Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Irishman Ronan O’Rahilly, the founder of the celebrated pirate radio station Radio Caroline, has died at the age of 79. Mr O’Rahilly revolutionised commercial radio in 1964 when he set up Radio Caroline outside UK territorial waters and broadcast to…

The Government is preparing for a 'controlled and gradual return to sport' and the 2020 sailing fixtures are being tentatively redrafted by yacht clubs across Ireland as the country enters a new phase in dealing with the Coronavirus. The Taoiseach told the…

Government is seeking input from sports bodies – including sailing – as to how a 'gradual and controlled' return to activities can be achieved. Yesterday, the Taoiseach told the Dáil that the Government would like to set out a roadmap…

Barry Hayes of UK Sailmakers Ireland reports that gowns (pictured above) made at his Crosshaven sail loft are destined for care homes and GP surgeries across the country in the fight against COVID-19. 'Our not-for-Profit makeshift gown making endeavour has…

UK Sailmakers in Cork Harbour have busy fulfilling the many orders for gowns for healthcare workers in the frontline against COVID-19. As Afloat reported previously, sailmaker Barry Hayes and his team at Crosshaven have been deploying their resources to help make…

Crew of the LÉ Eithne, which EchoLive.ie reported earlier today, have been tasked to deliver personal protective equipment to HSE locations across Cork city. The Naval Service vessel is docked in Cork city since March 20, awaiting a tasking from the HSE…

Sailing clubs and centres in England are already beginning to benefit from the £22 billion grant and business rates package recently announced by the Chancellor Rishi Sunak, the RYA says. Businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure industry, such as…

Cork Harbour sailmaker Barry Hayes and his UK Sailmakers firm at Crosshaven have joined the fight against Covid-19 and are deploying their resources to help make Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for local healthcare workers at the front line in the fight…

In recent months the concept of a fixed link between Ireland and Britain has been rapidly developing as various politicians have proposed bridges between Northern Ireland and Scotland across the narrow, storm-tossed and tide-riven waters of the North Channel. But…

British boaters are being encouraged to support their local boating networks wherever possible during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. As Boating Business reports, the RYA is asking people to think again before cancelling payments to sailing clubs, marinas, class associations and…

The wholesale cancellation of early 2020 regatta fixtures, is impacting the 2021 season with some conflicting dates appearing for May and June 2021. So far, four key fixtures of Irish interest appear to be affected next season. Firstly, Scotland's biggest sailing event,…

Outdoor enthusiasts have been urged to “stay local” this weekend to limit the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Two mountaineering organisations have urged people to refrain from heading to the uplands this weekend and ensure their one daily walk is…

Outdoor ethics programme Leave No Trace Ireland has published a set of simple guidelines for getting outdoors responsibly and safely amid the Covid-19 crisis. “Now, more than ever, it is vitally important that collectively, we use the outdoors responsibly, taking…

This year’s Antigua Sailing Week, which was originally scheduled for Sunday 26 April to Friday 1 May, has now been cancelled amid the continuing coronavirus situation. In a statement, the major offshore regatta’s president Alison Sly-Adams said: “As a result…

It was just a little more than a week ago that Irish Sailing issued its first statement over the coronavirus outbreak to the effect that ‘all events were going ahead as scheduled’. Then last Thursday (12 March) it cancelled its…

County Wicklow based yacht designer Mark Mills and Wally Yachts have won first prize at the première edition of the MDO Montecarlo prize for the wallycento Tango. Wally and Mills were honoured at the awards ceremony held at the Yacht…