Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
'Storm' Holds Narrow Bangor Regatta Lead Ahead of Fresh Weather Test
26th June 2026 Bangor Town Regatta
Another day of light but tactical racing on Belfast Lough has left several Bangor Regatta titles finely balanced on Belfast Lough heading into Saturday's forecast stronger winds. Race Officer Con Murphy completed the full programme in sunshine and a shifty…
Black Star Sailing Team and Team Charisma are tied at the top of the 44Cup Marstrand leaderboard after six races as the Swedish regatta reached its halfway stage. Despite three race wins, Black Star could not shake off its rivals…
The Superyacht Cup Palma moved up a gear on Friday as a second day of racing in excellent conditions produced more close competition across the fleet. The 30th anniversary regatta completed its second race in fresh breezes on the Bay…
Friday 15:30hrs – An entire week’s wind and a southerly, and all of it crammed into one Friday afternoon. That’s how it has felt as the bulk of the fleet slugged their way towards the finish of the Round Ireland…
The Ó Domhnaill brothers from Gaoth Dobhair, Co Donegal, claimed a fourth consecutive Three Island Challenge title after another dominant performance in Ireland's largest traditional currach race in Skerries. Simon, Ronan and Michael Ó Domhnaill successfully defended the Denis Guiney…
Communities across Ireland are being invited to apply for funding to celebrate Water Heritage Day during National Heritage Week 2026. The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), together with Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O'Sullivan TD, has…
Proposed Kinsale Mussel Farm Application Deemed Withdrawn by Appeals Board
26th June 2026 Aquaculture
The Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board (ALAB) has determined that an application for an aquaculture licence for bottom-culture mussel farming at Kinsale Harbour, Co Cork, is deemed withdrawn. The determination follows appeals against the decision of the Minister for Agriculture, Food…
The Royal Ocean Racing Club's historic Cowes-Dinard-St Malo Race returns on Friday, July 3, with a strong international fleet contesting the 150-nautical-mile Channel classic. The race starts from the Royal Yacht Squadron Line in Cowes before heading west through the…
Wicklow RNLI volunteers brought four people safely ashore on Tuesday night after their vessel suffered engine failure eight miles northeast of Wicklow Harbour. The all-weather lifeboat RNLB Bridie O'Shea launched shortly after 9.30 pm under the command of Coxswain Tommy…
Bangor Regatta Delivers Full Opening-Day Programme in Light Shifty Breeze
26th June 2026 Bangor Town Regatta
A light and shifting north-easterly breeze of 5–10 knots provided a tactical test on the opening day of Bangor Regatta 2026, but race officials completed the scheduled programme across a combined fleet of almost 50 boats. Race Officer Con Murphy…
Friday 07:30hrs – The 43 boats in the open IRC division of the Round Ireland Race 2026 from Wicklow now find themselves in four groups. The tail-enders are in the North Channel, about 15 boats in total, extending all the…
Round Ireland 26: Khumbu May Have Won, But Courrier’s Performance Is Sensational
25th June 2026 Round Ireland
Thursday 19:30hrs – Superficially, Gery Trentesaux’s Pogo RC Courrier Pogo may seem like one of the smaller boats in the Round Ireland Race 2026 from Wicklow. Yet her IRC rating of 1.082 (as against, for instance, the 1.002 of the…
The 30th Superyacht Cup Palma got underway in ideal conditions on Thursday, with a steady sea breeze delivering competitive racing across a record five classes in the Bay of Palma. The opening race day featured close finishes throughout the fleet,…
The Cong-Galway race has been postponed due to weather until August 29th. The race had been set for this Saturday, June 27th, but an adverse weather forecast has forced deferral to a later date. Over 30 boats were expected to…
Dublin Bay Sailing Club has cancelled Thursday evening's AIB racing (June 25) after forecast light winds were deemed insufficient to complete the scheduled programme. The cancellation affects all Thursday evening cruiser and one-design racing scheduled for Dublin Bay. DBSC's next…
Black Star Sailing Team made the perfect start to the 44Cup Marstrand with two race wins on the opening day, but the leaderboard remains finely balanced after three races in Sweden. Christian Zuerrer's Swiss team, with New Zealand tactician Cameron…
As warm temperatures continue into the weekend, the Irish Coast Guard is urging anyone planning activities on or near the water to take extra care. While air temperatures are high, sea and inland water remain cold. The Coast Guard warns…
Galway Port has welcomed the inaugural visit of Thun Renew, one of Europe's most environmentally advanced coastal tankers, marking the start of a new twice-monthly fuel service to the west of Ireland. The vessel arrived on Thursday carrying a cargo…
The Rankin Dinghy 'Worlds' scheduled for this weekend in Cork Harbour have been postponed because forecast weather conditions were considered too severe for the fleet. Organisers said the decision followed discussions with the Officer of the Day. Although the forecast…
Today is the 'Day of the Seafarer,' observed internationally each year on June 25, providing an opportunity to recognise the essential role of seafarers in global trade and the risks they bear in sustaining it. This year, the International Maritime Agency…
