Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Nearly 400 people have been airlifted from a cruise liner adrift off the coast of Norway, as RTÉ News reports. More than 1,300 passengers and crew were on board the luxury liner Viking Sky yesterday (Saturday 23 March) when it…

Joan Mulloy’s 2019 Figaro bid gets a step closer to reality as the first race of the season, the Sardinha Cup, comes in just a few days’ time. Mulloy, who made her debut in the Figaro last year, has been juggling training…

#HYC - Gregor McGuckin will be bringing his lecture on his experiences in the golden jubilee Golden Globe race to Howth Yacht Club this coming Thursday 28 March. Last month McGuckin talked Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club members through the…

#ClipperRace - Organisers of the Clipper Race have announced the 11 skippers who will lead teams in the 2019-20 edition of the round-the-world race from this August. “Not many people are capable of racing and leading a team in the…

#Fishing - Following a meeting yesterday (Thursday 21 March) with Irish fishing industry leaders from fish producer, processor and inshore organisations, Marine Minister Michael Creed said he will proceed with new legislation to restore the Voisinage Arrangement for reciprocal inshore…

Waterways Ireland advises all users of sightings on the Royal Canal at Ashtown of a large invasive rodent species that is highly damaging to river, lake and canal banks. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the coypu — also known as the…

Planners are from today set to review proposals for a controversial €500 million wastewater treatment scheme in North Dublin, as The Irish Times reports. Clonshaugh near Dublin Airport was chosen in June 2013 as the site for the sewage ‘super plant’…

#VDLR - Trearddur Bay Sailing Club brings its centenary year celebrations to Dublin Bay this summer as a number of its Myth class and Seabird Half Raters will be making the trip across the Irish Sea for the Volvo Dun…

A leading marine science researcher based in Ireland is part of a pioneering mission to explore the depths of the Indian Ocean, as Silicon Republic reports. Prof Louise Allcock is head of zoology at NUI Galway’s Ryan Institute and has…

An Irish Coast Guard captain lost in the Rescue 116 tragedy two years ago would be “would be so proud of the little boy” her young son has become. The sister of Capt Dara Fitzpatrick was speaking on RTÉ Radio…

Coleraine Coastguard is back in business after a reported burglary at its station during Storm Gareth on Tuesday night (12 March). Volunteers woke yesterday morning (Wednesday 13 March) to find that their station “had been broken into and ransacked”. The…

RTÉ News has brought attention back to the fate of the MV Shingle, the vessel seized in a tobacco-smuggling sting in 2014 that has cost the Revenue Commissioners almost half a million euro since. Afloat.ie’s Jehan Ashmore reported on the…

Trade in fish from the EU to Britain will be subject to a range of tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit. But there will be zero tariffs for goods traded from the Republic to Northern Ireland under the…

Dublin Port’s decision to reduce cruise liner visits from 2021 has sparked concern among the wider tourism industry in Ireland. As covered last month on Afloat.ie, rising freight volumes and the need to create space due to Brexit will mean…

#Coastguard - Two new postage stamps in tribute to the Irish Coast Guard are based on a painting by a volunteer who died in service, as the Sunday Independent reports. The painting by Caitríona Lucas, who died during a rescue…

#MarineScience - The EurofleetPlus Kick-off meeting held at the Marine Institute in Galway this past week (Tuesday 5 to Thursday 7 March) announced details of the project that will facilitate access to the largest advanced marine science research vessel fleet…

Cobh may finally get a new marina in what’s being touted as a major boost to marine tourism in the Cork Harbour town, as plans are prepared for public display. The East Cork Journal has details on the new €450,000…

Force 10 winds forecast for this weekend will attract eight of the world’s more fearless windsurfers to Ireland’s Atlantic coast for a competition three years in the making. As BreakingNews.ie reports, the precise date and venue for the Red Bull…

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has updated local Fingal councillors on its proposals for the dredging of Howth Harbour. On his Facebook page, Cllr Cian O’Callaghan says the meeting with the department and the Howth Harbour Master…

Canadian boat owners could be liable to fines of up to €4 million under new legislation to tackle the scourge of abandoned vessels on the country’s coastlines, particularly in the western province of British Columbia. International Boat Industry reports that…