Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Bangor RNLI has paid tribute to its dedicated lifeboat volunteers after what’s hoped to be its final callout of 2018. Just after 6.30am this morning (Monday 31 December) the lifeboat was called to assist in the rescue of a vulnerable…
Irish Government Accused of ‘Standing Idly by’ As UK Bolsters Ferry Links for Brexit
31st December 2018 Ferry
#FerryNews - The Irish Times writes the Government needs to “immediately move” to bolster and diversify transport links to the European Union, the Labour Party has said. Labour party leader Brendan Howlin said the Government is “standing idly by” while…
In offshore yacht racing the margins are fine, permutations seemingly infinite and influence of unpredictable factors like the weather significant. Concentration, resilience and a deft ability to react to unforeseen change and adversity are a prerequisite for any successful crew.…
In an end of year review, the Coast Guard is continuing to highlight the capacity to Raise the Alarm and Stay Afloat as essential elements to reducing loss of life owing to drowning’s at sea or on inland waterways. The…
Save the dates 9 to 11 August 2019 in your calendar for the Spinlock IRC Welsh National Championships, which promises a long weekend packed full of great racing and fun ashore Once again the Welsh Nationals have been selected as…
Dun Laoghaire's Viking Marine is offering a complimentary gift voucher to the value of €10 for each sign up to its e-newsletter. Viking Marine says its newsletter is "for anyone on the water needing information on events, new technical clothing, chandlery, safety…
#NavalService - LÉ George Bernard Shaw, the latest ship to join the ranks of the Irish Navy, will be open for the public to look around next week in Galway Docks. As the Galway Daily writes, LÉ George Bernard Shaw…
#FerryNews - The British government has spent more than £100 million on ferries to ease potential problems in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The Department for Transport (DfT) reports RTE News, has signed contracts with French firm Brittany Ferries,…
A Public, Policy-Led Plan With Climate Change Focus: What Ireland Wants From New Marine Spatial Plan
29th December 2018 News Update
A policy-based plan that puts climate change front and centre and steers away from privatising coastal resources is what the country wants from the State’s National Marine Planning Framework, as The Irish Times reports. Details have been released from the…
#Fishing - Marine Minister Michael Creed has launched a public consultation on a proposal to implement a pilot quota balancing scheme for demersal fish stocks. Quota balancing means that where a vessel exceeds its catch limit for a relevant stock…
Donaghadee RNLI Fundraising Chair Person Awarded British Empire Medal in the Queens New Year 2019 Honours List
29th December 2018 RNLI Lifeboats
Evelyn Bennett, who has been the Chair of the Donaghadee Royal National Lifeboat Institution Fundraising branch since 2005 has been honoured with a British Empire Medal ( BEM ). Evelyn has been instrumental in encouraging the local community to fundraise…
Hobart in Tasmania is a characterful port with a certain style to it, picturesquely located in handsome scenery on the estuary of the River Derwent writes W M Nixon. It’s home to a goodly fleet of sailcraft and motorboats of…
Seán Canney T.D., Minister with responsibility for the Inland Fisheries sector has approved a suite of regulations and bye-laws that will govern the wild salmon and sea trout fisheries in 2019. These will come into effect from Tuesday 1 January…
Special World Sailing Council Meeting Confirms Olympic Keelboat Event Over Finn Class
28th December 2018 Olympic
Minutes of the meeting that decided the inclusion of an Olympic keelboat event in place of the Finn class have been confirmed by the World Sailing council, according to Sail World. Controversy has arisen after last month’s decision at World…
Galway, Louth & Wexford Risk Losing Property To Coastal Erosion, New Report Warns
28th December 2018 Coastal Notes
Climate change is accelerating the threat of coastal erosion for more than 40,000 people living in coastal communities, according to the Irish Independent. The warning comes from a new report commissioned by local authorities, and produced by the MaREI Centre…
#ShannonEstuary - The port of Shannon Foynes writes The Irish Times, could take any post-Brexit strain off Irish east coast ports should Border checks lead to congestion, its chief executive has said. Pat Keating, chief executive of Shannon Foynes Port…
Race to Salvage McGuckin's Golden Globe Race Yacht off Australia
28th December 2018 Golden Globe Race
Golden Globe Race retiree Gregor McGuckin is not the only person keen to recover his boat still drifting in the South Indian Ocean some three months after his evacuation. As David O'Brien reports in today's Irish Times Sailing Column, there…
Round-the-World Sailing: 'You’ve Reached South Africa & You’re Nearly Home!'
28th December 2018 Tom MacSweeney
Hello and welcome to my weekly Podcast …. Tom MacSweeney here …. The Christmas and New Year festive period is a time for memories – or so it is traditionally said – and there are a few which were brought…
Val Oatley described Wild Oats XI’s Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race line honours victory perfectly alongside the dock in Hobart this morning: “Three years of misery to this moment,” and you could not wipe the smile from her face or…
Viking Marine in Dun Laoghaire have put a fantastic package together to encourage new sailors on the water in 2019. This package contains the very best in sailing gear to get started, out on the water, warm, dry and safe. On…
