News Update
#Sinking - How fast can a yacht sink? The video above shows just how swiftly one's dreams can disappear into the murky depths. The clip, via Elaine Bunting's blog at Yachting World, captures the Sweden Yachts 45 Ciao in the…
#Registration - Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar has surprised Ireland's sailing and boating community by announcing the passing of a Vessels Registration Bill as a priority for 2013. The proposed legislation is among five transport bills included in the minister's…
#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notices from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advise seafarers and vessel owners of revised medical and energy efficiency certificates that come into force this coming Tuesday 1 January 2013. Marine Notice No…
#HenriLloyd - Henri Strzelecki, founder of the marine clothing brand Henri Lloyd, has died aged 87, The Scotsman reports. The Polish-born entrepreneur, who passed away peacefully on 26 December, helped to revolutionise sports clothing in his partnership with Angus Lloyd…
#Books - Not content with being Afloat's Sailor of the Month for March this year, boat enthusiast Hal Sisk has put much of his efforts in 2012 into his new publishing venture Peggy Bawn Press, which now has a brand…
#mikebalmforth – With the death on 2 December of Mike Balmforth, Ireland and Scotland lost a powerful voice for leisure sailors. Mike was born in Belfast and learned to sail on Strangford Lough. He became a deputy editor of Yachting…
#Oil - Tullow Oil's shares dropped more than 6% in London trading early last week with the news that its prospect in the Atlantic off French Guiana is dry, according to The Irish Times. The Irish-founded oil exploration firm says…
#SPEED - The World Speed Sailing Records Council has confirmed two new world records set by Paul Larsen's Vestas Sailrocket 2 last month. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the Weymouth-based sailor and his crew claimed an average speed over over…
#FAIL - The video above shows Lolo, resident Top Gear-style maniac with French motorcycle magazine Moto Journal, taking a tumble off the quay at Port de Saint-Martin-de-Ré in western France on his Yamaha FJR 1300 and plunging straight into the…
#NEWS UPDATE - The body of a woman was taken from the River Liffey in Dublin city centre last night (29 November), as The Irish Times reports. The woman, understood to be in her mid-30s, was seen entering the water…
Two days after finally smashing the Outright world speed sailing record, the Vestas Sailrocket 2 team decide to tackle the 'Nautical Mile' world record which was held by the mighty 'Hydroptere'. It was always going to be an interesting challenge…
#SPEED RECORD - Weymouth-based sailor Paul Larsen and his crew have laid claim to a new world record in speed sailing, as BBC News reports. The team say they achieved an average speed of over 59 knots - with a…
#xyachts – X-Yachts is inviting all owners to the 2013 X Yachts Gold Cup, in Copenhagen from July 17-20 The 2013 X-Yachts Gold Cup will be hosted by the KDY (Royal Danish Yacht Club). The Gold Cup was last sailed…
#SELLAFIELD - Radioactive waste stored at Sellafield poses an "intolerable risk" to the environment, according to the UK's National Audit Office. RTÉ News reports that a new study from the British government department watchdog highlights the failure of successive operators…
#MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE - It took eight years to cross the Atlantic, but a message in a bottle sent by two girls from eastern Canada finally found a recipient - in Co Waterford. As the Irish Independent reports, 10-year-old…
#islandnation – NUI Galway have awarded Afloat correspondent Tom MacSweeney an honorary Degree of Master of Science, honoris causa at the Autumn Conferrings today in the Bailey Allen Hall at the University. Almost 4,000 students will graduate from NUI Galway…
