Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Help us decide... As in previous years, Afloat magazine is asking the public to help decide who should be crowned Ireland's Sailor of the Year for 2012. The overall national award will be presented to the person who, in the…

This week in THIS ISLAND NATION .... recession affects sailing ... when is it safe for ships to leave port ... an Irish refuge for skates... offshore exploration to increase and new protection for whales ... RECESSION AFFECTING SAILING As…

#FERRY FOCUS – Two Rosslare Europort ferries, past and present are profiled in the latest issue of Ships Monthly. Normandy having served a near decade long career with Irish Ferries and Celtic Horizon as previously reported on Afloat.ie which has…

#Coastguard - The Irish Times reports that the Irish Coast Guard saved 161 lives since January this year. It was also the busiest year on record or the coastguard search and rescue service, with 1,963 call-outs in the past 12…

#PORTS & SHIPPING REVIEW - Over the last fortnight of 2012, Jehan Ashmore has reported from the shipping scene where a £1m restoration grant is to be spent on the WWI battlecruiser HMS Caroline. The festive season saw the return…

#FERRY DISRUPTION – Due to adverse weather conditions at sea, 'all' of Irish Ferries fast-craft sailings on the Dublin-Holyhead route operated by the Jonathan Swift are cancelled for tomorrow (Sunday 30 December). Passenger booked on the cancelled 'Swift' fast-craft sailings…

#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notices from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advise seafarers and vessel owners of revised medical and energy efficiency certificates that come into force this coming Tuesday 1 January 2013. Marine Notice No…

#Angling - The Atlantic Salmon Trust will team with IBIS (Integrated Aquatic Resources Management Between Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland) to host a major conference at the Marriott Hotel in Glasgow on 27-28 November 2013. Leading speakers will be invited to…

#Angling - Anglers on the River Feale in Kerry and Limerick have been assured by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) that it supports their concerns over the proposed deep-sea fish farm in Galway Bay, as the Limerick Leader reports. Local anglers…

#HenriLloyd - Henri Strzelecki, founder of the marine clothing brand Henri Lloyd, has died aged 87, The Scotsman reports. The Polish-born entrepreneur, who passed away peacefully on 26 December, helped to revolutionise sports clothing in his partnership with Angus Lloyd…

#Honours - British Olympic sailing hero Ben Ainslie has finished out his record-breaking year with a knighthood in the New Year Honours list. The most decorated Olympic sailor of all time claimed his fourth straight gold – and fifth Olympic…

#sailorofthemonth – As we look back over the extraordinary mixture of memories stirred up by the Irish sailing season of 2012, one exceptionally good deed stands out in a sometimes slightly wicked world. Questions were asked about some major events…

#sydneyhobart – Wild Oats is currently sweeping the board in the Sydney-Hobart race taking line honours for a record sixth time and setting a new record (by 16 minutes) and also leads on corrected time with Loki (now finished )…

#ISLE OF MAN FERRY – This weekend will see the final round-trip of seasonal Douglas-Dublin sailings operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. The ro-pax ferry Ben-My-Chree is scheduled to depart Douglas tomorrow evening at 19.30hrs with an…

#Weather - The Irish Coast Guard has warned the public to stay away from coastal areas today (Friday 28 December) as high winds are expected to reach speeds of as much as 140km per hour in some exposed areas. It…

#Sydney Hobart update – Irish interest is strongly on the front of the fleet in the 68th Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, with Bob Oatley's 100ft Wild Oats – navigated by Australian-Irish Adrienne Cahalan – comfortably on course for line honours,…

#FERRY NEWS – Planning applications for a proposed ferry service across Carlingford Lough, are expected to be submitted by a promoter within the first three months of 2013. Privately backed Carlingford Ferries is proposing to provide a service across the…

#sydneyhobart – The 68th Rolex Sydney Hobart got underway in exceptional conditions with Irish interest carried by Howth sailor Gordon Maguire. The forecast southerly breeze providing the perfect angle for a spinnaker start and run down the harbour. The angle…

#Weather - After a relative lull for Christmas Day, Met Éireann warns that the high winds that swept across Ireland at the weekend will make their return today (26 December). A small craft warning has been issued with west to…

#Kitesurfing - “There’s loads of special places in the world, but none of them are Achill,” says kitesurfing instructor Francois Colussi. “There’s something magical here.” And if this article from TNT Magazine is anything to go by, you'll be sure…