Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

From next month (1st November 2008) diesel used for "private pleasure navigation" is subject to mineral oil tax at the full "propellant" rate of 36.805 cent per litre, instead of the marked gas oil rate of 4.736 cent that applies…

Alicante is at fever pitch for this weekend's start. At a skipper's press briefing Limerick's Ger O'Rourke was lined up with some of the finest sailors in the world. O'Rourke spoke first:

So many people were affected by the sinking of the Asgard it's easy to understand how so many feel much more than a vessel was lost last month. Following reader requests Afloat.ie is compiling Asgard memories for the website. Here…

Team Delta Lloyd are back on the water and sailing four days after their yacht's hull was damaged during the in-port race on Saturday. 

The Puma Sailing team is showcasing foiling Moth dinghies at all the 11 stopover cities. Crewed by world class Moth sailors, the mini ‘il mostros’ is providing entertainment for spectators as they blast around the harbour each day.

For Ireland's last entry in the round the world race in 1989 the 38-boat fleet sailed away from Portsmouth and disappeared over the horizon. In spite of all the techonlogy in Alicante, this weekend may well be the same again.…

Armchair experts now have the chance to test their skills against the best offshore sailors in the world with the launch of Virtual Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09 - the race's official game.

Last night Ger O'Rourke's Delta Lloyd was taken out of the water for damage repairs. In yesterday's second In-Port Race, Team Russia's bow sprit went through the starboard side of the Dutch 70-foot hull.

The Dickson family of Lough Ree are “Sailors of the Month” for September after an outstanding season in which they made a significant input into the sport both as volunteers, and enthusiastic participants.

Mary Robinson, the former President of Ireland and previously United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, was officially announced as the godmother to Ericsson 4 at the weekend, one of the two-boat Ericsson Racing Team that is taking part in…

In the bay of Alicante, Spain the skippers of both Irish boats for next weekend's Volvo Ocean race have been giving their reaction after Saturday's two in-port races.

Match Racing champion Nicholas O’Leary added the All Ireland title to his 2008 haul this evening after a weekend event the O'Leary's made their own.

A third place in race one was followed by a disappointing sixth in race two after sail handling errors for the Green Dragon as the Spanish lead the way in front of their home crowd.  

Champagne sailing conditions that next week's Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta race officers would surely relish greeted Dublin Bay Sailing Club's large turnout for this afternoon's race. Gusts up to 15 knots in an otherwise solid 10-12 knot southerly wind and…

A father and two sons make up three of eight finalists racing in the Eurocar parks All Ireland Sailing Championship 2008 this morning at Howth Yacht Club.

So much to do, so little time... No excuses, though, as the sun is shining after all the rain and there’s scads of sailing – and other – events around the country this coming week. For traditionalists, the Yawl Sailing…

Peter O'Leary has parted company with Beijing crew Steven Milne but the Cork helmsman is to continue on in the Star keelboat for London with a new crew Tim Goodbody.

Noel Ahern TD, the Minister of State for Transport paid tribute to the Irish Coast Guard Volunteers today as he opened their new Coastal Unit Station House in Toe Head, County Cork and presented long service medals.

As everything falls into place for the 2009 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, the last element will be put in place by the weather gods. Will Neptune smile on the 450 boats that are on their way to Dun Laoghaire for…

The possibility of salvage of the sail training vessel Asgard II has been improved with the discovery that the hull is ‘largely intact’ and upright on the seabed in the Bay of Biscay.