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Displaying items by tag: trails

#INLAND WATERWAYS - A new mobile app that guides visitors around the trails of Lough Derg has gone live, the Clare Champion reports.

More than 20 trails are included in the app, from walking to cycling, driving, cruising and canoeing.

The app - developed in partnership between Shannon Development and US firm EveryTrail - uses Google Maps and the GPS system in smartphones to pinpoint trails near the user's location.

Users can download route descriptions, images and notes, get directions to the starting point and follow the the pre-plotted course.

The Lough Derg Trails app is available for iPhone and Android devices.

The Clare Champion has more on the story HERE.

Published in Inland Waterways
#KAYAKING - Northern Ireland's new North Coast Sea Kayak Trail is set to feature on BBC TV this weekend, OutdoorNI reports.
Earlier this month, Ellie Harrison from BBC's Countryfile programme paddled the trail with local guide Robin Ruddock and also visited the Port Moon Bothy, an old cottage refurbished as a rest stop for kayakers on the trail.
"The North Coast Sea Kayak Trail will offer a completely unique way to explore the Causeway Coast and the converted bothy at Port Moon is fast becoming the most talked about and indeed most spectacular accommodation in Ireland,” said CanoeNI.
The new trail joins a host of coastal canoe routes launched this year by CanoeNI, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.
Catch the North Coast Sea Kayak Trail on Countryfile this Sunday 27 November at 6.25pm on BBC One Northern Ireland.

#KAYAKING - Northern Ireland's new North Coast Sea Kayak Trail is set to feature on BBC TV this weekend, OutdoorNI reports.

Earlier this month, Ellie Harrison from BBC's Countryfile programme paddled the trail with local guide Robin Ruddock and also visited the Port Moon Bothy, an old cottage refurbished as a rest stop for kayakers on the trail.

"The North Coast Sea Kayak Trail will offer a completely unique way to explore the Causeway Coast and the converted bothy at Port Moon is fast becoming the most talked about and indeed most spectacular accommodation in Ireland,” said CanoeNI.

The new trail joins a host of coastal canoe routes launched this year by CanoeNI, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

Catch the North Coast Sea Kayak Trail on Countryfile this Sunday 27 November at 6.25pm on BBC One Northern Ireland.

Published in Kayaking
No less than nine free guided canoeing events will be taking place across Northern Ireland this Sunday 2 October to celebrate the fourth annual National Trails Day.
According to Northern Ireland's Outdoor Adventure Blog, all the events will be guided by qualified canoeing instructors, with all canoe rental and safety equipment provided free of charge.
So there's never been a better time to get a paddle in your hands and take to Northern Ireland's wealth of waterways.
As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the new Foyle Canoe Trail will be among those where novices can get a taste of what Northern Ireland's canals and rivers have to offer.
OutdoorNI has more about the free guided canoe trails available HERE.

No less than nine free guided canoeing events will be taking place across Northern Ireland this Sunday 2 October to celebrate the fourth annual National Trails Day.

According to Northern Ireland's Outdoor Adventure Blog, all the events will be guided by qualified canoeing instructors, with all canoe rental and safety equipment provided free of charge. 

So there's never been a better time to get a paddle in your hands and take to Northern Ireland's wealth of waterways.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the new Foyle Canoe Trail will be among those where novices can get a taste of what Northern Ireland's canals and rivers have to offer.

OutdoorNI.com has more about the free guided canoe trails available HERE.

