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Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Puffins and gannets are among the seabirds making their home on Ireland’s Eye
#MarineWildlife - A Howth-based ferryman fears for marine wildlife on and around Ireland’s Eye when a planned sewage outfall pipe begins discharging wastewater in the area. Ken Doyle of Ireland’s Eye Ferries tells Dublin Live that any accidental contamination of…
Last Places Open On Latest VHF Radio Course At INSS
#INSS - Anyone who wants to get certified in the use of short-range VHF marine radio should look to the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School (INSS) in Dun Laoghaire, which is running its next course from Monday. The four-evening…
Local people in the port of Holyhead, Wales fear that Brexit could hit port traffic which is an economic lifeline for the town.
#FerryNews - Trucks in their hundreds roll off the docks at Holyhead every day, bringing goods to and from Ireland in an economic lifeline for this deprived corner of Wales, which is now threatened by Brexit, reports France24.  Just 73…
 Ilen secure for the winter in the Ted Russell Dock in Limerick, where there are daily reminders that this is very much a working port, and Limerick is a manufacturing town
The restored 1926-built 56ft ketch Ilen proudly tells us on her transom that her home port is Limerick writes W M Nixon. And while Limerick may have come to prominence as a raiding base and trading centre for the Vikings…
In the event of a hard Brexit Dublin Port would have to handle five times the freight 'overnight'. AFLOAT adds above yesterday at dawn docked in the capital next to the Tom Clarke (East-Link) toll-bridge is Irish Ferries chartered-in ropax Epsilon (primarily a freight ferry with limited passenger capacity) and during its routine 'Monday' layover, having completed a weekend roundtrip to Cherbourg, before commencing sailings (today) for the rest of this week to Holyhead, Wales. Recently the Rosslare based cruiseferry Oscar Wilde has ceased sailing to France for this season, however the ferry has made several continental crossings on the year-round direct Dublin-Cherbourg route in tandem with Epsilon.
#DublinPort - An hour and a half before dawn and several ships are making their way to Dublin Port, reports BBC News. The biggest by far is the Delphine (see Humber story), known locally as a Brexit-buster which Afloat adds…
Boats in winter storage
While some Afloat.ie readers plan to keep sailing through the colder months, and have surely taken note of UK Sails’ recent heavy weather sailing tips, most will have seen or will see their boats lifted out this month. Either way,…
Scientists recommend a further 61% cut in EU quotas for mackerel
#Fishing - Marine Minister Michael Creed held a key bilateral meetings on the margins of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg this week with his Danish and Spanish counterparts to discuss Brexit and fisheries priorities. Minister Creed met the…
Wet Wipes Scourge of Irish Beaches In 2018 Coastwatch Survey
#CoastalNotes - Wet wipes are “in abundance” around the Irish coastline as the annual Coastwatch Survey draws to a close this week. According to RTÉ News, citizen science volunteers taking part in the ‘eco-audit’ of Ireland’s coasts — which has…
Overall winners Rory Martin and Dave Muckilveen wait for the breeze on Lough Derg
After braving the delays due to roadworks on the Motorway heading south, many of the Flying Fifteen fleet assembled for Lough Derg Yacht Club's traditional pre-event supper in the Whiskey Still at Dromineer, followed by some refreshments writes our special…
The Naval Service’s newest ship LÉ George Bernard Shaw (P64) berthed alongside Haulbowline Naval Base, Cork Harbour. The €67m newbuild under the command of Lieutenant Commander Frank O’Connor made a delivery voyage across the Celtic Sea from a UK shipyard.  As AFLOAT reported in August, the vessel's primary armament a 76mm OTO Melara naval gun is to be fitted in the coming weeks.
#NavalService - The newest Irish Naval Service Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) LÉ George Bernard Shaw completed a delivery voyage from a UK shipyard to Cork Harbour, writes Jehan Ashmore. Minister with responsibility for Defence, Mr Paul Kehoe TD, welcomed the…
A Squib race start on Lough Derg at the Freshwater Regatta
Lough Derg Yacht Club's Freshwater Championships in Dromineer last weekend was all about the weather! On Thursday and Friday when the teams were arriving from every part of Ireland, they were told to expect 100km/hr winds. Fortunately, these winds did not…
Exhibition: ‘SS Dundalk’ recounts tragic sinking and loss of life on the Irish Sea a century ago
#CoastalNotes - The economic, emotional and communal effects is encompassed in an exhibiton about the sinking of the SS Dundalk 100 years ago which was officially launched recently at the County Museum, Dundalk, by UK Defence Attaché, Colonel Darren Doherty.…
Darragh Clarke
#Canoeing: Ireland’s Darragh Clarke won the junior event at the Krumlovsky Vodacky Marathon in the Czech Republic – his third consecutive win at this level in this event. The 18-year-old wildwater paddler from  Chapelizod was taking part in the marathon…
Incoming Chairman Michael Boyd (centre) with Peter Wykeham-Martin and Alp Doguoglu pictured at the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire
Representatives of the International Rating Certificate (IRC) met in Dun Laoghaire for two days of debate and discussion at the beginning of October. The IRC Technical Committee agreed on a number of developments for 2019 as a result of research…
Irish sailor Gregor McGuckin with his father Randal McGuckin and his mother Lynne McGuckin in Dublin Airport
Heroic Irish solo sailor Gregor McGuckin arrived back in Dublin today to a rapturous welcome in Dublin Airport from his family, friends and members of the sailing community. It is Gregor’s first time on Irish soil since embarking on his…
Bray 'Helmsman' Trophy winners Philip and Mick O'Reilly
Bray Sailing Club reintroduced one of the club’s longest standing trophies this weekend as its first 'Senior Helmsman’s' Championship in fifteen years was sailed. The trophy was put on ice when dinghy sailing declined in the early 2000’s but the…
Shannon Estuary Cutter 'Sally O'Keeffe' in winning mode
The largest fleet to have gathered for an October Series along the west coast in a number of years came together this Sunday on the Shannon Estuary in the Combined Clubs October Series being hosted by the Royal Western Yacht…
Heavy weather sailing is safe and easy when you set your sails correctly for the conditions and the ability of your crew says Barry Hayes of UK Sailmakers Ireland
With the DBSC Turkey Shoot Series starting soon on Dublin Bay and Autumn Leagues in full swing in Crosshaven, Howth, Kilrush and elsewhere, Barry Hayes from UK Sailmakers Ireland gives some tips on how to effectively handle your boat in…
Royal Cork's Davy Kenefick in action at the Moth Nationals in Dun Laoghaire Harbour
Ten boats were entered for this year's International Moth National Championships, held at the Royal St George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire on Dublin Bay. Starting with three races on a chilly Friday afternoon, in light, north to northeast winds…
Yachts wait for wind on the third Sunday of RCYC's Autumn League
In contrast to last Sunday where Royal Cork Yacht Club's Autumn League featured the heavy weather drama of broken spars, a grounding and a crew in the water, today's race was an airless one and racing for classes 1,2,3 and 4 (the…

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