Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
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…
Top Solo Sailors Compete in The Transat CIC Race Across The North Atlantic
28th April 2024 Solo Sailing
The Transat CIC, the legendary solo race across the North Atlantic, commenced on Sunday with 48 sailors setting sail from Lorient, Brittany towards New York. Blessed with sunny skies, cumulus clouds, and a decent 10-15kts of Westerly wind, the sailors…
One of Cork Harbour’s most notorious islands, Spike, is the subject of a new book published this week. “Spike Island—the Rebels, Residents, and Crafty Criminals of Ireland’s Historic Island” was written by John Crotty and will be launched by Cork’s…
O'Tiarnaigh's eXcession is YTC Rating Winner at Royal Ulster Yacht Club Spring Series on Belfast Lough
28th April 2024 Belfast Lough
Inclement weather played havoc with the six-race Royal Ulster Yacht Club Spring Series on Belfast Lough, with Sunday, 7th April, cancelled. However, four races eventually gave overall results. The last outing on 21st April started with little wind, and the…
Oceans of Hope Challenge Hosts Second Introduction to Sailing Day with MS Ireland in Dun Laoghaire
28th April 2024 INSS
An introduction to sailing in Dun Laoghaire Harbour for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) earlier this month (April) was so successful that a second is planned for May 8th. As reported by Afloat, the initiative is run by MS Ireland…
Tributes have been paid to Jo English, SailCork's administration and customer care manager who died earlier this month after a brief illness. The Sunday Independent reports that the many tributes have included those from Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC) admiral…
Royal Cork's 'Nieulargo' Crew Crowned Axiom Spring Series IRC One Champion at Kinsale (Photo Galleries Here!)
28th April 2024 Kinsale
After five races sailed and one discard, Denis and Annamarie Murphy's Nieulargo was crowned IRC One champion at Kinsale Yacht Club's Axiom Private Clients Spring Series 2024 on Sunday. The Royal Cork Yacht Club Grand Soleil 40 crew, skippered by RCYC's Lady…
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…