Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

#ATLANTIC SALMON - About 39% of salmon mortalities were attributable to the impact of sea lice on wild salmon fisheries, according to a new international study. The research, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, involved experts from Inland…

#LECTURE – Captain Bligh is the topic of the next lecture organised by the Dublin Bay Old Gaffers Association, held in the Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club, Dublin Port on 20 November. The illustrated talk (8pm) is to be presented…

#surfing – Surf regular on Afloat's homepage Al Mennie from Coleraine is back on the water again. Although from the angle we're watching this 50-foot waves does not look that impressive it's very clear from Mennie's reaction just how big…

#shipwrecks – In Dublin's Custom House today a stunning new book that showcases some of the more spectacular and important shipwrecks in Irish waters was unveiled. Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan, TD together with Fergus O'Dowd…

#xyachts – X-Yachts is inviting all owners to the 2013 X Yachts Gold Cup, in Copenhagen from July 17-20 The 2013 X-Yachts Gold Cup will be hosted by the KDY (Royal Danish Yacht Club). The Gold Cup was last sailed…

#marinescience – Dr. Peter Heffernan, CEO Marine Institute, has been appointed to the European Research and Innovation Area Board (ERIAB) by European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science Máire Geoghegan-Quinn. The 11 member board advises the Commissioner on issues relating…

#dbsc – The J109 yacht Joker II skippered by John Maybury from the Royal Irish Yacht Club leads the 70-boat fleet after two races of the Bay's Turkey shoot series. Full results for last Sunday's race of the DBSC event…

#MARINE NOTICE - The latest Marine Notice (No 61 of 2012) from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advises that J Murphy & Sons, on behalf of Dublin City Council, will construct a 600mm emergency overflow pipe from…

#WATERFRONT PROPERTY - Anyone thinking of retiring to the country life should be more than a little tempted by Poppy Lane, a residential farm on the southern shore of Galway Bay now on the market. Irish Independent Farming reports on…

#COASTGUARD - An MLA for East Londonderry has sought the support of Northern Ireland's Minister of State to protect the Irish Coast Guard station at Malin Head from closure. Inishowen News reports that the SDLP's John Dallat MLA contacted Mike…

#RNLI - Neville Murphy of Dunmore East lifeboat station has been named the RNLI's Photographer of the Year for 2012. The public came out in force on Facebook to vote for 'The Calm', his shot of heavy weather jackets hanging…

#dragon – The top Irish crews on the recently published Dragon ranking ladder will head for Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA), home of the sailing regattas of the 2012 Olympiad, for the 2013 Dragon World Championship from 5…

#j24 – Robin Eagleson of Lough Erne Yacht Club was elected World President of the International J/24 Class Association at the World Council Meeting held recently in Howth. His election represents a considerable honour for Ireland and Irish sailing, as…

#MUSIC AFLOAT – Garland are returning to the Jeanie Johnston to perform more of their wonderful work songs and shanties!...this coming Saturday 17th November (open from 7.15 for start at 8pm). Garland are a Dublin-based a capella group formed in…

#KERRY OIL - Oil exploration firm Petrel Resources has announced it has found as much as one billion barrels of oil off the coast of Co Kerry. The Irish Independent reports on the findings by the Dublin-based company which show…

#ISLAND NEWS - Cill Rónáin Harbour in the Aran Islands has been voted by the public as Best Engineering Project of the Year for 2012. Silicon Republic reports on the announcement, made at the third Engineers Ireland Excellence Awards last…

#figaro – A 21–year–old Cork sailor has launched a bid to compete in one of the world's toughest offshore challenges. David Kenefick will debut in an international fleet that sails to Ireland next year in the 44th edition of the…

#fishing – Sean Kelly MEP (Ireland South) has raised 'serious concerns' about the fishing practices of a number of vessels understood to be under the control of Dutch companies off the South West coast of Ireland. "Serious concerns have been…

#teamracing – Despite the news from the Dun Laoghaire ISAF conference last week that there will be no ISAF Team Racing Worlds in 2013, team racing in Ireland is still thriving, this country having hosted the last worlds in Schull…

#corkharbour – After two races of the Marshall Marine Textiles Winter League in Cork Harbour Diarmuid Foley in Anchor Challenge and Anthony O'Leary on Antix Beag are tied on ten points each writes Claire Bateman. Light winds prevailed for the…