Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

The RNLI has been working with partners behind the scenes through the challenges of lockdown to recruit, train and prepare their lifeguards for what is expected to be another busy summer on Northern Ireland’s beaches. The charity will deliver their…

In the United States, all operators of recreational vessels under 26 feet in length will soon be required to use an engine cut-off switch and kill cord under newly passed legislation. Kill cords are essentially safety tethers that cut power…

Water Safety Ireland is advising parents to supervise their children over the next few days until the current spell of hard weather moves away. The best advice is to stay off the ice, however, children will be tempted to play…

The RNLI is urging anyone who is able under Irish or UK government guidelines to visit the coast during lockdown to stay safe and not take any unnecessary risks that may put extra pressure on emergency services. As both the…

In an end of year commentary, the Coast Guard has highlighted, that despite the impact of Covid-19, 2020 has proven to be a relatively busy year. Overall, the Coast Guard coordinated 2643 incidents in comparison with 2490 incidents in 2019.…

This Christmas is very different from all our other Christmases we have experienced and thousands of people around the country who will want to immerse themselves in our invigorating waters must demonstrate compliance with our NPHET guidelines says John Leech…

Skerries RNLI’s volunteer crew were tasked on Saturday afternoon (28 November) after a call to emergency services reported concerns over a group of sea swimmers off Donabate. The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Louis Simson was launched shortly before 3pm to…

Fifty-one lives were saved from drowning by rescuers who will receive recognition at Water Safety Ireland’s National Annual Awards Ceremony, broadcast online on Tuesday 24th November at 7 pm. The Minister for Rural & Community Development, Heather Humphreys will acknowledge…

Britain’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published a safety bulletin with lessons learnt from its initial findings into the death of two friends from carbon monoxide poisoning on a boat in York. The boaters died in December 2019 when…

Rescue agencies are reporting a record year for incidents on the water as thousands of people turned to the coastline, lakes and rivers during Covid-19. The Irish Coast Guard, RNLI and Water Safety Ireland have all been under pressure to…

In asking the public to remain vigilant near water this Bank holiday weekend, Water Safety Ireland says the risks are even greater at inland waterways. Although 40,000 people live less than 100 metres from the coast and some 2 million…

If there is an ill wind that doesn’t blow some good, it is the numbers taking to the sea and inland waterways during Covid-19. As The Sunday Times reports today, this season has been the busiest ever for outdoor pursuit…

A new video from Dun Laoghaire RNLI explains the importance of checking the weather and tides before going out for a walk along the coast. With Ireland's coastal areas getting a lot quieter as autumn begins and as we head…

The charity that saves lives at sea is reaching out to Ireland’s immigrant communities as part of a new water safety campaign. Arabic is the first language being used by the RNLI in its warnings over the dangers associated with…

The Irish Coast Guard has revealed further details over an incident involving the activation of an emergency positioning beacon off West Cork last month. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Baltimore RNLI was called out to search or the EPIRB which…

As the official bathing season draws to a close this month, Water Safety Ireland is calling on parents and families to dispose of their inflatable toys. Earlier this week, Afloat’s Tom MacSweeney interviewed Water Safety Ireland chief John Leech, who…