Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

This past weekend saw the successful launch in Cork of Thunder Child II, the next-generation wave-piercing monohull from Safehaven Marine designed to set a new powerboat world record. Crafted at Safehaven’s boatyard in Youghal, the XSV20 cruised into East Ferry…

#Lifeboats - It was a different kind of ‘surf and turf’ when three teenagers and a horse were rescued in two separate callouts by Kinsale's RNLI volunteers yesterday (Sunday 17 February). Late in the afternoon the lifeboat launched following reports…

From the previous Friday morning, the XCWeather website had been consistent in its forecast for Sunday afternoon at 14:00, winds of the order of 17/18 knots with gusts to 28/30 knots from a direction of south or south of south-west.…

It was a strong seventh-place finish overall for Howth Yacht Club’s Rocco Wright at the International Palamós Optimist Trophy, which concluded yesterday (Sunday 17 February) on Spain’s Costa Brava. The youngster remained in medal contention among a 110-boat gold fleet…

#dublinport - Ship insurer Standard Club based in the UK, estimates that about 40% of its business will be written through its new Dublin unit, which has been set up to allow the business to continue to service customers in…

A strong SW breeze greeted our competitors on the third morning of the Custom Rigging Frostbite series in Kinsale writes Dave O'Sullivan. Race Officer John Stallard assisted by Michele Kennelly (welcome back) and Siobhan Keane Hopcraft aboard Destiny (Bruce &…

Gregor McGuckin's Yellow Brick tracker onboard his abandoned Hanley Endurance Golden Globe yacht is running in stealth mode to stop others from trying to salvage the boat according to Race Headquarters. While McGuckin has returned safely to Ireland a salvage…

#lectures - A Glenua talk by Gregor McGuckin entitled: “Gregor’s Golden Globe Race 2018” Thursday 21 February at (20:00hrs) will take place at the Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club, Ringsend, Dublin 4. There will be an entry fee of €5…

Thirty years ago, on February 13th 1989, the volunteer crew of Portrush RNLI Lifeboat launched in dreadful conditions to reports of two Spanish trawlers in difficulty. This was when the famous Portrush picture was taken by photographer Ian Watson. Crew…

Lough Ree Yacht Club at Ballyglass, where the spacious waters of the great Shannon lake start to narrow back to river size for the passage south through Athlone, is already well into planning for its Quarter Millennium in 2020. Founded…

2019 will be a busy year for the Irish GP14 dinghy fleet and to celebrate the progress being made in Cullaun with a new Clubhouse at Kilkishen in Co Clare and also to recognise the recent growth of GP14 sailing in…

Winter sail training for the Royal Cork Yacht Club Under 25 Keelboat Academy sponsored by EY is continuing in Cork Harbour this February writes Bob Bateman Primarily using the club's 1720 sportsboats, the Academy is made up of 16 and 25…

Saturday, February 16th saw the Laser sailors of Cork gather for the final day of the Monkstown Laser Frostbite League, sponsored by CH Marine writes Chris Bateman. The morning began with a mixed sky over the bay. Patches of blue were…

The Irish Federation of Sea Anglers men's Senior Shore Angling Championship Team have won World silver medals in South Africa. The result highlights the efforts and successes of the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers. IFSA ladies also had a very…

Dublin Bay has an unrivalled continuous history of One-Design sailing and racing writes W M Nixon. It runs in a golden thread all the way back to 1887, when Ben Middleton launched his little class of Water Wag dinghies to…

The three-day ICRA Championships being held in Dun Laoghaire from June 7 will comprise of four fleets accommodating offshore, traditional and white sail racing. Each fleet will get its own race areas with race management lead by International PRO David Lovegrove. Back…

Sailors and boaters across the country are getting ready for RYANI’s Annual Awards, which take tonight at Belfast Harbour Commissioners. The awards recognise and celebrate the contributions and achievements made over the last year by clubs, teams and individuals across…

Waterways Ireland and Leave No Trace Ireland are working in partnership again to deliver their River Explorers programme. River Explorers engages local primary school children to take pride in their local river, lake or canal. Funding was successfully secured during…

#Lifeboats - As noted by Tom MacSweeney in his latest podcast, Wicklow is the last RNLI station with a Tyne class lifeboat in service. Before the current Tyne lifeboat Annie Blaker is officially taken off service later this year, it will be…

With the countdown to launch well under way, Viking Marine provides a handy checklist below to help with your own to-dos getting your boat ready for another season’s sailing. Stock is now arriving in-store and online at VikingMarine.ie for all…