Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
La Pericolosa Wins Cape 31 Hyères Finale as Eker Süzme Takes Double Victory
27th September 2026 Cape 31
La Pericolosa has won the final round of the 2026 Cape 31 Mediterranean Series in Hyères, completing three contrasting days of racing at the head of the 20-boat fleet. Turkey’s Eker Süzme provided the final-day fireworks, scoring back-to-back race wins…
Isle of Man Ministers Raise Doubts about 'Long-Term Suitability' of Flagship Manxman
27th September 2026 Ferry
Isle of Man government ministers have sought assurances over the long-term reliability of the flagship Manxman after major propulsion system defects left the ferry facing months out of service. Following a Freedom of Information request from Manx Radio, internal correspondence…
The maritime TV programme follows the Tramore lifeboat crew as they respond to an early-morning pager alert, capturing the reality of a volunteer lifeboat callout. During filming, crew members also shared their rescue experiences and spoke about life at a…
Brittany Ferries Ends English Channel Route Earlier than Planned with Ropax to Return to Rosslare
27th September 2026 Brittany Ferries
Brittany Ferries has closed one of its English Channel routes earlier than expected this month due to a technical issue with one of its ropax vessels. The Portsmouth-Le Havre route was initially set to end at the start of next…
The final Fireball regatta of the summer season was hosted by Blessington Sailing Club on 19 and 20 September, alongside racing for Mirrors and 420s. Despite the lake level being lower than usual after the summer drought, competitors praised the…
Judy Moynihan and Therese Loesberg claimed Monkstown Bay Sailing Club’s September Dinghy League Class 1 after a close final race in Cork Harbour. The Laser II pairing secured overall victory with a final race win on Friday night, 25th of…
Greenore Port in Co. Louth has implemented an advanced camera system to improve safety for its crane operations. The only privately owned commercial Irish port, with its Liebherr Harbour Mobile Cranes (LHMs), now has a new health and safety system across…
The giant Boskalis backhoe dredger Magnor arrived in Dublin Bay on Saturday morning (26 September), passing the Baily Lighthouse before entering Dublin Port. The specialist dredging vessel, one of the largest backhoe dredgers in the world, was photographed approaching the…
Stena Line Orders New E-Flexer Hybrids for Scandinavian Route of Sweden-Denmark
27th September 2026 Stena Line
Stena Line is to order newbuilds for its local Scandinavian fleet, with two new hybrid E-Flexer ferries scheduled to enter Sweden-Denmark service in 2030. The Swedish-based ferry company in Gothenburg is from where the two new E-Flexers are to link…
Irish Hot Air Balloon Championships Bring International Fleet to Lough Key
27th September 2026 News Update
The 54th Irish Hot Air Balloon Championships took place at Lough Key Forest Park, Boyle, from 19–25 September 2026, bringing together pilots and crews from across Ireland and overseas for a week of competitive flying. The annual event, held in…
Sam and Andrew Hall will take their J/125 Jackknife back across the Atlantic in the 2027 RORC Transatlantic Race, continuing a family campaign that has already delivered strong results in offshore racing and ISORA competition. As Afloat reported earlier, Jackknife…
Stormont Announces £700k Support Scheme for Lough Neagh Eel Fishery
27th September 2026 Northern Ireland Waters
Lough Neagh eel fishers and hauliers are to receive a £700,000 financial support package in a bid to support a sustainable industry while conserving eel stocks, DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has announced. The Lough Neagh Eel Fishery Transition Scheme will…
Waterways Ireland Announces Details of 2026–2027 Winter Mooring on Shannon Navigation and Shannon-Erne Waterway
27th September 2026 Inland Waterways
The winter mooring period for public harbours on the Shannon Navigation and Shannon-Erne Waterway runs from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027, in accordance with Shannon Bye-law 30(1). Boaters wishing to avail of winter mooring are asked to note:…
Foucher Wins Dublin Match Cup As Ireland's Finnegan Claims Best Tour Result
26th September 2026 Match Racing
French sailor Tom Foucher has won the 2026 Dublin Match Cup at the National Yacht Club, with event organiser Ruairi Finnegan taking second place on home waters for his best World Match Race Tour result. The Dún Laoghaire event was…
With extreme weather events currently being registered in at least half a dozen locations worldwide, we get a further insight into the enormity of the challenge being undertaken by the Golden Globe racers as they work their way south past…
The Dún Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club Kish Challenge has been postponed until next Sunday, October 4th, after a forecast of strong winds at the scheduled start time. Race Officer Cormac Bradley confirmed the postponement to Afloat, with the decision taken…
The Bay of Naples produced another spectacular day of AC40 fleet racing on Saturday, with four races completed in testing conditions that featured high speeds, tight mark roundings and dramatic position changes. As Afloat reported from the opening day of…
The IDRA 14 class has switched to a shoreside programme for the second day of its 80th anniversary celebrations at Clontarf Yacht & Boat Club today (Sunday, 27 September) because of the forecast for lively weather. Saturday's opening day went…
Dublin Bay Sailing Club’s final Saturday racing of the AIB 2026 summer season brought a lively finish on 26 September, with fleets racing in south-westerly winds and an ebb tide before the breeze strengthened for the afternoon programme. The final…
Connemara seafood company Irish Seaspray / Oileán Mara Teo has won one of the top prizes at the annual National Organic Awards. Bord Bia, in association with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, announced the winners of the…
