Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
#FerryNews - Stena RoRo's charter of a vessel to P&O Ferries Dublin-Liverpool route ended at the weekend following the return of European Endeavour fresh from annual refit, writes Jehan Ashmore. The charter of Stena Carrier to rivals, P&O was expected…
The North Sails Ireland team of Nigel Young, Maurice 'Prof' O'Connell and Shane Hughes (scroll down for sailmaker details below) were busy at three sailing events last weekend, each winning races with clients on the Irish Sea, Howth and Kinsale.…
#FerryNews -A North Sea ferry operator, DFDS has axed its freight service between Rosyth, Scotland and Zeebrugge in Belgium following a fire on one of its ships. The vessel reports BBC News, is out of action following the blaze in…
Afloat.ie reader, Chris, is trying to find out what the rules and limitations are for jet boating on Irish rivers. In particular, he was curious to know if there are any regulations governing speed limits. A jetboat is a boat…
Could The Heritage Bill destroy the Navigations it should be protecting? That's the view of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI). In a long running campaign, the IWAI has received strong political support for its view that this proposed legislation…
#RNLI - Dunmore East RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat launched on Saturday (21 April) to assist an injured crewman onboard a fishing trawler. The crewman sustained an injury while fishing 70 miles offshore, and the trawler was intercepted by Dunmore East lifeboat…
#Ports&Shipping - The Irish Maritime Transport Economist, a report produced by the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) on Ireland’s maritime freight industry, was launched recently in Dublin. The report now in its 15th year, shows that in 2017, total port traffic…
Cork Port Warns Mooring Owners & Famous 'Gas Rigs Race' to Disappear?
24th April 2018 Tom MacSweeney
The sailing season in Cork Harbour is getting underway - slowly it has to be said - the effects of the long Winter weren’t encouraging owners to get their boats ready…… That is happening and launching is underway, but owners…
Irish Sailor of the Year Conor Fogerty has launched a Vendee Globe 2020 campaign, bringing to four the number of Irish sailors now working towards the non–stop solo round–the–world race in two year's time. 'Boat selection, physical training and preparation…
#FerryNews - Isle of Man Today writes of tensions rising between tourism chiefs and the Cabinet Office, after a passenger survey reported a drop in visitor numbers, boiled over into Tynwald this week. While Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas…
#VOR - Following a big send-off from Itajai yesterday (Sunday 22 April), the seven-strong Volvo Ocean Race fleet – back up to full complement with the welcome return of Vestas 11th Hour Racing and Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag – faced a…
Fireballs enjoyed champagne sailing in Dun Laoghaire on Saturday for a pre-season coaching session with Ger Owens, thanks to the support of Irish Sailing. Ger's wry and funny delivery once again reduced the most complex of questions to the key…
#MarineScience - Marine Institute's RV Celtic Explorer departed Galway yesterday for the first deepwater INFOMAR survey of 2018 to map the seabed in the region of the Labadie and Cockburn Banks, south of the Celtic Sea. These areas are of ecological…
South Wales Port's Amended Masterplan Submitted for Milford Waterfront Development
23rd April 2018 Ports & Shipping
#Ports&Shipping - The south Wales Port of Milford Haven (related story) has submitted a revised master plan to Pembrokeshire County Council for its multi-million pound Milford Waterfront development. The Port received a resolution to grant planning consent in 2015 and…
Operator Irish Ferries Confirms Up to 10,000 Passengers Affected by Cancellations
23rd April 2018 Ferry
#FerryNews - Operator Irish Ferries has confirmed that in the region of 5,000-10,000 customers will be affected by cancelled bookings on a new ferry, the delivery of which has been delayed. The company writes The Irish Times, continued to make…
Three of the five youth sailors named by Irish Sailing for its 2018 Laser 4.7 team are from the Royal St. George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Royal St. George's Alana Coakley, Charlie Cullen (also National Yacht Club) and…
#RNLI - Fresh from completing her 1,509-mile-long ‘Lap of the Map’ run around Ireland, inspirational marathon runner Mary Hickey has joined volunteers from Arklow RNLI in the stunning setting of Glendalough in Co Wicklow to launch Mayday, the RNLI’s annual…
Greystones Harbour's ISORA Race Winner 'Eleuthera' is Former Dutch Grand Soleil 44 'Holmatro'
23rd April 2018 ISORA
Frank Whelan's Eleuthera, the Grand Soleil 44 yacht that broke the dominance of the J109s to win the first ISORA race of the season yesterday, is the former famous Dutch yacht 'Holmatro' with a race winning pedigree. The Greystones crew…
Counting four first places Tim Norwood and Finn Cleary of the host club won the six race 2018 RS Feva East Coast Championships by a clear margin of eight nett points at the Royal Irish Yacht Club. Race over two…
49 Years Since Clipper Race Founder Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s Golden Globe Return
22nd April 2018 Golden Globe Race
Sunday 22 April marks 49 years since Sir Robin Knox-Johnston returned to Falmouth after spending 10-and-a-half months racing solo, non-stop around the world on is yacht Suhaili to win the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race. Sir Robin, who went on…
