Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

#QEaircraftcarriers - On Armistice Day the massive hull of the Royal Navy's newbuild 65,000 tonnes aircraft-carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, was finally completed with the 'ski-ramp' slotted into place at Rosyth Dockyard, writes Jehan Ashmore. The facility on the Forth of…

#watersafety – Thirty-seven rescuers from twenty-two dramatic near-death incidents will receive recognition at Irish Water Safety's National Awards Ceremony at City Hall on Tuesday 19th November 2014, from 3pm to 5pm. Thirty-six lives were saved from drowning through the brave…

#NewTUGS - The tug Masterman was named at a ceremony in Belfast Port last week, the event marks the second tug for SMS Towage Ltd which launched a new towage service in early October, writes Jehan Ashmore. The entry of…

#lasersailing – The return of Brazilian sailing legend Robert Scheidt to Laser competition after nine years in the Star class has raised the stakes among the 2016 Olympic Games contenders at the Laser Standard Men's World Championships 2013 starting in…

#flares – US marine writer Joan Wenner saw Afloat.ie's story on the RYA's position on distress flares. Flares have outlived their usefulness in an age of modern water safety technology, says theRoyal Yachting Association - which is urging British authorities to drop the requirement for flares…

#squib – The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) has cancelled a licence for the building of the Squib keelboat in the UK, according to a report on its website, leaving the class – that has a strong following in Ireland –…

#rorc – The Royal Ocean Racing Club based in London is world renowned for the organisation and support of the most prestigious offshore yacht races around the world, including its signature events the Rolex Fastnet Race, the Antigua based RORC…

The Flying Fifteen Association of Ireland has published its calendar of championship fixtures for 2014. Provisional dates are as follows: 17/18 May Northern Championships – Cushendall SC 14/15 June Southern Championships – Carlingford YC 22-24 Aug Championship of Ireland – Portaferry…

Courrier Vintage, MC34 Patton, co-owned by Sam Marsaudon and long time RORC member and supporter Géry Trentesaux is the RORC Yacht of the Year. The IRC Overall prize has gone to Piet Vroon's Ker 46, Tonnerre de Breskens 3 With the Rolex Middle…

Minister for Natural Resources, Fergus O'Dowd, today announced the timing and outline of the next Atlantic Margin Oil and Gas Exploration Licensing Round. The full detail of the Round will be announced after a review of oil and gas fiscal…

#fireball – Twelve Fireballs, up 50% from last week's entry, were part of a record 78-boat fleet for the 2nd round of the 2013/14 Frostbite Series in Dun Laoghaire. An e-mailed survey during the week canvassed opinion from the entrants…

#welshircnationals – At their annual meeting on 12th September, the GBR IRC Committee approved the IRC GBR Regional Championships for 2014 to be held in Pwllheli.The date proposed for the Championships is to coincide with the Pwllheli Regatta between 1st…

#isora – 2014's proposed ISORA offshore racing programme on the Irish Sea (scroll down this page to download the proposed programme) has some innovative new races attached including a new isle of man fixture plus a brand new Welsh IRC…

#optimist – The Optimist class is seeking three sailing coaches for international duty next season. Applications are sought for coaching IODAI Optimist Teams at International Events in 20141) Europeans 12-20th July 2014 (Dublin: Royal St George Yacht Club)2) The international development…

#Last night's Heineken Super League Prize Giving 2013 was yet another splendid evening enjoyed by a capacity attendance at the Royal Cork Yacht Club writes Claire Bateman.. It promised to be a night of good food, and bonhomie with the climax…

#RNLI - Clifden RNLI officially named its new Atlantic 85 lifeboat, Joyce King, at its station in the Connemara coastal town of Clifden in a special ceremony yesterday (Saturday 9 November). John Coyle, chairman of the Irish council of the…

#sturgeon –  Another rare sturgeon, this time the type which produces caviar for posh dinner tables, has been caught in the UK. The mystery is where they are coming from. Anglers and commercial fishermen throughout the UK have been alerted…

#NeptuneHead: The fastest crew home at the Neptune Head of the River at Blessington Lakes today was the UCD men’s senior eight, but a four made up of two pairs in the Ireland training system were  third, nine seconds behind…

#NewFERRY - As previously reported, Irish Ferries announcement to boost capacity with a third vessel on the core Dublin-Holyhead increases the competitive stakes with rivals Stena Line in the run up to the festive period, writes Jehan Ashmore. The chartering…

#Birkenhead – Busier times lay ahead for Birkenhead Twelve Quays Terminal next week when Stena Line introduce a third ship on the route to Belfast while today the Isle of Man Steam Packet resumed a winter service, writes Jehan Ashmore.…