Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

#MARINE WILDLIFE - An investigation is underway to determine the cause of death of a seal found on a Derry beach this week. As UTV News reports, the seal was found on Castlerock strand on Wednesday afternoon, and local reports…

#CRUISE LINERS - The crew of the Costa Concordia that capsized off the coast of Italy earlier this year have won a prestigious award for their "courage and professionalism" in response to the disaster, as The Irish Times reports. The…

#SURFING - Surfers all over Ireland have been urged to come and try to take bragging rights away from North West at the Bundoran Board Riders Irish Championships Tour event this weekend 29-30 September at Tullan Strand or the Peak,…

#BOAT FIRE - The Irish Independent has more on the incident in which a motor cruiser caught fire off West Cork at the weekend, as previously reported on Afloat.ie. Denis Ryan, a car dealer from Inishannon in Co Cork, says…

#ANGLING - For the third time in four years an Irish boat has won the Rosslare Small Boats Festival, which took place from 8-15 September. In what was an extremely tight competition, Screaming Reels from Rosies Sea Angling Club in…

#MARINE NOTICE - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) reminds vessel owners and all seafarers of the requirement to service their lifejackets, liferafts and other safety equipment. All items that form part of…

#FERRY NEWS - Industrial action by French crews with Brittany Ferries is still disrupting the company's ferry services from Cork to Roscoff. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, a series of wildcat strikes by staff protesting against changes to their working…

#RESCUE - RTÉ News reports that a man has died following a diving accident off the Saltee Islands at the weekend. The 25-year-old is believed to have rapidly ascended from 25 metres below the surface while on a dive with…

#OBITUARY - The Sunday Independent paid tribute this past weekend to round-the-world sailor and Galway native Bill King, who died last Friday 21 September aged 102. William Donald Aelian King was the last surviving commander of a submarine in the…

#WEATHER - Met Éireann has issued a weather warning for much of the Irish coast today (Monday 24 September) as heavy rain and strong northwesterly winds sweep in across the country. Winds are expected to reach gale force tonight on…

#RESCUE - The Irish Examiner reports that a man has been airlifted to hospital after taking ill on a fishing vessel off Galway yesterday Friday 21 September. The man reportedly experienced chest pains on board the fishing boat off the…

#SURFING - Surfer and photographer Rob Gilley talks up the "cooler horizons" of surfing in Ireland for Surfer Magazine. Responding to another surfer's arrogance in wondering why anyone would want to travel to surf in cold water when there are…

#GALWAY BAY - Galway residents are voicing fears over pollution in Galway Bay due to alleged increase in outfalls from the city's sewage system. As Galway News reports, locals in the Claddagh area spotted a discharge of raw sewage into…

#COASTAL NOTES - Oil exploration company Petrel Resources has identified a number of new targets off the southwest coast of Ireland as it seeks bigger partners for its venture. The Irish Times reports that the Dublin-based firm was awarded licensing…

#BELFAST LOUGH - Belfast may no longer be building ships but it's certainly attracting them as 2012 marks a record year for luxury cruise ship numbers, according to BBC News. Nearly 80,000 passengers and crew from 111 different countries have…

#MARINE WILDLIFE - The Irish Wildlife Trust teams with the Galway Atlantaquaria to host a wildlife walk on Grattan Beach in Salthill tomorrow Saturday 22 September. Starting at 3.30pm at the lifeguard hut, the free walk will look at the…

#LIFEBOATS - The Larne Times reports that Larne RNLI will be involved in a major maritime exercise in Belfast Lough this Sunday 23 September. As many as 365 people will take part in 'Exercise Diamond', which involves vessels from the…

#SHARK ATTACK - The UK Sun has posted a dramatic video of the moment when two anglers in the English Channel were attacked by sharks. Graeme Pullen and Wayne Comben had been fishing for Mako sharks to tag and release off…

#STOLEN BOAT - Dollymount Sea Scouts have reported the recovery of a boat stolen from their scout den in north Dublin earlier this week. The BP 18 standard boat was taken from outside the scout den at the Crow's Nest in Dollymount…

#COASTGUARD - Mayo's mountain rescue unit has reported its busiest ever period with an "unprecedented" 14 call-outs in just six weeks, according to The Irish Times. Irish Coast Guard personnel assisted Mayo Mountain Rescue on four of the total, helping…