Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine

Monkstown Bay Sailing Club's Resurgence in Cork Harbour: Podcast with Commodore Sandy Rimmington
9th December 2020 Cork Harbour
Despite the impact of the pandemic Monkstown Bay Sailing Club in Cork Harbour has had a resurgence of numbers in dinghy league racing. So outgoing Commodore Ciaran McSweeney told club members as he completed his two-year term in office. New…

UHL Future, the first of two heavy lift vessels has loaded four of eight RTG cranes in the Port of Cork for discharge in Berbera, Somaliland. As Afloat reported earlier, the heavy-lift operations have been ongoing at Cork Dockyard in Cork Harbour this week.…

The Irish Defence Forces say they will be conducting a military exercise in the Poolbeg area of Dublin Docks tomorrow morning between 6 & 9.00 am The exercise aims to test junior leaders in a Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT)…

Stena Line says while today’s news on the Withdrawal Agreement is positive, the ferry company hopes it helps ease the way to agreeing on a Trade Deal. Clarity on Northern Ireland is only one part of Brexit and there remain…

In 1896 a yacht club was founded on Lough Boderg which lies between counties Roscommon and Leitrim. The club thrived until 1929 when the profile of Irish society was changing from a landlord controlled society to a more democratic society.…

Sailing, Rowing & Canoeing all Make Board of Olympic Federation of Ireland
8th December 2020 Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing
Aquatic sports of sailing, canoeing and rowing are all now on the board of the Olympic Federation of Ireland after today's EGM. The elections and the EGM took place online due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, with voting delegates from…

Loved Ones of RNLI Lifeboat Volunteers Appeal for Vital Support This Christmas
8th December 2020 RNLI Lifeboats
The families of RNLI lifeboat volunteers have joined an all-Ireland appeal for support after the charity’s usual Christmas fundraisers were cancelled. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the charity that saves lives at sea launched its 2020 Christmas appeal as so…

An agreement between the EU and UK has been reached in principle on how to implement the most contentious issues around the Northern Ireland Protocol. The agreement as RTE reports, was announced in a joint statement by European Commission Vice-President…

The Ninth Edition of the Vendée Globe Race Returns Some Exceptional Numbers
8th December 2020 Vendee Globe
One month ago today, Sunday November 8th, 33 solo racers, 27 men and 6 women, took the start of the ninth Vendée Globe amidst an unprecedented health crisis. Today December 8th presents the ideal opportunity to take stock. After 30…

A number of military officers and academics say Ireland must invest in its air, sea and cybersecurity to fend off threats from hostile states, such as Russia. As the Irish Examiner reports, security experts point to incursions into Irish airspace…

Outgoing Dublin Bay Sailing Club Commodore Jonathan Nicholson handed over the tiller to Ruffian 23 helmswoman Ann Kirwan by Zoom last night at DBSC's virtual AGM. Kirwan takes over the role for the next two years, becoming the second only female…

Shannon Estuary Has Potential to Become Global Hub for Floating Offshore Wind Generation
8th December 2020 Shannon Estuary
The Shannon Estuary has the potential to become a global hub for floating offshore wind according to a major new study. If such a project were to be progressed, writes the Limerick Leader, it could attract up to 12 billion…

According to RTE News, it is expected the analysis will cover contingency planning for both a trade agreement being reached between the EU and UK, as well as a no-deal scenario. Mr Coveney said the stakes are really high and…

Top Figaro Skipper Tom Dolan Gives Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Double-Handed Class the Thumbs up
8th December 2020 Volvo Regatta
Top Irish Figaro skipper Tom Dolan has given a thumbs up to Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta's addition of a double-handed class into next July's event. "Yes, it's great to see and about bloody time!" Dolan says about the new racing…

Offshore Mixed & Double Handed Sailing is Exciting Addition to Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2021
8th December 2020 Mixed Offshore Keelboat
An exciting addition to Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta is its offshore double-handed and mixed keelboat component to the July 2021 event. Offshore Mixed Doubles is the fastest-growing segment of offshore sailing that is also set to become an Olympic sport…

Southern Ocean Bears Its Teeth as Dalin, Ruyant Race Clear to Big Vendee Globe Lead
7th December 2020 Vendee Globe
(Day 29 - 550 miles north of the Kerguelen Islands) Britain’s Pip Hare should cross the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope early tomorrow, her first of the Vendée Globe’s three Great Capes. Lying in 20th place, she is…

Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat Decision for Paris 2024 Deferred Until May 2021 by IOC
7th December 2020 Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing
The decision on the Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat Event for the Paris 2024 Olympics has been deferred until the end of May 2021 by the International Olympic Committee. The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Executive Board says it would like to…

TechWorks Marine has scheduled the deployment of a wave buoy off the coast of Wicklow on Tuesday 8 December, weather allowing. The buoy will be a yellow DB 500 and have a flashing light sequence of five flashes every 20…

Traditional Ketch Ilen Sails Back on to Dublin Bay for Sailing into Wellness Programme
7th December 2020 Ilen
The unmistakable sight of the traditional ketch Ilen as she crosses Dublin Bay today (Monday, December 7th). The restored vessel is on a 'Sailing into Wellness' programme on the capitals' waters this week, working with organisations Coolmine, Tiglin and @tolkariver The…

Global circumnavigator Bill King of Oranmore Castle in Galway had lived to be 102 when he died – still very fit – in 2012. Yet he’d led such an extraordinary life of adventure and danger ashore and afloat and under…