Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

#Kayaking - Last April Afloat.ie highlighted two intrepid Irish adventurers on the first leg of a gruelling 16,000-mile charity trek across Asia - by foot, bike, raft and kayak - along the Silk Roads to Shanghai. But as the New…

#fireball – Twelve Fireballs initiated the second half of the 42nd Frostbite Series hosted and organised by Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club yesterday, 6th January 2013 writes Cormac Bradley. Sailed under grey skies that eventually gave way to some weak…

gp14 – East Down Yacht Club has announced that they will be hosting the GP 14 World Championship in August 2014. This will probably be the largest ever dinghy sailing championship to be held on Strangford Lough. It is anticipated…

#oyster – Dun Laoghaire sailing school instructor Paul Adamson is on board with Eddie Jordan of Formula One fame, on the Oyster 885, Lush for the first ever Oyster World Rally.  After two years of planning, the rally started with…

#GALWAY CRUISECALLS –The World, the exclusive ultra-luxury residential passenger ship is to open the 2013 cruise season to Galway Harbour when she is to make a two-night visit during July, writes Jehan Ashmore. In addition three cruiseships are also to…

#flyingfifteen – The Irish Flying fifteen keelboat class has published its championship schedule for 2013 as follows. Two events will be held in Northern waters and two in the republic, one in Dun Laoghaire and the Irish championships in August…

#islandnation– This week in THIS ISLAND NATION .... Can politicians be trusted to imposed compulsory boat registration? Preserving fishing tradition... Restricting access to the wheelhouse ... A 27-year wait ends at Glandore and much more ..... BOAT REGISTRATION There are…

#TOWAGE – The tug Ocean Bank that righted the capsized US entrant Rambler 100 following the Rolex Fastnet Race 2011, arrived in Dublin Bay recently with a barge under tow, writes Jehan Ashmore. The Rambler 100 had overturned in force-five…

#Diving - The Dive Ireland expo heads to Athlone in 2013 with a full weekend of speakers, exhibits and workshops for divers and snorkelers of all levels. This year's hosts at the Athlone Sub Aqua Club have announced details of…

#Angling - The Minister of State for Natural Resources has said the unchanged cost of fishing licences this year should encourage angling tourism in Ireland. Commenting Thursday on his approval of the new regulations and by-laws for Ireland's wild salmon…

#MarineScience - With world hunger set to be a hot button issue at the G8 summit in Northern Ireland this summer, the Guardian reports on one possible solution to the problem of food scarcity in the developing world in the…

#GalwayBay - Funding issues have resulted in the cancellation of what would have been the third annual Ironman 70.3 triathlon in Galway later this year, as the Galway City Tribune reports. Organisers have expressed their sorrow at having to call…

#Oyster - A fleet of 27 yachts from North America, South Africa and Western Europe - including Ireland - will take part in the 2013 Oyster World Rally, which sets off from Antigua in the West Indies tomorrow (6 January).…

#DunLaoghaire - The Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company has issued a tender for a design team to draft a vision for the proposed 'Marina Village Project' in the port town. The Marina Village development is on the site of the former…

#americascup – The America's Cup is a sacred monster, hellbent on devouring its own followers. That is part of its awful fascination. You play with fire if you get involved with this "greatest" of sailing's sporting challenges. Either you succeed…

#FERRY NEWS- This morning Irish Ferries Dublin-Holyhead route cruiseferry Ulysses departed for Birkenhead, on the Mersey, for annual maintenance at the Cammell Laird dry-docks facility, writes Jehan Ashmore. In place of Ulysses, the Isle of Inishmore has taken up her…

#DublinBay - A report in this morning's Irish Times says many thousands of tonnes of tunnelling waste could be dumped in Dublin Bay, prompting environmental concerns. According to the newspaper, Dublin City Council has published notice of a licence application…

#Coastguard - The Irish Coast Guard has had a busy first few days of the New Year with a number of incidents around the country, including a dramatic search and rescue incident in Donegal. Carlow man Cormac Nolan was rescued…

#Jobs - Howth Yacht Club is seeking to recruit a person for the position of Club Manager, a new position incorporating overall responsibility for the management of the club including administration, marine and hospitality. Responsibilities for the Club Manager will…

#Registration - Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar has surprised Ireland's sailing and boating community by announcing the passing of a Vessels Registration Bill as a priority for 2013. The proposed legislation is among five transport bills included in the minister's…