Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Land's End Looms as RORC Round Britain and Ireland Fleet Faces Tactical Test
10th August 2026 Rd Britain & Ireland
The tactical battle at Land's End is beginning to define the second day of the 2026 RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race, with the leading boats choosing contrasting routes towards the Isles of Scilly. Twenty-four hours after the start, Johnny…
Liverpool's Historic Langton Dock Pumphouse Restored Following £1m Investment
10th August 2026 Ports & Shipping
At the Port of Liverpool, a landmark restoration project has given new life to the historic Langton Dock Pumphouse, demonstrating Peel Ports Group's commitment to preserving the region's industrial heritage. The Grade II listed building has undergone an extensive restoration…
The Cape 31 class underlined its growing reputation in handicap racing with a dominant showing at the 44th Copa del Rey MAPFRE, where Sönke Meier-Sawatzki's Niramo claimed the ORC C title in Palma. Five Cape 31s competed in the 21-boat…
Rosslare Harbour Maritime Heritage Centre to Celebrate 120 Years of Route to Fishguard
10th August 2026 Rosslare Europort
This month the Rosslare Harbour Maritime Heritage Centre is proud to present a special exhibition of photographs and artefacts commemorating the 120th anniversary of the Rosslare–Fishguard ferry service (1906–2026). The maritime heritage centre welcomes those to join the official launch…
Wild Cards claimed the 2026 Elmo Trophy after edging Demons 3-2 in a dramatic best-of-five final that went to a deciding race following a marathon weekend of team racing. The 11th edition of the event produced 173 races before the…
Three cruise ship calls are expected to visit Foyleport this week, involving two inaugural calls and one return visit, writes Jehan Ashmore. The first of the scheduled cruise trio is Star Legend, operated by Windstar Cruises, which is due to…
A Galway RNLI lifeboat crew rescued a lone sailor after a 25ft yacht ran aground and began taking on water on the south shore of Galway Bay on Sunday. The volunteer crew was tasked by the Coast Guard shortly before…
Birdwatch Ireland has said that the legislation on marine protected areas (MPAs) must be “as strong as possible to protect marine environments and our coastal communities”. As Afloat reported last month, the Government has approved the drafting of the Maritime…
Dún Laoghaire’s Coal Harbour has become an international training base ahead of this month’s ILCA 7 Men’s World Championship, with approximately 40 sailors and their coaches currently using the harbour facilities. A similar number trained from the Coal Harbour in…
Ireland now has two sailors preparing separate bids to become the first Irish person to sail solo and non-stop around the world — and, coincidentally, both campaigns are using the challenge to raise funds and awareness for Parkinson’s disease. As…
New York Yacht Club claimed its first Morgan Cup title in 11 years after defeating Larchmont Yacht Club in the final of the 2026 Invitational Team Race Regatta at Harbour Court, Newport, Rhode Island. The host club, led by team…
Divers who found bottles of Guinness dating back to the mid-19th century on a shipwreck off Dover want to try and rebrew the stout. As The Irish Times reports, up to 20 bottles of stout were discovered by a team…
90-Year-Old Cruinneag III Adds to Dún Laoghaire’s Classic Yacht Visitors
10th August 2026 Historic Boats
The 90-year-old Scottish classic yacht Cruinneag III added to Dún Laoghaire Harbour’s growing roll-call of notable traditional sailing visitors when she was photographed under sail on Dublin Bay on Sunday (9 August). The handsome auxiliary ketch was pictured departing Dún…
Irish sailors made an encouraging start to the 2026 GP14 World Championships despite a weather-disrupted opening day on Belfast Lough. After an abandoned first championship race and hours of delays caused by shifting winds, Jon and Seb Nagle claimed victory…
Irish sailors closed out a demanding week at the 2026 ILCA 4 Youth World Championships in Aarhus with Alex Butcher producing Ireland's biggest climb in the boys' fleet, while Amy Kieran finished as the country's top-ranked girl. After a week…
Offshore Marathon Begins as 2026 RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race Sets Sail
9th August 2026 Rd Britain & Ireland
The 2026 RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race is underway after a clean start from the Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes, with 32 yachts and 182 sailors from 22 nations embarking on one of offshore sailing's toughest endurance tests.…
Ian Croxon in SOD 121 won the six-race Shannon One Design Championship at Lough Ree Yacht Club, topping a 38-boat fleet after racing from Saturday, 1 August to Friday, 7 August. Croxon completed the championship with an impressive 10 points…
Dubliners Today Board World’s Largest ‘Floating’ Bookfair As Part of Week Long Visit
9th August 2026 Dublin Port
Logos Hope, the world’s largest 'floating' book fair, arrived at Dublin Port last night to embark on its second visit to the capital, not since 2009; however, visitors will have another opportunity to board, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 12,519 ton…
The British Royal Fleet Auxiliary replenishment tanker RFA Tideforce (A139) has made a striking appearance in Cork Harbour, berthing at Passage West. The 200.9-metre vessel is the fourth and final ship of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s Tide-class fast fleet tankers…
The ferry and freight operator, Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, says its cargo-only vessel is to enter dry dock this weekend. The M.V. Arrow as previously reported in a backup role, will be going to APCL Cammell Laird, recently…
