2020 Marine Science
Dr Niall McDonough, Director of Policy Innovation and Research Support Services at the Marine Institute, was recently elected Chair of the JPI Oceans Management Board. JPI Oceans is an intergovernmental platform that works to increase the alignment and impact of…

Swimmer Dies After Getting into Difficulty at Hawk Cliff on Killiney Bay
18th December 2020 Dublin Bay
A swimmer has died after getting into difficulty as Hawk Cliff in Dalkey in Killney Bay yesterday. The accident happened after the Irish Coast Guard based in Dun Laoghaire Harbour received a call about a swimmer in difficulty. Emergency services…

People are being asked to forego the annual Christmas Day swim at the Forty Foot in Sandycove on Dublin bay due to concerns over large groups of people gathering for the annual tradition. Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, gardaí, and…

Billed as the world’s first electric hydrofoil speedboat, the Candela Seven has been brought to market by Swedish startup, Candela Speed Boat. Propelled by the Torqeedo Deep Blue 50i, the boat cruises above the water, its weight rested on two…

Deal or No Deal As Border Checks in EU Ports Starting from 1 January 2021
18th December 2020 Ports & Shipping
Businesses that conduct trade between the EU and the UK will from 1 January 2021 need to deal with border controls, thereby ensuring they submit the right formalities and information to border authorities in order to gain clearance for their…

Fear from Hauliers of Full Direct Ferries to EU if Brexit Checks Block UK routes
18th December 2020 Ferry
Insufficient ferry capacity may pose an issue, reports The Irish Times, on direct routes to mainland Europe if the key “landbridge” route through Britain becomes congested after Brexit, the haulage industry has warned. Irish Road Haulage Association president Eugene Drennan…

Plans are in place for the Naval Service to acquire two new ships for post-Brexit fishery protection patrols in the Irish Sea next year. They will be smaller than the 90m-long fishery offshore patrol vessels (OPV) vessels currently being used as…

As Brexit negotiations continue over fisheries, comments made by former taoiseach Bertie Ahern on the issue have angered a leading Irish fishing industry spokesman Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO) chief executive Sean O’Donoghue said he had contacted Minister for Marine Charlie…

The 2020 RORC Yacht of the Year, winning the Somerset Memorial Trophy is the British JPK 10.10 Jangada, owned by Richard Palmer. Racing with Jeremy Waitt as crew, Jangada was the overall winner of the RORC Transatlantic Race and winner…

Problems Continue for UK Team INEOS at the America's Cup World Series in Auckland
18th December 2020 America's Cup
Four match races have been held on the second day of the Amercia's Cup World Series in Auckland on racecourse C, the preferred playing field as it brings the racing right into the heart of the Waitematā Harbour, with a shifty…

There has been a mixed Irish reaction to this year’s EU fish council, after a three-month “rollover” of catch allocations was agreed to facilitate ongoing Brexit negotiations. EU ministers agreed to allocate total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas based on…

Dear Reader, At the end of another busy year at Afloat.ie in 2020, we want to express our thanks for your continued support. Because of the generous backing from you and our other supporters, Afloat.ie is looking at another record…

A car was moments away from plunging into the sea after it edged over the side of the pier at Portrush on the North Coast on Tuesday morning at about 9.30 am. The car moved forward from the council car…
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Quantum Fusion M6 & M8; Carbon Membrane Sails for Cruising Owners Who Also Like to Race
17th December 2020 Quantum Sails
A number of Irish owners have recently opted for the New Fusion M6 and M8 Membrane sails, built with Carbon. The first of these for an X332 has arrived at the Quantum Sails Galway loft. Another Main and Headsail is…

Dunmore East Lifeboat Volunteer Receives Community Volunteer Award
17th December 2020 RNLI Lifeboats
Dunmore East RNLI volunteer lifeboat crewman Paul Sheehan was recently recognised for a community volunteer award by his employer after being nominated by his co-workers. Paul is a general operative with Bausch and Lomb in Waterford, which recently held an…