Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
The 2024 Fireball Worlds is shaping up to be one for the ages, with a mix of light and heavy conditions on the second day, and the results so far offer no clear premonitions at this early stage. Even after…
Coville Round Cape Horn in Ultim Challenge, Le Cléac'h Peaks at 47 knots!
12th February 2024 Ultim Challenge
Very early Monday morning, at 00:40hrs UTC, Thomas Coville, skipper of Sodebo Ultim 3 passed Cape Horn in third place on the Ultim Challenge solo round the world race. Coville crossed almost five days after race leader Charles Caudrelier and…
Businessman and sailor Enda O’Coineen is spearheading a 14 million euro project to build a replica of adventurer Ernest Shackleton’s most famous ship, Endurance. As The Sunday Independent reports, details of an “Endurance II” construction will be outlined at events…
After six races sailed at Kinsale Yacht Club's Custom Rigging Frostbite Series, Ian Travers and Keith O'Riordan sailing Outlaw are overall Squib keelboat division leaders on seven points, four points clear of Harvey Tucker and Harvey Matthews in Fagan. Springtime weather greeted the competitors for the third…
Following The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) announcement that it has received expressions of interest from all around the world to compete in the rebaked Admiral’s Cup, an advisory committee has been established for the 2025 event. The event is being…
Cruise Ship Undergoes Extensive Transformation at Harland & Wolff Belfast for US Operator
11th February 2024 Shipyards
A cruiseship of 85,861 gross tonnes which served a career in China before been laid up in the Mediterranean, is at Harland & Wolff Group’s Belfast shipyard following a repositioning voyage from Sardinia, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 2,680 guest capacity…
Historic Ballycotton Portrait Among Photographs Brought to Life in Colour for RNLI’s 200th Birthday
11th February 2024 RNLI Lifeboats
As the RNLI prepares to celebrate its 200th anniversary on 4 March, the charity has brought some of its rich history to life with the release of a stunning collection of colourised images. From community events to candid snapshots, 11…
“My favourite waterbody” is the title of a nationwide photo competition initiated by the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO). “Ireland is bountiful with iconic waterways and scenic landscapes, and we know how important these waters and wetlands are to people,”LAWPRO…
Armel Le Cléac’h Rounds Cape Horn in Ultim Challenge as Éric Péron Enters Pacific
11th February 2024 Ultim Challenge
Second-placed Armel Le Cléac’h crossed Cape Horn in the Ultim Challenge very manageable conditions this Sunday morning at 05:01:50hrs UTC. In fifth Éric Péron was about to enter the Pacific this morning. Third placed Thomas Coville had a big scare…
Offshore Renewables Among Topics in Draft Climate and Energy Plan for EU Opened for Public Consultation
11th February 2024 Power From the Sea
Ireland’s strategy for offshore renewable energy are among topics incorporated in an updated draft of Ireland’s national energy and climate plan for Europe, which has been opened for public consultation this week. Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon…
The Marine Institute has shared its pride in celebrating the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on Sunday 11 February. The United Nations Theme for the ninth International Day of Women and Girls in Science is “Women in…
Tributes Paid After Sudden Passing of Red Bay Lifeboat Helm Gary Fyfe
10th February 2024 RNLI Lifeboats
Tributes have been paid to Red Bay RNLI helm Gary Fyfe after his sudden death on Thursday night (8 February). As the Belfast Telegraph reports, the 46-year-old died at the scene of a single-vehicle crash in Cushendall, Co Antrim. His…
Call for Government to Purchase Medal Awarded to Ernest Shackleton Ahead of Events to Mark 150th Anniversary of Explorer’s Birth
10th February 2024 News Update
Celebrations are planned for Dublin and London for the 150th anniversary of the birth of Irish Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton on Thursday (15 February). Born in Co Kildare, Shackleton led three expeditions to the icy regions of the South Pole,…
Bateman Wins Monkstown Bay Sailing Club Laser Frostbite League in Cork Harbour
10th February 2024 Monkstown Bay Sailing Club
Monkstown Bay Sailing Club's ever-popular Laser Frostbite League concluded in Cork Harbour on Saturday afternoon (February 10th). A cold north-easterly wind and heavy rain were present on the final day of racing. This did not phase the eager competitors in…
Royal Cork Yacht Club's Denis Byrne has been elected Commodore of the Irish Cruiser Racing Association at today's national cruiser conference and AGM and will lead the national cruiser-racer body for the next two years. Byrne takes over from Howth Yacht Club's Dave Cullen,…
ICRA National Championships 2025 to be Sailed at Kinsale Yacht Club's Sovereign's Cup Regatta
10th February 2024 ICRA
The 2025 ICRA National Championships will be held at Kinsale Yacht Club it has been confirmed. Newly elected ICRA commodore Denis Byrne announced at Saturday's AGM that after examining several submissions, the cruiser-racer national championships would return to the biennial…
Sailing event organisers from across Ireland convened on Saturday to coordinate actions on the national sailing events calendar. The high-powered meeting, described as 'informal' was held immediately after the ICRA AGM at Dun Laoghaire Harbour and was attended by representatives…
Dun Laoghaire's Royal St. George Yacht Club is seeking to recruit a Boathouse Manager. The position is a permanent full-time position with some weekends and evenings subject to seasonal demands. Who we are: Located in Dún Laoghaire, the Royal St.…
Howth Yacht Club is set to host the biennial Wave Regatta in May 2024, inviting sailing enthusiasts from Ireland and beyond to compete in a showcase keelboat-racing event. The three-day regatta welcomes all cruiser-racing class boats competing under current IRC…
Environmentalists Urge that Nature is 'Not Squeezed Out' as Irish Sea Comes Under Pressure
10th February 2024 Marine Wildlife
Wildlife conservation bodies numbering 13 groups across all the Irish Sea nations, known collectively as the Irish Sea Network, is urging planners in all six nations bordering the Irish Sea to collaborate and cooperate for the sake of nature. In…