As part of its annual fundraising campaign, Spinal Injuries Ireland is seeking support from the sailing and boating community on its 'Colour me Friday' campaign day today. 

Spinal Injuries Ireland is the only support service for people who have sustained a spinal injury and it provides a pathway of services for patients and their families from onset of injury to inclusion in their local community.

One of these successful pathways is SPII's 'Active Me' programme, an actvity that brings patients out on the SPII RIB on Dublin Bay. 

SII relies on fundraising for 61% of its income. To contribute towards the campaign text CORD to 50300 to donate €4 to SII.

Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat in Cork Harbour was requested to launch yesterday evening at 8.49pm after a report of a 9m RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) with two people on board hit a navigation Buoy near Tivoli in Cork City.

Reports also were given that one person was injured.

The volunteer crew made best safe speed on the 20 minute journey to the City. New information received en route stated the damaged RIB had managed to journey under its own power to Cork City marina, but was still requesting first aid help.

On arrival at the City Marina, the RNLI crew assessed the casualty who was complaining of chest injuries and administered first aid until the emergency ambulance arrived and conveyed the casualty to hospital.

The lifeboat then escorted the damaged RIB on its return journey to Crosshaven and assisted in putting the vessel alongside

The lifeboat arrived back at the station in Crosshaven at 10.50pm, where it was refueled, washed down and declared ready for service once more at 11.30pm

The YXT 20 was conceived to support power and sailing yachts of any size, or be an explorer yacht, all on her own.
The large 45 square meter open deck can be a comfortable base for a large tender, a sailboat, 2 wave runners, a big RIB, paddle boards, wind surf boards, Sea Bobs, scuba diving gear, submarines, containers, cars or motorcycles and literally tons of storage.

The YXT 20's interiors design is by Franck Darnet of Franck Darnet Design. The yacht was conceived as a support vessel for superyachts ranging from 30 to over 70 meters. The unit is propelled by two 715hp Cummins diesels giving her a range of 900 nautical miles and a 14 knot cruising speed.

YXT 20 support vessel has a white livery, giving her a fresher and more marine aspect. This color scheme also emphasizes the gamma's production philosophy: created for carrying extra toys and gadgets, the vessel's use is closer to the fun and leisure aspects of seagoing (beach club or party deck, even extra accommodation).
A stern mounted gangway davit, allowing use of the transom beach area to carry tenders and jet skis. The stairs and the first four meters of deck are completed in teak, underlining the yachting style of the YXT 20.

LAYOUT
The YXT 20’s design recognizes that different owners have different objectives, so is available in two versions – “High Profile” with extra freeboard and “Low Profile”.
In the High Profile version, the YXT 20 can accommodate eight with four guest in two luxurious guest cabins. In both versions, four crew enjoy comfortable and efficient crew quarters in two twin cabins with galley, stowage and laundry plus one large storage container accessible from
the main deck. It can also be used for extra refrigerator appliances, wine cellars, or when necessary, even an extra accommodation, a spa or a gym. Like any LYNX yacht, owners can customize and make it their own.

DAVITS AND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT
This is the primary characteristic of every support vessel. The YXT 20 features two davits - the primary is located on the main deck, the secondary, which also serves as the gangway, at the stern. The two 360-degree davits have a lifting capacity of 1.7 tons primary, 0.5 at the stern with a 5 meter reach and 360° slewing.

INTERIORS
Guest area and lounge: bulkheads and overheads in natural wood veneer marine grade plywood, parquet flooring. Furnishings in natural wood veneer marine grade plywood.

CREW QUARTERS
Bulkheads in natural wood veneer marine grade plywood, parquet flooring. Furnishings in white laminate veneer marine grade plywood with wood trim.

YXT 20 STORAGE DIMENSIONS AND VOLUME
Hold: 5m x 5m, 25m2
Available volume: apx. 30m3 of stowage with standing headroom Length: 5m
Width at deck level: apx. 5.5m
Centerline headroom: 1.8m/1.95m
Lateral headroom (for storage only): 1.25m
Available storage volume: 30cbm

Yamaha has more international brands on display than previously to give visitors a greater choice of powered craft and RIBs for a lifestyle afloat at today's Southampton boat show. From WaveRunner PWCs, trailer-boats, high performance RIBs and day-boats to fishing craft and offshore cruisers, Yamaha has something to suit every pocket and performance wish.  

