Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
The SB20 Venuesworld skippered by Ger Dempsey of the Royal Irish Yacht Club won Race Two of the AIB DBSC Turkey Shoot on Dublin Bay on Sunday, 8 November, and moved into the series lead on 15 points, three clear of…
November is not a month renowned for its calms, but Sunday (November 8th) saw the eclectic fleet at the Howth Yacht Club Frostbites start in sunshine and finish in grey cloud cover, yet with precious little wind under either drapery.…
Ireland's defending J/24 world champions, Headcase, are just two points off the lead going into the final day of the 2026 Epigen J/24 World Championship in Melbourne, following a difficult seventh race on Port Phillip. The Irish crew, skippered by Cillian Dickson of…
Spanish Shipping Group Boluda Acquires Dutch Container Company Samskip
10th November 2026 Ports & Shipping
A Spanish shipping group and a Dutch container company have signed an agreement under which Boluda Shipping will acquire Samskip, with both having existing operations in Ireland. The acquisition will pave the way for Europe’s most comprehensive short-sea shipping network,…
Ireland's Peter O'Leary and crew Joost Houweling made a strong start to the 2026 Star World Championship in Miami, finishing seventh in the opening race of the 95-boat fleet on Biscayne Bay on Monday, November 9th. The Irish entry, sailing under…
Enniskillen RNLI volunteers assisted two people after their boat ran aground in thick fog on Lower Lough Erne on Sunday, 8 November. The station's inshore lifeboat, John and Jean Lewis, launched at 4 pm after Belfast Coastguard requested assistance when a vessel…
Irish Ferries Warns of Potential Surcharge for Hauliers on Southern Corridor Route
10th November 2026 Irish Ferries
On the southern corridor, Irish Ferries has warned its freight customers of a potential new surcharge in 2027 on the route linking Rosslare–Pembroke Dock, Wales. The possible development follows proposals by Rosslare Europort (operated by Irish Rail/Iarnród Éireann) to substantially…
Retired Irish Coast Guard officer and maritime historian Joe Ryan paid tribute to all those who fulfilled the late maritime advocate Des Branigan's wish to ensure the RMS Leinster victims were remembered. In an account of the unveiling of a…
Barry and Frost Lead Cork Fireball Frostbite League Opener
10th November 2026 Monkstown Bay Sailing Club
Sunday, 8th November, marked the start of the annual Cork Fireball Frostbite League for 2026 at Monkstown Bay Sailing Club. A bleak morning dawned under grey skies and low-lying cloud, with a significant bite to the air marking the start…
Robert Tottenham of Lough Derg Yacht Club and the Royal St George Yacht Club claimed a double victory at the conclusion of Irish Optimist National Training Week 2026, winning both the Halloween Regatta overall title and the Crosbie Cup. More than 110…
Galway Harbour’s long-planned redevelopment has moved a step closer, as cycling advocate Shane Foran has withdrawn judicial review proceedings. As Afloat previously reported, planning approval for the €290 million harbour extension was granted in April 2026, after years of delays. The possibility…
The only ferry still operating in UK waters from the era of the Sealink (British Ferries) brand resumed Solent sailings for owner Wightlink on the Portsmouth-Fishbourne, Isle of Wight, route, writes Jehan Ashmore. St. Faith, which has retained its name since…
A new film on the Betelgeuse disaster at Cork’s Whiddy Island is to be screened at this year’s Cork International Film Festival. As The Irish Examiner reports, the film is by Adrian McCarthy, whose father, a firefighter, was one of…
Dublin sailor Barry Twohig is preparing to tackle two Atlantic Ocean crossings in the next Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, having discovered sailing later in life and developed a taste for offshore adventure. The 59-year-old is among the Irish participants…
Lough Swilly RNLI in Donegal has congratulated volunteer crew members Barry Nixon and Colin McBrearty on successfully achieving operational milestones on the station’s Shannon class all-weather lifeboat. Their achievements mark a significant milestone in both volunteers’ RNLI training and operational…
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is to provide more than €1 million to support healthy habitats for fish in rivers nationwide in 2027. In 2026, IFI’s Habitats and Conservation Scheme awarded a total of €763,667 in funding to 18 environmental projects…
The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) has announced a new Corinthian Cup for the 2027 Admiral’s Cup, recognising the best-performing eligible two-boat team competing with a limited number of professional sailors. The award will celebrate the amateur tradition at the heart of offshore…
Two fishermen rescued a cruise ship pianist who fell overboard off California last week. As BBC News and CBS News report, the man was found treading water around 20 miles (32km) off the California coast after spending some nine hours…
The Joint Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs will resume its pre-legislative scrutiny of legislation relating to marine protected areas on Tuesday, 10th November. The Committee will discuss the Maritime Area Planning (Marine Protected Areas) (Amendment) Bill 2026 with stakeholders. As Afloat…
Norwegian Sailor Quits Golden Globe Race After Disqualification Ruling
9th November 2026 Golden Globe Race
Norwegian sailor Mara Løvenskiold Kveseth has retired from the 2026 McIntyre Golden Globe Race after receiving two disqualification penalties, both of which race organisers later suspended. Kveseth, sailing Showgirl in fifth place, announced her withdrawal on 7 November following an investigation into alleged breaches of the…
