Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine

The America's Cup and Quietly Accepting Ireland’s Sensible Place in the Sailing World
4th February 2023 W M Nixon
Be careful what you wish for - it might just come to happen. This was the feeling that emerged in much of the rest of Ireland’s sailing community a year or so back, when “America’s Cup Venue Mania” was taking…

Credit to GUYOT environnement - Team Europe who have regained the lead on the race tracker as well as their position as the most southerly boat in the IMOCA fleet on Leg 2 of The Ocean Race 2022-23. In a…

First Foreign Naval Ship to Visit Ireland this Year takes Place During New St. Brigid's Day Bank Holiday Weekend
3rd February 2023 Naval Visits
HMS Brocklesby became the first foreign naval ship to visit Ireland this year with an arrival in Dublin Port this morning, writes Jehan Ashmore. The visit of the UK Royal Navy minehunter in the Irish capital also takes place during…

Department of Transport to Commence Recruitment for Senior Maritime and Irish Coast Guard Positions
3rd February 2023 Coastguard
The Department of Transport is expanding its dedicated staff in key areas of the maritime sector and across the Irish Coast Guard to address the ever-growing demands on its services. The Coast Guard comprises almost 100 full-time staff, who are…
Promoted

Ireland’s marine footprint extends to more than ten times its land mass and the marine sector plays a central role in Ireland’s economic and social development. An opportunity now exists for a talented individual to play the lead role in…
Promoted

The Irish Coast Guard (IRCG), a Division of the Department of Transport, and has responsibility for critical incidents response to maritime emergencies and the Director of IRCG has a key role in ensuring effective and efficient service delivery on behalf…
Promoted

The Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) is 201 years old and we are now looking for an exceptional individual committed to ensuring that the search and rescue services provided across the State continue to be the best that they can be…

Undaunted after being forced out of the Golden Globe Race at Cape Town in November, Pat Lawless is going to try again to sail solo, non-stop around the world. This time he will enter the Global Solo Challenge Race, with…

September's Irish Cruiser Racer National Championships (ICRA) at Howth Yacht Club will move forward one week due to low spring tides. The 2023 Championships will now take place in the north Dublin port from 8th to 10th September 2023. "Due to tidal…

The Ocean Race: Leg 2 Leaders GUYOT environnement - Team Europe Hit Light Patch With Easterly Routing
2nd February 2023 Ocean Race
One day can make a big difference in The Ocean Race. In fact, just a few hours can turn what had been a winning hand into something doubtful. That’s been the case for GUYOT environnement - Team Europe, who gambled…

CalMac Redeploy Ferries Across Under Pressure Network as Two Ships Are Sidelined
2nd February 2023 Ferry
CalMac, the Scottish government owned ferry company have been forced to redeploy ferries elsewhere on the network to cope with two of their 14 ships being sidelined to passengers. The affected ferries is the 38-year-old MV Hebridean Isles along with the…

Formal Signing at Harland and Wolff Shipyard for £800m UK Naval Shipbuilding Subcontract
2nd February 2023 Shipyards
Shipyard group Harland & Wolff has formally signed a sub-contract with Navantia, the Spanish state-owned shipbuilder which is to deliver three Fleet Solid Support (FSS) naval ships to the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MOD). Harland & Wolff said the FSS…

Seatruck Ferries Cease Passenger Motorist Services Across Irish Sea Freight Routes
2nd February 2023 Ports & Shipping
Seatruck Ferries which last year was acquired by Compagnie Luxembourgouise de Navigation (CLdN) has recently announced in ceasing bookings for car based passengers and motorhome customers on their Irish Sea freight routes, writes Jehan Ashmore. Over the years, Seatruck Ferries…

Sailing Instructions Issue for DBSC Spring Chicken Series This Sunday on Dublin Bay
2nd February 2023 DBSC
This Sunday's AIB-sponsored DBSC Spring Chicken Series from Dun Laoghaire Harbour will take place at the National Yacht Club. From February 5 to March 12 (first gun 10:10), six races will be run using a progressive handicap on a case-by-case basis…

Restoration is the theme of a Coastwatch event to mark UN World Wetlands Day today in Co Wexford. The one-day event will include a keynote address by Tobias Salathe of the Ramsar Convention European office in Geneva, Switzerland. Ireland currently…

The Port of Cork company has ordered a new pilot vessel from boat builders, Safehaven Marine based in Youghal. The new vessel is expected to be delivered in March 2024, and will be both designed and manufactured in Co Cork…

Flying Fifteen sailor John MacAree was part of a major fundraising effort in aid of Wicklow RNLI by the members of Swim Smooth Ireland, who presented a cheque for more than €10,000 at the weekend. The swimming club’s big charity…

Skerries Lifeboat Rescues Two Men on Fishing Boat After Breakdown at Rockabill Lighthouse
2nd February 2023 RNLI Lifeboats
Skerries RNLI towed a razor-clam fishing boat with two men on board to safety on Tuesday afternoon (31 January) after they suffered mechanical failure near Rockabill lighthouse. The volunteers in Skerries launched the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Louis Simson shortly…

Works Begin on €30m Deep-Water Quay Development in Ros an Mhíl Fishery Harbour Centre
2nd February 2023 Fishing
Deep-water quay works have begun this week at Ros an Mhíl Fishery Harbour Centre in Co Galway, just weeks after the contractor was announced for the €30 million project. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the new Ros an Mhíl development…

Anthony O’Leary of Crosshaven is “Sailor of the Month” for January
1st February 2023 Sailor of the Month
It says everything about Anthony O’Leary’s long and successful involvement with sailing to affirm that he puts even more back into the sport than he takes from it. Already a well-established national and international winner when he became the youngest-ever…