Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Stanley Tomkins, treasurer for the Kilkeel RNLI volunteer crew, is to retire after 25 years’ service at the Co Down lifeboat station. Tomkins, a retired bank manager, was recently awarded the British Empire Medal for his charitable work in the…

#Lifeboats - Youghal RNLI were honoured to receive two generous donations from members of the community in one day recently. On Saturday 16 February, the East Cork lifeboat station welcomed sisters Aisling and Leanne Hehir who recently celebrated their birthdays,…

#Lifeboats - It was a different kind of ‘surf and turf’ when three teenagers and a horse were rescued in two separate callouts by Kinsale's RNLI volunteers yesterday (Sunday 17 February). Late in the afternoon the lifeboat launched following reports…

Thirty years ago, on February 13th 1989, the volunteer crew of Portrush RNLI Lifeboat launched in dreadful conditions to reports of two Spanish trawlers in difficulty. This was when the famous Portrush picture was taken by photographer Ian Watson. Crew…

#Lifeboats - As noted by Tom MacSweeney in his latest podcast, Wicklow is the last RNLI station with a Tyne class lifeboat in service. Before the current Tyne lifeboat Annie Blaker is officially taken off service later this year, it will be…

When Baltimore Lifeboat Station in West Cork was established the First World War was raging in Europe. That was back in 1915 when the original station was built, but due to the War no lifeboat arrived in Baltimore until 1919…

The “All In A Row 2018” event on the capital’s River Liffey was supported by teams rowing 40 boats including skiffs, kayaks, canoes and currachs to exceed a 1,000km in eight hours, raising €12,000 for these charities. Starting from St.…

#Lifeboats - RNLI volunteers at Lough Ree have launched their sixth Lap of Lough Ree charity cycle which will take place this year on Sunday 28 April. The annual 85km cycle raising funds for the lifesaving service in Athlone will…

#Lifeboats - Bangor RNLI was delighted yesterday (Tuesday 29 January) Yesterday afternoon, Bangor RNLI was delighted to welcome a delegation led by Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Chairman of the RNLI Operations Committee. Sir Tim and other top RNLI officials met…

The crew of Donaghadee RNLI lifeboat put to sea on Sunday (27 January ) morning for their fortnightly exercise and also to lay a floral tribute on behalf of the Sir Samuel Kelly Project. The volunteer crew paid their respects…

#Lifeboats - Dun Laoghaire RNLI responded to a stand-up paddle boarder who got into difficulty between Bray Head and Greystones yesterday afternoon (Sunday 27 January). The volunteer lifeboat crew were requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat at 12.03pm and were on…

#Lifeboats - Hundreds gathered on the high wall in Dunmore East on Sunday evening (20 January) to welcome the town’s all-weather lifeboat Elizabeth and Ronald back home after more than a year out of service. On 1 December 2017, Dunmore…

#Lifeboats - The RNLI's all-weather lifeboat from Courtmacsherry rescued a fishing vessel which got into difficulty today with two people onboard yesterday afternoon (Monday 21 January). The lifeboat was called out at 1.15pm to go to the aid of the 40ft…

#Lifeboats - Youghal RNLI is looking for new volunteer crew members to join its search and rescue service in East Cork. The lifeboat station will be hosting an open day at the lifeboat station in Youghal this coming Sunday 27 January…

An important piece of Ireland’s maritime history, the 100-year-old Dunleary Lifeboat, is the subject of a new exhibition in DLR LexIcon from this Monday 21 January to Monday 4 February. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, this exhibition — which has…

Rosslare Harbour RNLI rescued a windsurfer who fell off his board and got into difficulty on Sunday afternoon, ending up in the water for an hour and a half. The volunteer crew was requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat by…