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Andrea Brewster & Saskia Tidey, Olympic 49erFX Sailing Campaigners for Rio 2016

Andrea Brewster and Saskia Tidey are full time sailors campaigning to represent Ireland at the Rio 2016 Olympics, with the ambition of bringing home a medal in the 49erFX class. For the latest news campaign news click here Team Brewster/Tidey…

Finn Lynch, Olympic Laser Sailing Campaigner for Rio 2016

When Finn Lynch won the Silver at 2012's ISAF Youth Worlds in Dublin Bay, it was the maturity of the 16-year-old's approach which drew the most favourable comment. The following September, at the ripe old age of 17, he was…

The Irish Maritime Web Awards

Recognising excellence in Irish marine communications in the digital age. Awards will be made for websiteexcellence in the following categories:SailingWatersportIndustryClubsClassesSafetyInlandPortsEnvironment We want you to nominate your favourite marine based website to be included in the awards. You can…

Peter O'Leary and David Burrows

When Peter O'Leary (29) and David Burrows (34) came ashore in Miami last month having taken silver for the second time at the Bacardi Cup, the London Olympic pair showed the depth of their ambition when they left the venue…

Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern

Now ranked 17th in the world Belfast pair Ryan Seaton (23) and Matthew McGovern (25) shot to prominence at the ISAF World Championships in Perth last December sailing to a level some never expected in this high speed dinghy class.…

Irish Olympic Sailing News

Get the very latest news stories about the Irish Olympic Sailing Team right on Afloat's dedicated Olympic aggregate news page. Afloat covers all the Olympic classes relevant to Ireland and our stories cover the road to Olympic qualification right through…

Ger Owens & Scott Flanigan - 470 Class

Youth and experience combined to crew Ireland's 470 trapeze dinghy in Weymouth. Double Olympian in the 470 class (Beijing 2008 and Athens 2004)and winner of two races at the Olympics in China, many would have expected Ger Owens of Dun…

Irish Olympic Sailing Team

The Irish Olympic Sailing Team comprises of 5 different classes, and includes some big names and personalities. We have all the Irish Team information here. Click the links to the left for more information about separate classes and team members.

Afloat/Irish Independent Sailor of the Month

Created in 1996, the Afloat Sailor of the Year Awards represent all that is praiseworthy, innovative and groundbreaking in the Irish sailing scene. This is a national award especially designed to salute the achievements of Ireland's sailing's elite. Over nearly…

Olympic Games Rio 2016

The 2016 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, is a major international multi-sport event due to be celebrated in the tradition of the Olympic Games, as governed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The host…

Advertise on Afloat.ie, Irish Sailing, Boating and Maritime Magazine

Advertising and Sponsorship We work closely with sponsors and advertisers whose content, products and services will interest our community. We provide sponsorship opportunities on the Afloat website every month and also have tailored sponsorship opportunities built around events. We do…

Where to Buy Afloat Magazine. Ireland's Sailing, Boating and Maritime Publication

Afloat recommends dropping into your local chandlery to pick up a copy of the mag but failing that below is a list of newsagents where you can pick up Afloat. It's not exhaustive - and we're compiling a more comprehensive…

Annalise Murphy

Sailing for as long as she can remember, going out and crewing for her mother in her Hurricane at the early age of 6. She started sailing oppy’s when only 10 years of age followed by laser 4.7’s, mirrors and…

Irish Rowing News. Rowing Clubs, Regattas, Sculling & Coastal Rowing

Afloat's rowing coverage encompasses the widest range of activities undertaken on Irish lakes, rivers and coastal waters. We aim to bring jargon free reports separated in to popular categories to promote the sport in Ireland. Click this link for the…

Business

From tourism to trade news, property, jobs and careers - this section of the website covers everything anyone in the business of sailing needs to know! If you have ideas for our pages we'd love to hear from you. Please…

Irish Sailing and Boating Regattas and Maritime Events

Reporting on the latest race news and regatta information is the one of the most important aspects of the Afloat.ie website. This page covers everything from round the world race stopovers, the arrival of the Tall Ships as well as…

Afloat Magazine. Ireland's Sailing, Boating and Maritime Publication

Afloat now in its 43rd year of production is a vibrant specialist magazine which has continually adapted to the demands of its readership, with an industry insight which is quite simply unique. Edited by David O'Brien (47), a former European…

Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) in Ireland Information

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is a charity to save lives at sea in the waters of UK and Ireland. Funded principally by legacies and donations, the RNLI operates a fleet of lifeboats, crewed by volunteers, based at a range of coastal and inland waters stations. Working closely with UK and Ireland Coastguards, RNLI crews are available to launch at short notice to assist people and vessels in difficulties.

RNLI was founded in 1824 and is based in Poole, Dorset. The organisation raised €210m in funds in 2019, spending €200m on lifesaving activities and water safety education. RNLI also provides a beach lifeguard service in the UK and has recently developed an International drowning prevention strategy, partnering with other organisations and governments to make drowning prevention a global priority.

Famous Irish Lifeboat Rescues

Irish Lifeboats have participated in many rescues, perhaps the most famous of which was the rescue of the crew of the Daunt Rock lightship off Cork Harbour by the Ballycotton lifeboat in 1936. Spending almost 50 hours at sea, the lifeboat stood by the drifting lightship until the proximity to the Daunt Rock forced the coxswain to get alongside and successfully rescue the lightship's crew.

32 Irish lifeboat crew have been lost in rescue missions, including the 15 crew of the Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire) lifeboat which capsized while attempting to rescue the crew of the SS Palme on Christmas Eve 1895.

FAQs

Which is Ireland's busiest lifeboat station?

While the number of callouts to lifeboat stations varies from year to year, Howth Lifeboat station has aggregated more 'shouts' in recent years than other stations, averaging just over 60 a year.

Do the RNLI get paid?

Stations with an offshore lifeboat have a full-time mechanic, while some have a full-time coxswain. However, most lifeboat crews are volunteers.

How many RNLI Lifeboat stations in Ireland?

There are 46 lifeboat stations on the island of Ireland

How many lifeboat crew have been lost in rescue missions?

How many people are rescued by the RNLI?

In 2019, 8,941 lifeboat launches saved 342 lives across the RNLI fleet.

What type of boats does the RNLI have?

The Irish fleet is a mixture of inshore and all-weather (offshore) craft. The offshore lifeboats, which range from 17m to 12m in length are either moored afloat, launched down a slipway or are towed into the sea on a trailer and launched. The inshore boats are either rigid or non-rigid inflatables.

How are lifeboats called out?

The Irish Coast Guard in the Republic of Ireland or the UK Coastguard in Northern Ireland task lifeboats when an emergency call is received, through any of the recognised systems. These include 999/112 phone calls, Mayday/PanPan calls on VHF, a signal from an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) or distress signals.

What is the relationship between the Irish Coast Guard and the RNLI in Ireland?

The Irish Coast Guard is the government agency responsible for the response to, and co-ordination of, maritime accidents which require search and rescue operations. To carry out their task the Coast Guard calls on their own resources – Coast Guard units manned by volunteers and contracted helicopters, as well as "declared resources" - RNLI lifeboats and crews. While lifeboats conduct the operation, the coordination is provided by the Coast Guard.

What is a coxswain?

A lifeboat coxswain (pronounced cox'n) is the skipper or master of the lifeboat.

What training do RNLI lifeboat crews get?

RNLI Lifeboat crews are required to follow a particular development plan that covers a pre-agreed range of skills necessary to complete particular tasks. These skills and tasks form part of the competence-based training that is delivered both locally and at the RNLI's Lifeboat College in Poole, Dorset