Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

#Coastguard - Two new postage stamps in tribute to the Irish Coast Guard are based on a painting by a volunteer who died in service, as the Sunday Independent reports. The painting by Caitríona Lucas, who died during a rescue…

There was no Kinsale Yacht Club Custom Rigging Frostbite racing yesterday due to high winds writes Dave O'Sullivan. The overall positions at the end of the series are below. The next KYC event is the Frank Godsell sponsored March League scheduled for…

#irishports - The State faces legal and logistical complications in managing a crash-out Brexit and is relying on emergency orders to bypass normal planning procedures to prepare, internal Government documents reveal. As The Irish Times reports, work on a wide…

A Cork Institute of Technology sailing team has finished third overall at the Port of Los Angeles Harbour Cup event held this weekend.  As Afloat.ie reported previously, Led by 29er dinghy ace Harry Durcan of Crosshaven on the helm and captain…

In a busy week in Mallorca, Olympian Finn Lynch, a Brand Ambassador to Viking Marine, shares his weekly tips. This week Lynch focuses on the merit of setting personal performance goals and the motivational advantage of some early personal wins. 'We…

The talk by Darryl Hughes of his veteran gaff ketch Maybird’s much-celebrated participation in the Volvo Round Ireland Race 2018, to be hosted by the Dublin Bay Old Gaffers Association at Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club on Tuesday 12th March,…

Recent orders from some of Ireland’s largest racing yachts have made for a busy winter period for the UK Sailmakers Ireland team writes Mark Mansfield. Last year the Farr 43 “WOW” and the new J121 “Jackhammer” were feature boats for UK Sailmakers Ireland;…

Anthony O'Leary and his Cork Harbour crew of David Hassett and Niall Rafferty in Antix have finished seventh overall at the Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta in Miami at the weekend in the 19-boat Viper 640 class. His sons Nicholas and Robert, sailing…

With winds gusting to 40–knots from the northwest on Dublin Bay this morning, there was little prospect of a final race in the six-race DBSC Spring Chicken series, especially as a flooding tide created a rough sea state for the…

#Rowing: Queen’s had a good day at the Lagan Scullers’ Head of the River in Belfast on Saturday. Sam McKeown was the fastest single sculler in the first head, and was most closely matched by three other men from his…

There has been an early by the DMYC call to scrub Sunday afternoon's dinghy Frostbite racing in Dun Laoghaire to give sailors a chance to make alternative arrangements, "like cheer on the men in green", says series organiser Neil Colin. There…

#Rowing: UCD won the Gannon Cup for senior men and Trinity the Corcoran Cup for senior women at the Colours Races in Dublin today. Trinity lead early in the Gannon, but once the crews came through Grattan Bridge, UCD pushed…

The Irish Times reports that a search is under way on Lough Mask for a fisherman who failed to return to shore yesterday (Friday 8 March). The local man, an experienced angling enthusiast in his 70s, had set out at…

#MarineScience - The EurofleetPlus Kick-off meeting held at the Marine Institute in Galway this past week (Tuesday 5 to Thursday 7 March) announced details of the project that will facilitate access to the largest advanced marine science research vessel fleet…

Wicklow RNLI's inshore lifeboat was launched at 4:40pm yesterday afternoon (Friday 8 March) to search for a missing dog. The alarm was raised by the anxious owner after her dog, named Otis, chased some seagulls down over the cliff edge…

#ferries - On International Women’s Day yesterday, Stena Line launched a new sustainability focus area – Equality and Inclusion. This is part of the company’s increased commitment to creating a sustainable working environment and an important step on the journey…

They’re the sometimes well-hidden glue that holds key elements of Irish sailing together writes W M Nixon. They’re a formidable power in our sport. They might seem to outsiders like secret societies. Yet each in its own way – for…

Third country customs controls will apply to all pleasure craft moving within UK waters in the event of a no-deal Brexit, HM Revenue & Customs has confirmed to British Marine regarding the VAT Paid Status of recreational craft. Upon exit…

Boat owners in Cork Harbour, receiving their renewal bills for moorings and for the use of the harbour by their boats are being hit with increased charges by the Port of Cork. The port has increased the cost of having…

The Second round of RS400 Frosties kicked off as the Spring kicked off on Sunday 24-Feb at the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club. This event followed the Autumn Series which had some 25 boats racing and very close competition…