Around the show key models from Anytec, Ballistic RIBs, Chaparral (new model), Cobra RIBs, Draco, Finnmaster, Jeanneau, (with new models), Linder, Ribeye (new PRIME model), Rigiflex, Robalo, Sealegs, Whaly, White Shark and Zodiac are on show, with a range of Yamaha outboards from 2.5 to 300hp.

The new portable Yamaha F2.5B, the “baby” of the outboard range, is shown for the first time in the UK with deliveries to dealerships already under way.  The new model has lower emissions than the previous 2.5, better performance and even more features which are outlined in the separate release. 

Although the Ballistic 4.3m is the smallest of the Ballistic RIBs it still retains the solid build quality and outstanding handling that all Ballistic RIBs are known for. Ballistic RIBs are used by military and law enforcement agencies across the world, including the Metropolitan Police in London, the South African police, the Norwegian police and the Fisheries Protection Service in Sierra Leone. Versions of Ballistic RIBs are also widely used by coastguards, harbour masters and dive clubs.

#Solo - Pictured above is the RIB that French sailor Christophe Maupaté will pilot solo in his quest to set a new Atlantic record from Bordeaux to New York.

Previously attempted by Ireland's own Enda O'Coineen, no one has yet completed a solo transatlantic voyage by RIB.

But as reported on Afloat.ie last December, Figaro veteran Maupaté has been planning his own crossing for some time, having plotted a 4,460-nautical-mile course that will take him from France via Ireland's East Coast, western Scotland, the Faroe Islands and Iceland to the southern tip of Greenland and Canada's Maritimes towards the US – tracing the route of Lafayette's Hermione.

Now Maupaté's record attempt is just weeks away, launching from Bordeaux on Saturday 16 July with a stopover in Dun Laoghaire expected in the first few days.

Irish RIB builders Red Bay Boats launched a new Stormforce 12–metre fitted with twin 350 Verado outboards last week.

According to the Northern Ireland firm, the sleek boat has been built for Better Moments As, based in Norway.

This will be the second Stormforce 12 delivered to the company in the past year. The boat has been loaded and is en-route from Cushendall in County Antrim to Norway for its role in guided wildlife trips in Svalbard.

Three Tralee Bay Sailing Club members set out from Fenit in county Kerry yesterday to retrace a TBSC voyage first made 25 years ago. Ribbers Cian O'Donnell, James Landers and Giles Kelliher set out from the most westerly port in Europe on the 700–mile circumnavigation. Pit stops are planned in Burtonport tonight, then Bangor, Kilmore Quay, Dingle before returning home to Fenit. 

A bid to break the 2009 Round Ireland powerboat record will be made this weekend. Venture Cup entrant John Ryan and his Team Hibernia crew will make an attempt at the record on Sunday. Starting in Kinsale on the South Coast, Ryan and his four man crew will need to be back in the Munster harbour within 19 hours if they are to break the seven–year–old record set in a time of 18 hours 38 minutes and 50 seconds.

Hibernia Racing's 100 mph –ALLBLACK SL44 entry is built for marathon racing and has a range of 500–miles, making it possible for the circumnavigation to be made with just one refuel stop. The sleek aluminium built craft was testing in Cork Harbour a month ago and was powering around Dublin Bay in the past fortnight as preparation for the now cancelled Venture Cup.

The 2009 record holder Philip Fitzgibbon will be part of this weekend's attempt and joins the four–man crew as navigator. Sean McNamara and Denis Dillon complete the line–up.

'We''re going clockwise from Kinsale. I'm keen to get the Atlantic out of the way first', Ryan told Afloat.ie this afternoon.

Fitzgibbon and Mike Shanahan reclaimed their Round Ireland Powerboat Record powering over the Kinsale finish line to become the first team to set a sub 19–hour time for the circumavigation of Ireland in October 2009. The record was set in a 7.5 metre RIB powered by a 250hp engine.

