Markham Nolan caught up with Figaro entrant Paul O'Riain to ask him how sailors in Europe's top solo offshore race deal with sleep deprivation. O'Riain sailed in the 2007 Figaro and is entered to compete in the 2010 edition, which stops in Kinsale in August.

Hear ye, hear ye, Afloat.ie presents the first in a new series of regular podcasts. In this edition, Afloat's Markham Nolan meets two sailors from the growing 49er class in Ireland. We'll feature a full-length article on the growth of the class in the next edition of the magazine. Stay tuned for more.

What a difference a week makes. Last Tuesday the amateur crew onboard Cork was jubilant at winning their first prize in the race from Rio de Janeiro to Cape Town and congratulations were not in short supply. Cllr Derry Canty, Mayor of County Cork phoned skipper Richie Fearon to congratulate him and the crew on their major achievement onboard Cork. Listen into Richie on  the afloat.ie podcast as he departs for Australia this afternoon:

Heading West from Cork Harbour to Schull with the warm wind in your hair might sound a little far fetched in November but now really is the time to be making plans for next season (St. Patricks day is only five months away). Dealer HM Yachts knows how quickly next season will be upon us and is pitching a family sports cruiser at an unbelieveably good price, making it Afloat's boat of the week. The Finnish built cruiser with a price that has been slashed by 45% is seriously for sale. The 2007 Finnmaster Grandezza 23DC is a good seaboat with a deep V, ideal for day trips. Possible buyers include those looking to upgrade from a RIB. It is capable of coastal cruising and overnight trips thanks to its cuddy arrangement. Afloat.ie podcast with the broker is over the fold.

A Finnish built, family sports cruiser with a price that has been slashed by 45% is on the market from HM Yachts in Cork. The 2007 Finnmaster Grandezza 23DC is a good seaboat with a deep V, ideal for day trips. Possible buyers include those looking to upgrade from a RIB. It is capable of coastal cruising and overnight trips thanks to its cuddy arrangement. Afloat.ie podcast with the broker is over the fold.

As two possible Irish Commodore's Cup teams emerge from last month's Royal Cork's Autumn league indicator event, ICRA Commodore Barry Rose says that next week's ICRA meeting will be vital to the formation of these teams.

Among the hundreds of boats listed on Afloat's boats for sale listing, it's significant that a ten-year-old boat stands out this week. It is well-known that the renowned Nelson marque has a wide range of commercial and pleasure uses from 18' to 75' foot, and this 34-foot version for sale through BJ Marine is no different. This 1998 model is of GRP construction. It has a blue hull and white/grey non-slip decks. There are two single berths in one cabin.

The magnificent Fastnet Light, the magic of Donegal Bay and how fuel starvation last night nearly cost Philip Fitgibbon the Round Ireland Powerboat record. The 800-mile trip is relived here in afloat.ie's podcast with the winning skipper. Listen here. Make a contribution to our forum thread here .

The Ireland v Wales Interreg Championship, sailed in the ISA's J80s, is the smallest fleet in the VDLR but potentially most combative. The two nations are squaring off, four boats on four, with things reaching a crescendo on Sunday in a double-points finale. Irish sailor Nick Smyth gives us a run-down on day two and the team tactics for the rest of the event.