Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Northern Irish Finn Sailor Books Congressional Cup Semi Final Place with with Ian Williams in California
28th April 2024 Match Racing
Multi-talented Irish Finn Sailor Oisin McClelland from Donaghdee in County Down, who recently joined the 44Cup circuit, is in top match-racing form in America this weekend as part of Great Britain’s Ian Williams Congressional Cup crew, which is through to Sunday's…
Clifden RNLI’s volunteer crew in western Connemara launched on Thursday evening (25 April) to rescue a sailor from the upturned hull of his sailing boat in Clifden Bay. At 8.45pm the lifeboat crew were tasked by Malin Head Coast Guard…
Ideal Conditions for First Saturday Races of Dublin Bay Sailing Club's Summer Season
27th April 2024 DBSC
There were ideal conditions for Dublin Bay Sailing Club's first AIB Saturday race of the 2024 season, on April 25th, in medium north-easterly winds and a classic Dublin Bay chop. In a ten-boat turnout, J109s took the top three places…
Galway RNLI’s volunteer crew were requested to launch by the Irish Coast Guard on Saturday afternoon following a report of two people stranded by the tide on Hare Island, which is located on inner Galway Bay. The crew’s pagers were…
National Yacht Club organisers have confirmed that the 15-boat ISORA fleet will race a 28-mile coastal race from Dun Laoghaire. As Afloat reported previously, the Howth Yacht Club J109 Indian (Colm Buckley and Simon Knowles) returns to the Dun Laoghaire Harbour line this…
European Fisheries Control Agency Says Introducing Its Own Offshore Patrol Ships and Airplane Marked "A Turning Point"
27th April 2024 Fishing
Deploying three offshore patrol vessels for the first time added “fundamental fisheries control capacity to the EU”, according to the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA). The EFCA says that the chartering of three seaborne inspection platforms—the Ocean Sentinel, the Ocean…
The Royal Irish Yacht Club of Dun Laoghaire is so far the only club in Ireland which has indicated to Denis Byrne, Commodore of the governing Irish Cruiser-Racer Association and Vice Admiral of the Royal Cork YC, that it is…
Jetty Closures for Fermanagh Classic Fishing Festival in Enniskillen
26th April 2024 Inland Waterways
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterways users on the Erne System in Northern Ireland that Fermanagh’s annual Classic Fishing Festival will take place on Lough Erne from this Sunday 28 April to Friday 3 May. Inland waterways users are…
Crosshaven Lifeboat Launches to Aid of Two on 30ft Yacht in Difficulty
26th April 2024 RNLI Lifeboats
Crosshaven RNLI in Cork Harbour came to aid of two people on Wednesday (24 April) after their 30ft yacht got into difficulty. The yacht’s crew who were on passage from Dublin to Crosshaven alerted the Irish Coast Guard at Valentia…
Shannon Navigation: Tarmonbarry Lifting Bridge to Reopen on May Bank Holiday Weekend
26th April 2024 Inland Waterways
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that the lifting bridge at Tarmonbarry in Co Roscommon will now reopen on Friday 3 May. This extension of the bridge’s closure since February is a result…
Irish 49er Trial Comes Down to the Wire as Ireland Exits French Olympic Week With No Medal Race Finish
26th April 2024 Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing
Irish Olympic class sailors did not make it to Saturday's medal race final at French Olympic Week in Hyères, France on April 26th, 2024. This week's regatta saw all events conclude their series despite moderate winds and torrential rain on…
Brittany Ferries to Add Third Weekly Sailing Between Rosslare and Cherbourg from April
26th April 2024 Brittany Ferries
Brittany Ferries, the popular ferry operator, has announced plans to add a third weekly return-sailing between Rosslare and Cherbourg from April 29th. The move is aimed at boosting connectivity ahead of the company's rail-ferry service launch in 2025. The new…
Loop Head Lighthouse at Mouth of Shannon Estuary to Get New Visitor Facilities with Clare County Council Planning Approval
26th April 2024 Lighthouses
Clare County Council has been granted planning approval to develop new visitor facilities at Loop Head Lighthouse Visitor Experience at the mouth of the Shannon Estuary in County Clare. This proposed development will feature new visitor centre facilities, a Looped…
Arklow Rose Takes to the Waters With Splash and Spectacle for Dutch Onlookers
26th April 2024 Arklow Shipping
Despite grey clouds, the sun was out too during the launch of Arklow Rose this morning, which was a spectacle that the locals of a Dutch shipyard clearly enjoyed watching, writes Jehan Ashmore. A blast from the Royal Bodewes shipyard…
Greystones Fifty-Seven Footer 'Opal' Joins the ISORA Fleet for Sunday's Coastal Race
26th April 2024 ISORA
Having won last Sunday's race, the Howth Yacht Club J109 Indian (Colm Buckley and Simon Knowles) returns to the Dun Laoghaire Harbour line this Sunday at 11 am for the fourth of five races in ISORA's Viking Marine Coastal Series. Forecasts…
Bristow Ireland, the company taking over the new Irish Coast Guard search and rescue (SAR) helicopter contract says, it has reached an agreement with trade union Unite to ensure the “smooth transition of special helicopter engineers” to the company. “It…
Corrib Gas Field Owners Challenge Government's Windfall Tax on Profits
26th April 2024 Power From the Sea
The Corrib gas field’s operator is pursuing a legal challenge to the Government’s windfall tax on energy. As the Irish Independent reports, owner Vermilion Energy is arguing that it has not made any profit from the Corrib field, although revenues…
Royal Irish Dominates the Podium in Dublin Bay Sailing Club's First AIB Thursday Evening Race of 2024 Season
26th April 2024 DBSC
Dublin Bay Sailing Club's first AIB Thursday evening race of the 2024 season on April 25th got off to a gentle start as light easterly winds died away and led to the abandonment of racing in many classes. However, the…
World Champ Paul O’Donovan Goes It Alone on First Day of European Rowing Championships
25th April 2024 Rowing
All eyes were on the reigning World Champion Paul O’Donovan on the first day of the 2024 European Rowing Championships in Szeged, Hungary (Thursday 25 April). Paul is racing for the first time in the heavyweight single scull category while…
Skiff Sailors Lead Irish Hopes Going Into Penultimate Day of French Olympic Week
25th April 2024 Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing
With just Friday’s fleet racing remaining at French Olympic Week at Hyères on the Côte D’Azur, Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove lead Irish hopes for the medal race final in the men’s skiff event. However, despite strong form in Thursday’s…