Oxfordshire-based Williams Performance Tenders in the UK is has announced it will once again be giving local students the chance to take part in its innovative training scheme. Now in its fourth year, the course offers young people a fantastic chance to gain valuable practical experience in the marine industry, as well as have the opportunity to become an apprentice with the global-leading brand.

10 young people from schools in Oxfordshire have been selected to attend the five-week Powerboat Workshop course. The practical sessions, which kick off on 23rd April are designed to give young people the chance to learn life-long skills that can be used in future employment, and to teach them more about the sector where Williams Jet Tenders is recognised as a global leader.

The sessions will culminate in an exciting race day at Williams’ test lake on 21st May. Last year, 10 young people enjoyed a fantastic day racing model speed boats of their own designs on the water, and were also given the opportunity to go for a spin as a passenger in one of Williams’ sporty jet tenders.

One attendee from last year’s event was John Howell, MP for Henley who really enjoyed the event and recognised the value the course can bring to young people in Oxfordshire, commenting: “I was so impressed with last year’s event and what the young people had achieved. This really is a fantastic initiative that Mathew and John have set up that is really giving young people a great chance of a career, as well as investing in the future of the industry. I am looking forward to seeing what the students achieve this year and to another thrilling end of course race.”

As in previous years, one of the participants from the course will also be given the opportunity to start work as an apprentice at Williams – underpinning the brand’s commitment to investing in the boat builders of tomorrow. Two young apprentices are already employed at the factory which continues to grow in response to increased global demand.

The scheme was started by brothers Mathew and John Hornsby, founders of Williams Jet Tenders, and is run in partnership with Employment Action Group.

Mathew Hornsby, Sales Director at Williams Performance Tenders, commented: “It’s always been important to John and I that we help to nurture and invest in the boat builders, designers and engineers of our future. We have been so impressed with the calibre of the students, as well as their dedication and hard work over the past three years, and we have high hopes for the young people taking part this year.

“The apprentices that we’ve hired over the past few years are working out really well and it’s fantastic to see them grow in their role here at Williams. Our past students have all really enjoyed the course, particularly the race day at the end, as it gives them a chance to see everything we’ve taught them about designing and building boats in action.”

Founded by brothers Mathew and John Hornsby in 2004, Williams Jet Tenders has established itself as the world’s leading jet tender specialist, renowned for its range of Turbojet, Dieseljet and Sportjet models. The company is launching a new range in 2016, the MiniJet. Williams Jet Tenders now employs 60 staff at its Oxfordshire base, and is supported by a global team of factory trained engineers.

#Solo - French sailor Christophe Maupaté aims to follow in the wake of Ireland's own Enda O'Coineen in his attempt to be the first person to cross the Atlantic solo from Bordeaux to New York by RIB.

The Figaro veteran will set off on 16 July 2016 from Bordeaux heading north, via the Celtic and Irish Seas – including a stop-over in Dun Laoghaire – on an epic voyage that will see him trace a semi-circle around the North Atlantic.

That route takes Maupaté via the Orkneys, Iceland and the southern tip of Greenland to Canada's Maritimes provinces and onward to New York to coincide with a commemorative voyage by a replica of historic French general Lafayette's ship Hermione.

And he'll be doing it all single-handedly in a 7.5m RIB, a custom French-built Zeppelin, equipped with a Suzuki four-stroke outboard motor and Garmin navigation and communication devices.

The Atlantic has been crossed by RIB several times before, most notably by TV adventurer Bear Grylls and team in 2003 from Canada to Scotland, and more recently by the Brown brothers from Florida to London in 2009.

But the closest anyone's come to a solo RIB crossing was Enda O'Coineen, when he helmed the 5.5m Zodiac RIB Kilcullen III from Halifax in Nova Scotia to Dunmore East in the mid 1980s – a voyage recounted in his book The Unsinkable Kilcullen.

There is no Guinness World Record for O'Coineen's feat, so Maupaté aims to be the first into the books with his own incredible expedition of some 4,460 nautical miles.

More details can be found on the official Bordeaux -> New York in Solitare website HERE.