Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Leading motor yacht marque Prestige is celebrating the win of major awards at leading boat shows in Cannes and Genoa for two yachts making their world-premiere appearances. In the World Yachts Trophies ceremony on Saturday 16 September at the Cannes…

The UK has been fined €32m by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for allowing pleasure boats to use red diesel before Brexit came into effect. Under EU law, only commercial boats can use lower-tax dyed diesel, following a ruling…

Enjoy huge savings on Zhik Superwarm X and V suits at CH Marine right now. These high-performance neoprene suits and tops for men and women from one of the top marine clothing brands are perfect quality for winter and cold-water…

Following the Pre-Notice of Race announcement for the 2025 Admiral’s Cup on 19th July 2023, the Royal Ocean Racing Club has received 17 expressions of interest from yacht clubs and countries worldwide, including Ireland. Having taken on board comments from…

Samskip and Boluda Lines has jointly launched a shortsea container services connecting Santander, Dublin and Liverpool, in a new commitment to customers in Spain, Ireland and the UK. The new container service also delivers a strategic expansion for Samskip’s European…

It’s not the first time that the organisers of the National Championships of Champions have found themselves playing footsie with volatile Autumn weather. Ten days ago, the National Junior Championship at Schull was cancelled due to southerly gales. And last…

The Loughs Agency recently welcomed a marine science delegation from Korea to the North West as part of a two-day workshop focusing on transboundary cooperation for sustainable ocean and coastal areas. The workshop was organised and sponsored by Queen’s University…

A commendable maritime journey known as the "Harbourmaster Sailing Challenge" was completed by sailor Mark Ashley-Miller on September 28th, 2023. As Afloat reported previously, beginning in Dartmouth in March 2019, the voyage aimed to meet every Harbourmaster throughout the UK…

Irish offshore survey company Green Rebel has sponsored a young angler from East Cork, Kevin Roche, for two upcoming Junior World Championship competitions. Roche, who hails from Shanagarry, is part of the Irish teams competing in the Netherlands and Cork.…

London's Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) has announced Dun Laoghaire as the venue for its IRC European Championships in 2024. While a host club has yet to be named, RORC's provisional programme 2024 says the eighth championship edition will be…

Anchor Challenge, Conor Phelan's Quarter-Tonner, won the first two races of the Royal Cork Yacht Club's Autumn League 2023 in the 17-boat IRC Spinnaker division on Sunday. The vintage yacht beat Michael McCann's Etchells 22 Don't Dilly Dally, which secured…

Two renewable energy industry associations and several environmental NGOs have called for a “step-change in Government investment in environmental capacity” at both state and civil society level to address the biodiversity and climate crises. A joint pre-Budget statement from Wind…

Applications are now open for RYA Northern Ireland’s Youth Performance Programme. In addition, the regional body for sailing and boating in Northern Ireland will run selection weekends in the form of open training at East Antrim Boat Club, on the…

A €5 million plan to deliver skills for a “sustainable seafood industry” has been initiated by Minister for Marine Charlie McConalogue. The strategy, entitled The Next Wave 2023-2028, has been drawn up by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) and is funded…

Environmental broadcaster Duncan Stewart and the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group’s Fiacc O Brolcháin are among participants in this year’s Conamara Sea Week Festival. The programme of workshops, art, music, walks and talks takes place in Lettefrack from October 21st…

Pete Smyth's Sunfast 3600 Searcher from the National Yacht Club was the overall handicap winner of Sunday's Leinster Boats-sponsored DMYC Kish Race on Dublin Bay.  Smyth's crew led the 36-boat fleet from Dun Laoghaire Harbour's start to finish line in the last big…

The Wicklow RNLI inshore lifeboat rescued two foil surfers who were in distress due to tidal conditions on Saturday afternoon (30 September), according to the Coast Guard's alert. The Inshore lifeboat was launched around 3:40 pm and quickly found the…

One of Ireland’s oldest seafood businesses, Morgan’s Fine Fish, has been awarded the Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) Seafood Innovation Award for 2023. The Co. Louth based company scooped the prestigious award for its popular salmon darne product, topped with garlic…

For the second year in a row, East Antrim Boat Club top crewman Andy Thompson hit the sailing headlines by winning a major Fireball dinghy title with ace UK helmsman Tom Gillard.  In 2022, Gillard and Thompson scooped the world…

A crew with some of Ireland's top big boat talent are the deserved winners of the September Sailor of the Month Award (Superyacht), after their win in the Maxi A World Championships in Porto Cervo, Italy. A seven-strong Irish presence…