Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
31 Skippers to Set Sail from New York in Qualifying Race for Vendée Globe
30th April 2024 Vendee Globe
On May 29, 31 skippers from around the world will set sail from New York towards the Vendée, for the final qualifying and selection race to qualify for the Vendée Globe: the most challenging sailing race around the world. The…
Fishing opportunities have been reduced by major storms, according to one of the leading Irish fish producer organisations. “Eleven major storms since January first,” says Aodh O Donnell, Chief Executive of the Irish Fish Producers Organisation. This has left many…
Leading Transat CIC Contender Jérémie Beyou on His Way to Lorient with Forestay Damage
30th April 2024 Solo Sailing
Jérémie Beyou, one of the top hopes for the Transat CIC solo race from Lorient to New York, is returning to Lorient after his J2 forestay was damaged. The skipper of Charal made the decision to turn around after discussions…
Crossroads Community Centre in Cong in County Mayo will be the venue for a boating safety event on Wednesday, 8th May, from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. The free event, organised by Safe Water Training, is open to all and…
A Surefire Cure for Seasickness and Other Tips from Former Lightkeeper Gerald Butler, Now Hosting Visitors to Galley Head For The Irish Landmark Trust
30th April 2024 Wavelength Podcast
Look for a surefire cure for seasickness, and no better person to ask than someone who worked on a lightship off the Irish coast. Lightship duty was both tough and boring, highly dangerous during wartime, and particularly hard on the…
Wicklow Sailing Club's Lift-in of Boats Signals Round Ireland Race is Fast Approaching
30th April 2024 Round Ireland
Over the weekend, Wicklow Sailing Club successfully completed their lift-in of sailing cruisers, paving the way for the much-anticipated SSE Renewables Round Ireland Yacht Race on June 22nd. More than 40 boats have already signed up, and it is expected…
Seven UK national governing bodies of water-based sports have announced they’re coming together to form an alliance calling for clean open water across the UK. The Clean Water Sports Alliance of Angling Trust, British Rowing, British Triathlon, GB Outrigger, Paddle…
From Tuesday until Saturday Irish solo skipper Tom Dolan will compete out of Les Sables d’Olonne in the Solo Maître CoQ, the second of five events counting for the 2024 French Elite Offshore Racing Championship. “The crewed transatlantic race was a…
Arranmore Lifeboat Goes to Aid of Sailor After Yacht Gets Into Difficulty
29th April 2024 RNLI Lifeboats
Arranmore RNLI’s volunteer crew were roused in the early hours of Sunday morning (28 April) by Malin Head Coast Guard to assist a sailor onboard a yacht that lost power 18 miles west of the Co Donegal island. The initial…
CalMac and Peel Ports Group in Row on Safety of Ardrossan Harbour after £15.5m Payment
29th April 2024 Ferry
Scottish government owned Caledonian McBrayne (CalMac) has condemned one of the country’s key port operators which it said has left a major ferry port harbour in an "unacceptable" condition. The situation was putting safe operations at risk despite CalMac paying…
After a sunny, spectacular start, the 48 solo sailors taking part in the Transat CIC had to deal with the first windy and bumpy night at sea, crossing a front with 30 plus knots of wind and a rough sea…
The intensity of the 59th Congressional Cup, the opening event for the 2024 World Match Racing Tour, reached its peak today as USA’s Chris Poole and his Riptide Racing team won his second consecutive Congressional Cup and Crimson Blazer. Poole…
The 1927 Fastnet Race winner Tally Ho - a 48ft gaff cutter built in 1910 - has now been fully restored in a remarkable online project by English sailor/boatbuilder Leo Sampson Goolden in Sampson Boat Company’s premises at Sequium, Washington…
France, Germany and Great Britain Top Paris 2024 Olympic Regatta Qualification Numbers
29th April 2024 Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing
At least 63 nations will be represented across 10 events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Regatta this summer after qualifying concluded at last week's Last Chance Regatta in Hyères, south of France. The action will begin in Marseille on…
Port of Waterford Among 11 Ports to Receive PERS Certificate at ESPO Conference in Paris
29th April 2024 Ports & Shipping
The European Sea Ports Organisation congratulates 11 ports with their Port Environmental Review System (PERS) certificates during the annual ESPO Conference in Paris. The Port of Algeciras (Spain), the Port of Barcelona (Spain), the Port of Klaipeda (Lithuania), the Ports…
Encouraging Start For Women Sailing Sigma 33 Elandra at Royal Ulster’s Opening Day at Bangor
29th April 2024 Women in Sailing
The Sigma 33 Elandra was out racing for the first time yesterday (27th April) with its mainly all-women crew on Belfast Lough. Victoria and Martin Dews have made Elandra available to encourage women to grab the chance to race or…
Shannon Navigation: Navigation Closure Between Tarmonbarry and Ballyleague for Great River Swim
29th April 2024 Inland Waterways
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that the Gaelforce Great River Swim will take place between Tarmonbarry and Ballyleague next month. Around 500 swimmers will participate in the swim event in Lanesborough on…
Second ISORA Coastal Win for Howth Yacht Club J109 Indian as Dun Laoghaire Offshore Fleet Hits 14 Boats
28th April 2024 ISORA
There was a second consecutive ISORA coastal race win for the Howth Yacht Club J109 Indian crew skippered by Simon Knowles on Sunday after a light to medium air test in the longest race of the Viking Marine series so…
National Yacht Club's Walsh and Byrne are Dominant at 29er Easterns on Dublin Bay
28th April 2024 29er
William Walsh and Eoin Byrne of the host club were the clear winners of the 29er Eastern Championships 2024 at the National Yacht Club on Sunday. After eight races sailed off Seapoint on Dublin Bay in light to medium winds, the NYC…
Killaloe Sailing Club in County Clare played host to the highly anticipated GP14 Munster Championships, the first championship of 2024. The event drew 27 teams from across Ireland to experience the excitement and charm of sailing on Lough Derg. For…
