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Irish Powerboat News. RIB's, Motor Yachts and Cruiser Updates
Charles Parsons’ steam turbine powered Turbinia starting to develop full speed in 1897
There was something about the look of the reverse stem of Safehaven Marine’s new 70ft Transatlantic record-seeker Thunder Child II in Afloat.ie this week which stirred a hidden memory of ships and speed writes W M Nixon. And then it…
Thunder Child II cutting through the waves off Cork over the weekend
This past weekend saw the successful launch in Cork of Thunder Child II, the next-generation wave-piercing monohull from Safehaven Marine designed to set a new powerboat world record. Crafted at Safehaven’s boatyard in Youghal, the XSV20 cruised into East Ferry…
No time to be nervous…..Class 3 in action at the OCRDA event in Torquay, with Team Power Marine of Malahide in foreground as Alan Power and Sam Jackson zap out of the turn
Most people on the inside track in cruiser-racer tuning in Ireland will know of Alan Power, who does magic things with the top Half Tonners and other sharp end boats in his fibreglass workshops in Malahide writes W M Nixon.…
Safehaven Marine Unveils Latest Pilot Boat Commission For Portugal
Safehaven Marine in Cork has unveiled its latest pilot boat for the Port of Leixoes in Portugal. The Interceptor 48 will be put through sea trials over the next few weeks before delivery to the port north-west of Porto. In…
INSS Hosts Christmas Holiday Junior Powerboat Course Next Week
Young sailors can make the most of the Christmas holidays with the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School’s junior club powerboat course. The two-day course runs next week on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 December from 10am to 5pm each…
The new all–white Red Bay RIB bound for County Kerry. With 1200Lt Fuel Tanks the RIB has a 400–mile range
John Brennan of Dromquinna Manor in County Kerry took delivery of a new 11.5 metre rib from Irish RIB manufacturer Red Bay Boats last month. On its maiden voyage, it travelled 440 miles from the boat builders yard in County…
Thunder Child II Taking Shape At Safehaven Marine
Thunder Child II is finally taking shape at Cork-based performance boatbuilders Safehaven Marine, with “another couple of more months” go before launch for sea trials in the New Year. As previously noted on Afoat.ie, the XSV20 design developed over the…
Allblack Racing at sea in January 2017
#Power - Irish powerboat racing team Allblack Racing claimed a new record on the Cork-Fastnet-Cork route this past summer. The team’s Allblack SL44 powerboat set a time of two hours, six minutes and 47 seconds, with an average speed of…
An artist’s impression of Thunder Child 2 in Arctic waters next summer
#WorldRecord - Safehaven Marine has announced a new powerboat world record attempt — this time across the Atlantic. Frank Kowalski, managing director of the Cork Harbour boatyard, has developed what the Irish Examiner is calling a “radical” new hull for Thunder…
Marc Lyne and Dean Watson mid challenge on board the Scorpion RIB Ocean Devil on Friday 13 July
#Record - Marc Lyne and Dean Watson have smashed the longstanding under-30ft Round Ireland powerboat record by almost half an hour, pending UIM ratification. On Friday 13 July last the duo set a provisional time of 18 hours and 12…
Paul Finnett, his son Toby and two brothers had been exploring the island of Mogonisi near Paxos before the tragedy
#Greece - A British oil executive has spoken of his heartbreak over the loss of his 15-year-old son in a freak boating accident in Greece last weekend. As Mail Online reports, Toby Finnett died after falling overboard into the propellor…
The W1da off Roches Point during this week's Cork Week
My main interest at Cork Week was the red yacht moored at the marina, making its first appearance in Ireland and described as ‘a sailor’s yacht.’ Several years ago I met the man who is proud of that description, though…
A slick new 11m Red Bay arrives in the Isle of Man
County Antrim RIB builder Red Bay Boats Ltd has disptached its latest 11m RIB to a new home in the Isle of Man. The slick black Stormforce 11–metre has twin Yanmar 370z inboard diesels, a joystick control system and two…
The Arklow–based team headed by John Ryan also won the best–placed non UK–crew and the best placed diesel Powered Powerboat
Irish powerboat racing team Allblack Racing were third overall at the Cowes Torquay Cowes 2017 UIM Marathon Powerboat. The Arklow–based team headed by John Ryan also won the best–placed non UK–crew and the best placed diesel Powered Powerboat. It was…
The Instructors RIB involved in the fatal accident in Centerport, NY
We know that RIB crews and Instructors in our Junior Sailing Programmes are given the most rigorous training in safety writes W M Nixon. Yet over the years who hasn’t occasionally seen an outboard-driven RIB being treated as though it’s…
RIBs rounding the Bull Rock in last year’s Bull Run for Fun
#BullRunForFun - Dromquinna Manor’s annual Motor Boat Weekend, featuring the Bull Run for Fun, takes place this coming Sunday 16 July. Europe’s most westerly RIB rally kicks off at 10am on the day when boats depart from Dromquinna pier in…

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