Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

#MerseyFerry- Royal Daffodil, as previously reported on Afloat.ie, is due to be withdrawn from the Mersey Ferries fleet. She is to lay-up at the Duke Street Basin in Birkenhead, from the end of the month on shore power, following dry…

#VG2012 - As another yacht retires from the Vendee Globe from a keel failure - as happened earlier this week to Jean-Pierre Dick's Vorbac-Paprec 3 - Elaine Bunting asks on her Yachting World blog what can be done to work…

#Clipper - A serving member of An Garda Síochána has launched his bid to compete in the next edition of the Clipper Round-The-World Yacht Race. Conor O'Byrne, who describes himself as "a keen sailor" with a "burning desire of sailing…

#Surfing - Some of the world’s best big wave surfers were last week hurriedly making their way to Ireland to compete in the third annual Billabong Tow-In Session at Mullaghmore in Co Sligo. Event organisers gave the amber light for…

#PortofCork- A total 9.05 million tonnes was recorded in trade traffic at the end of 2012, according to the Port of Cork Company. This is an increase of 2% compared to 2011 figures and it is the first time traffic…

#OpenHydro- A French naval defence and energy-company, DCNS, has agreed a €130 million investment in OpenHydro, an Irish hydro-power firm. The Paris-based giant, which among its activiities includes building submarines, yesterday outlined its expansion plans for OpenHydro, a tech company…

#kinsale – The seasonal sharp drop in temperature heralded the opening day of the 2013 ASM-Marine Frostbite League at Kinsale Yacht Club on Sunday. The long established winter league, offering early competitive racing opens the KYC sailing season and continues…

#vg12 – Despite losing his keel with 2,000 miles to the finish line in Les Sables d'Olonne, Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac-Paprec 3) has not abandoned and is working out what to do next. "The competitor and the sailor do not agree,"…

#FerryPort – Work has begun on a major upgrade of the Scottish ferryport of Cairnryan, on Loch Ryan, according to The Irish News. The renovation of part of the P&O Ferries division-owed port comes after rival Stena Line invested millions…

#Jobs - The Marine Institute is seeking applicants for the position of Director of Marine Environment & Food Safety Services. The director will lead an experienced team responsible for the delivery of a number of critical functions in support of…

#RNLI - Lifeboats in Northern Ireland launched 255 times to a variety of call-outs in 2012 in a year that saw the institution's lifeboats and lifeguards answer 413 calls for help. RNLI search and rescue operations saw 236 people brought…

#VOR - Brazil will now have two stops on the route for the 12th edition of the Volvo Ocean Race as Itajaí joins the previously announced Recife on the list of host ports. Itajaí, in the state of Santa Catarina,…

#RugbyFerry – Special sporting offers from Stena Line are available for those heading off to the RBS Rugby Six Nations Ireland v Wales game in the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on 2 February. For motorists, there is a lead-in fare from…

#vg2102 – With a third place finish in the Vendée Globe apparently almost guaranteed, Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac-Paprec 3) heard his dream break with an abrupt bang before midnight on Monday night as Virbac Paprec 3 lost her keel with just…

#rnli – Dun Laoghaire RNLI brought the highest number of people to safety with 76 individuals rescued by their volunteer lifeboat crews during 46 callouts in 2012. RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager for Dun Laoghaire Stephen Wynne commented:  "The two RNLI…

#RNLI - Irish lifeboats from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) launched 939 times in 2012, bringing 1,041 people to safety. The figures are being released by the charity following returns of service from all 44 lifeboat stations in Ireland.…

#InlandWaterways - Major renovations of Ringsend Basin at the city terminus of the Grand Canal have commenced, with Waterways Ireland advising all masters and users that works are expected to continue until mid May. Diving operations commenced on 14 January…

#RYANI - Newtownards Sailing Club will be hosting this year’s Royal Yachting Association Northern Ireland (RYANI) Instructor and Coach Conference. The conference on Saturday 16 February is aimed at RTC principals, RYA instructors and Volvo Champion Club coaches and co-ordinators.…

#MarineWildlife - The video below from the Guardian captures the moment when a brave Welsh tourist wrestled a shark away from a beach crowded with children in Australia. As BBC News reports, 62-year-old Paul Marshallsea took charge of the situation…

#Kitesurfing - Another video for this chilly day, this time of professional kitesurfer Ruben Lenten as he takes it to the extreme in Ireland and the Netherlands. The footage on YouTube shows the Red Bull team member getting some big…