Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

There is no other event quite like the annual Afloat.ie Volvo Irish Sailing Awards writes W M Nixon. Ireland is small enough for most of the key people in sailing ashore and afloat to know each other personally. So it…

#SailorOfTheYear - Robert Dickson and Seán Waddilove have been named Afloat Irish Sailors of the Year for 2018 in recognition of their gold medal victory in the 49er U23 Junior World Championships, amid another landmark 12 months for inspiring performances in Irish sailing.…

#navy - Reserve personnel in the Defence Forces writes the Irish Examiner are being discriminated against because they are not getting the same pay and conditions as regulars in the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps. One extraordinary anomaly is…

Irish Sailing has named Volvo Ocean race veteran Damian Foxall as its sustainability ambassador. The national governing body for sailing in Ireland says the Kerry sailor — who served as sustainability manager for Vestas 11th Hour Racing in the most…

Ireland will host the 50th Figaro Race 6th/ 9th June next. Two Irish Skippers, Joan Mulloy and Tom Dolan will compete in the event that for the first time features a new foiler one-design boat. Full details were announced on Thursday…

#ferries - Operator, Irish Ferries is being accused of using foreign crews to pay below the minimum wage. According to BreakingNews.ie, SIPTU said the company's vessels it fly foreign flags and does not pay Irish minimum wage rates to foreign…

#Rowing: The Skibbereen and Lagan heads of the river have both been cancelled. Both were scheduled for Saturday. The Belfast Rowing Club event was cancelled late on Thursday night, while Skibbereen waited until Friday morning to make the call on…

Cove Sailing Club in Cork Harbour this year celebrates its 100th year anniversary and plans are in place to celebrate its history and further lay new roots to carry it on and grow for another 100 years writes Commodore Kieran…

These days we hear so much understandable negativity about the frightening lifespan of plastics that it’s like a breath of fresh air to hear more about someone who has put its longevity to good use writes W M Nixon. Deep…

In light of the severe Weather Warning issued by Met Éireann for Friday 8th February, the Coast Guard is calling on the general public and all Mariners to heed the warnings and take appropriate action. The Coast Guard is asking…

Yachts are marvels of engineering…. So I have been told – many times – at boat shows; by designers; builders; by sales staff; by sailors, amateur and professional; by proud owners….. Yachts are also nice to look at … I’ve…

Royal Cork Yacht Club and Baltimore Sailing Club's Robert and Peter O'Leary were bronze medalists at the first Star Junior World Champion Under 30 after a six-race regatta in the water of Biscayne Bay in Miami, Florida yesterday. “It’s been great…

Irish Sailing has been given an increase in its core funding from the government of €62k up from €323,000 in 2018 to €385,000 this year. Sport Ireland today announced an investment of nearly €32 million in National Governing Bodies for…

#FishKill - Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) prosecuted Irish Water yesterday (Tuesday 5 February) at Ballina District Court for the discharge of a harmful substance into the Ballycorrigan River on 17 May last year, causing a fish kill. Among the fish…

#lectures - As part of the Bullock Bicentenary, another lecture in the series about the small south Dublin Bay harbour is to be held next week in the Dalkey Castle and Heritage Centre. Organiser of the lectures, Bullock Harbour Preservation…

#Angling - Four new Irish record fish were caught by anglers last year, according to the just published Irish Specimen Fish Committee (ISFC) report for 2018. New records were set for four marine species: golden grey mullet, thin-lipped mullet, black…

#shipping - The newest merchant ship under the Irish flag arrived to Belfast Harbour on Wednesday, writes Jehan Ashmore Since delivery to owners Arklow Shipping Ltd in October 2018, Afloat has tracked the 16,500dwt Arklow Wave (see launch) initially operate…

IRC is an ever-changing rule, adapting as our sport evolves at both the Grand Prix and club racing level. At UK Sailmakers Ireland we are always searching for advantageous gains for our customers. With a new year comes an amended…

Royal Cork Yacht Club brothers Robert and Peter O'Leary have dropped three places overall at the inaugural Star Junior World Championship hosted by the Coral Reef Yacht Club. The Cork Harbour duo lie sixth overall in a fleet of 36 after…

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed T.D., today announced that he has secured approval at EU and international level for the introduction of a science-based catch, tag and release fishery for Bluefin tuna for Irish recreational anglers.…