Published in Canoeing
This week Northern Ireland welcomes the launch of two new coastal canoe trails.
The new Foyle Canoe Trail stretches for 33 miles from Lifford in Co Donegal to Moville on the Inishowen peninsula at Lough Foyle, passing through Derry on the way, with plenty of wild and official campsites along the route.
Meanwhile, the South East Coast Canoe Trail is a sea kayaker's dream – 50 miles of rocky bays and sandy beaches past the Mourne and Cooley mountain ranges from Strangford village to Newry.
According to OutdoorNI.com, the trails were developed by the Countryside Access and Activities Network (CAAN), the Loughs Agency and Down and Derry District Councils, add to the five inland canoe trails already in place.
CAAN development officer Kathryn Callaghan commented: "Both these trails offer a golden opportunity for us all to explore two picturesque corners of Northern Ireland from a unique perspective.”
Waterproof guides for both trails are available free from from local tourist information centres or online from www.canoeni.com.
The coastal trails are the first of four to be launched in 2011. Later this year the North Coast Canoe Trail will take in the Giant’s Causeway and Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge, while the East Coast Canoe Trail will pass the renowned Glens of Antrim, Belfast Lough and the Ards peninsula.

This week Northern Ireland welcomes the launch of two new coastal canoe trails.

The new Foyle Canoe Trail stretches for 33 miles from Lifford in Co Donegal to Moville on the Inishowen peninsula at Lough Foyle, passing through Derry on the way, with plenty of wild and official campsites along the route.

Meanwhile, the South East Coast Canoe Trail is a sea kayaker's dream – 50 miles of rocky bays and sandy beaches past the Mourne and Cooley mountain ranges from Strangford village to Newry.

According to OutdoorNI.com, the trails were developed by the Countryside Access and Activities Network (CAAN), the Loughs Agency and Down and Derry District Councils, add to the five inland canoe trails already in place.

CAAN development officer Kathryn Callaghan commented: "Both these trails offer a golden opportunity for us all to explore two picturesque corners of Northern Ireland from a unique perspective.”

Waterproof guides for both trails are available free from from local tourist information centres or online from www.canoeni.com.

The coastal trails are the first of four to be launched in 2011. Later this year the North Coast Canoe Trail will take in the Giant’s Causeway and Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge, while the East Coast Canoe Trail will pass the renowned Glens of Antrim, Belfast Lough and the Ards peninsula.

Published in Canoeing

Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat

For the first time in sailing's Olympic history, a Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat event will be on the slate at the Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Competition.

The Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat will join kiteboarding, windsurfing, multihulls, singlehanded and doublehanded dinghies and skiffs, promoting the diversity of the sport. This, in turn, will support World Sailing's desire to promote and grow universality in all disciplines and increase female participation with gender-equal medals and athletes.

Offshore sailing is the ultimate test of endurance, skill, discipline, navigation and critical decision making.

Embracing a major part of sailing in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will enable new stars of the sport to come to the forefront.

Qualification

Offshore sailing is a universal discipline that every World Sailing Member National Authority (MNA) can participate in.

Up to 20 nations will be on the start line at Paris 2024 and sailors from every continent will be represented. To qualify for the Olympic Games, continental qualification events will be held and competition for a spot will be hotly contested.

Equipment

For qualification events, World Sailing will approve a list of one-design boats that are already regionally available and can be accessed as a charter boat. Boats will be equalised to ensure fair competition.

For Paris 2024, World Sailing's Council will select a list of different Equipment it considers to meet the key criteria by 31 December 2020 and then make a decision on the Equipment, selecting from the list, no later than 31 December 2023.

MNAs, Class Associations and Manufacturers have all been invited to propose Equipment for the list and a World Sailing Working Party will evaluate each proposal. A recommended list will be presented to Council for approval in November 2020.

This recommended Equipment list will ensure that event organisers, MNAs and the sailors have opportunities to train and compete in Equipment that is readily available and affordable within their continent and country. It will also ensure each MNA has a fair opportunity to prepare for qualification events and eventually, Paris 2024.

Format

Starting and finishing in Marseille, the Mixed Offshore event is expected to last for either three days and two nights or four days and three nights off the French coastline and whoever crosses the finish line first will be declared Olympic champion.

The race course and length will be announced in the lead up to the start so the competition can take advantage of the latest weather forecast. Current options proposed include long and short courses heading towards the West and East of France.

Safety and Security

The French Navy and Mediterranean forces have extensive experience of supporting major oceanic sailing races. They will provide safety and security at Paris 2024.