Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

#loophead – Figures released today show that over 19,000 people (14,101 adults, 5,082 children) visited Loop Head Lighthouse during the six-month opening period up to Sunday, 29 September. Clare County Council, which manages the facility in conjunction with the Commissioners…

#sailorofthemonth – The adjudicators in the Afloat.ie "Sailor of the Month" award for September have been in the happy position of having a proliferation of major achievements to choose from, and they have the bonus of being able to draw…

#NEWCruiseBerths - Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, acting on behalf of the Dún Laoghaire Cruise Stakeholder Group, are to appoint a Multi-disciplinary Consultancy Team for the provision of cruiseship facilities. The proposed facilities are to attract cruisehips to make a port…

#generalisolo – With just 52 miles to go in an offshore single-handed race from Barcelona to Bealieu sur Mer, Ireland's David Kenefick is ninth and in stronger breeze than closely packed rivals in the Generali Solo race this morning. Racing…

#TrawlerDetained- Naval Service 'flagship' L.É. Eithne (P31)detained a French registered fishing trawler yesterday, approximately 150 nautical miles south off Mizen Head on the Cork coastline. The detention was in relation to an alleged technical breach of fishing regulations. The vessel…

#AnnaliseMurphy - While Laser Radial European champ Annalise Murphy prepares to take on many of her Olympic rivals at the Women's Laser Radial Worlds in China this week, fans can show their support for the woman who so narrowly missed…

#Diving - A giant glass-sided water tank will be a feature of the new diver training facility that's currently under construction at Webster's Lock in Carlow town, as the Carlow Nationalist reports. The new diving school on the River Barrow…

#greystonesharbourmarina – As a glorious first summer season comes to an end for Greystones Harbour marina in County Wicklow, the brand new east coast harbour is looking back on some memorable times including a first keelboat regatta for the Wicklow…

#NEWchairperson – Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company has a new chairperson, Eithne Scott Lennon, CEO of the Fitzpatrick's Killiney Castle Hotel, who becomes the first female to take this board position. As Business & Leadership reports, Scott Lennon has been an…

#VOR - After last week's long-awaited debut on the water of the new one-design VOR 65 that will make up the fleet in the next edition of the Volvo Ocean Race, Boatyard manager and Team Sanya veteran Nick Bice talks…

#NYC - Here's something a little different from the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire: an evening of jazz in the company of Carmel McCreagh and her band on Thursday 17 October. Described as having a "mellow and velvety" voice,…

#DublinPortCENTRE – Open House Dublin (4-6 October) is to feature the Port Centre, the headquarters of Dublin Port Company which is among 100 buildings celebrating opening its doors to the public next weekend. The Port Centre designed by Architects Niall…

#P&Oexpress- P&O Ferries seasonal-only operated Larne-Troon route is scheduled to cease next Monday (7 October) bringing a close to this year's Northern Ireland-Scotland route, writes Jehan Ashmore. The route operated by the InCAT 91m fast-craft P&O Express completes the crossing…

The September series of racing concluded at Foynes Yacht Club on Sunday last writes Gerry Ryan. The south-easterly wind with 15 knots of breeze ensured that superb racing took place east of Foynes Island. The Officer of the Day, vice commodore,…

#flycasting – The story of one a former World Champion from Limerick will be celebrated in a new festival In Castleconnell, details of which were announced today. The John Enright Castleconnell Flycasting Festival will attract dozens of competitors from all…

#RNLI - Lough Swilly RNLI in Co Donegal launched its lifeboats three times in the last week to three separate incidents. The first was on Tuesday last (24 September) when the station’s volunteer crew was requested to launch its inshore…

In China, Laser Radial European Champion Annalise Murphy from the National Yacht Club is preparing for the Women's Laser Radial World Championships starting in Rizhao City tomorrow and finishing next Monday.  It's an important regatta where she will meet China's…

#rcyc – Cork photographer Suzanne Ravenhill captured this amazing incident from Cobh waterfront yesterday when CH Marine Autumn League competitors Manzantina (IRL 2076) with blue and white spinnaker and Chancer (IRL 1583) met in the first race of the Royal…

#rcyc – Scroll down for more photos from the lens of Bob Bateman from yesterday's first race of the CH Marine sponsored Autumn league at Royal Cork Yacht Club in Cork Harbour.

#matchrace – Team Ireland with skipper Philip Bendon are the new Match Race Youth European Championship for 2013. Bendon's three man crew on Lake Constance yesterday included cousin James Bendon from Cork, Christopher Tiernan and Bruno Van Dyke. The Irish…