Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

#VOLVO OCEAN RACE - Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing's challenge was nearly scuppered at the outset when their yacht suffered a broken mast just hours into the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race yesterday. http://www.afloat.ie/sail/events/volvo-ocean-race/ The accident occurred 30 nautical…

Leander’s elite quadruple scull were the fastest crew at the Fours Head of the River in London. The elite quadruple from Queen’s University started 22nd and finished 27th, while the men’s elite coxed four finished 147th and the women’s  elite…

A composite senior eight of University of Limerick, Catleconnell and Garda were the fastest crew at the Neptune Head of the River, held in splendid conditions at Blessington Lakes. UCD’s senior eight, who were missing some of their Championship-winning crew,…

#AQUATIC TOURISM - Water-based activities from kayaking to surfing to diving have a "huge potential" for Irish tourism. http://www.afloat.ie/resources/business/aquatic-tourism That was the message from Fáilte Ireland's Outdoor Adventure and Activity Forum in Westport, Co Mayo this week, The Irish Times…

#INLAND WATERWAYS - Sluice gates have been opened at locks and dams along the River Shannon due to flooding concerns, The Irish Times reports. http://www.afloat.ie/inland/inland-waterways/ The ESB confirmed that water levels in the upper Shannon had been rising significantly since…

#MARINE WILDLIFE - Colonies of the invasive Japanese sea squirt are posing a threat to mussels and scallops in north Wales - and Irish boats are to blame, according to the Daily Post. http://www.afloat.ie/port-news/marine-wildlife/ http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2011/11/04/plan-to-eliminate-invasive-sea-creature-on-anglesey-55578-29717149/ The sea creature - which…

#VOLVO OCEAN RACE – As the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012 kicks off tomorrow (5 November) from Alicante in Spain, Minister for Agriculture, Marine and Food Simon Coveney TD joined Tourism Ireland today, at a reception for key Spanish and international…

#SAILING SCHOOL – Tralee Bay Sailing School was one of the 15 winners, out of over 600 applicants, in the Island of Ireland 'Coca-Cola 125 Years Thank You Fund' awards. Tralee Bay Sailing School has been awarded €5,000 euro to…

#SAILOR OF THE MONTH – George Kenefick of Crosshaven is the Afloat.ie/Irish Independent Sailor of the Month for October after rounding out an already successful season with an inspired performance in the Student Worlds in France. The 23-year-old helmsman won…

#LIFEBOATS – The RNLI in Ireland is to trial an inshore lifeboat on one of the biggest loughs on the River Shannon. At a recent meeting of the RNLI Board of Trustees the decision was taken to place an inshore…

#NEWS UPDATE - The Irish Times reports that rescue teams searching for a Finnish student who fell off a cliff on Achill Island have found a body. http://www.afloat.ie/resources/news-update/ http://afloat.ie/safety/rescue/ http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/1104/breaking22.html The 22-year-old student was thought to be visiting the area…

#ROWING – Irishmen have played a big part in the revival of Atlantic rowing in recent years, and Dubliner Aodhan Kelly will step up the mark in January. The 26-year-old is part of a six-man team which hopes to break…

#LEGENDS REGATTA –This week's 16-boat 'legend' fleet racing in Alicante is a far throw from the six-pro teams waiting for this weekend's VOR start proper but everyone in the Spanish port knows that it is the cross-section of old ketches…

#SB3 – Following the distribution of the 'Clyde SB3 Class Proposal' in September an information and social evening was held on 27th October at The Lansdowne Bar & Kicthen in Glasgow's West End. Despite some last minute cancellations 25 people…

Waterways Ireland wishes to advise all masters and users of the Grand Canal at Sallins that dredging will commence on Monday 7th November for approx. two weeks. Dredging will commence on the north bank west of town bridge for approx.…

Paris-based photographer Gilles Perrin is exhibiting 'People of the Sea' which is a documentary of photographs taken of the Irish Fishing industry, which is currently running in Dublin's Alliance Française Cultural Centre on Kildare Street until 26th November, writes Jehan…

# CRUISE SHIPS - Dublin Port's 'draft' masterplan which was unveiled to the public today, includes a proposal to develop the first dedicated cruise terminal in the capital port. A site at North Wall Quay Extension has been chosen to…

#DRAGON – Irish sailors will be vying for the prestigious Dragon Gold Cup from 8th-15th September 2012 when it is contested on Irish waters by Kinsale Yacht Club. Leading the Irish challenge will be Dun Laoghaire sailor Martin Byrne who…

#POWER FROM THE SEA - The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is teaming with IBM in a new project to assess the noise levels of wave energy devices off the Irish coast. http://www.afloat.ie/resources/business/power-from-the-sea The scheme will see an array…

#MARINE WILDLIFE - A rare leatherback turtle washed up in Cumbria could be a sign that the Irish Sea is hiding an unknown bounty of marine wildlife. http://afloat.ie/port-news/marine-wildlife/ The Cumbria Wildlife Trust told The Westmoreland Gazette that the find reinforces…