Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Irish Coast Guard Awards Contracts for 38 New SAR Vessels under Major Fleet Renewal Programme
29th October 2026 Coastguard
The Irish Coast Guard has awarded two contracts to French boatbuilder Zodiac Milpro for the design, construction and delivery of 38 new-generation search and rescue vessels as part of a major fleet renewal programme. The contracts will provide 21 new…
The 2027 IRC Rule has been published following this month's international IRC Congress, with changes focused on clarifying existing requirements rather than making major alterations to yacht ratings. For Irish cruiser-racing sailors, the publication is particularly relevant to fleets competing…
America's Cup sailor Francesco 'Checco' Bruni has made an immediate impact at the RS21 World Championship in Cannes, helping Italian entry Torpyone win the opening race just two days after his move from Luna Rossa to Tudor Team Alinghi was announced. The seven-time world champion…
Former Port of Cork chief commercial officer Conor Mowlds is heading a new Cork office for International Registries, Inc. (IRI), the US-based company providing administrative and technical support to the Republic of the Marshall Islands ship registry, currently the world's…
A row has broken out over voting by Irish MEPs on next year's EU fisheries budget under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). The European Parliament voted last week on the 2027 EU budget, the final annual budget…
All eight of the world's giant 32-metre Ultim trimarans will gather off Saint-Malo on Sunday, 1 November, to start the Route du Rhum offshore sailing contest, setting up an intriguing battle between established champions, ambitious challengers, and some of the most advanced ocean-racing machines…
Three-time Olympic medallist Anne-Marie Rindom is returning to the ILCA 6 class as she sets her sights on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, following a break from international competition and the birth of her child. The Danish sailor, who won bronze…
Ireland and Britain have introduced a new incident-reporting protocol for subsea cables and conducted a joint security exercise, marking a further step in efforts to protect critical maritime infrastructure around the two countries. The developments were outlined by Minister for…
Drawing Lines on Maps Not Enough for Marine Protection – Fair Seas
29th October 2026 Marine Planning
The environmental organisation Fair Seas has responded to a European Court of Auditors special report about marine protected areas across the EU, with Ireland one of three countries selected for closer examination. “While the report found progress in France and…
Ireland's defending J/24 World Champions, Headcase, have arrived in Melbourne, Australia, and begun training on Port Phillip ahead of their bid to retain the world title at the 2026 J/24 World Championship, which gets underway at Sandringham Yacht Club on 7th November. The…
Ireland's largest multi-craft rowing and paddling race will return to Cork Harbour on Saturday, 5 June 2027, following a record-breaking event this year that attracted more than 650 participants in almost 200 craft. Ocean to City – An Rás Mór…
The Paris Nautic Show will return to the Paris-Le Bourget Exhibition Centre from 25 to 29 November 2026, bringing together sailing yachts, motorboats, marine equipment, watersports and new approaches to getting afloat. The five-day exhibition will feature leading international boatbuilders, new model launches,…
Lough Erne: Halloween Fireworks Display in Enniskillen This Weekend
29th October 2026 Inland Waterways
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterway users on Lough Erne that a fireworks display will take place at Castle Island in Enniskillen this Friday 30 October, weather permitting. To facilitate the event and ensure public safety, the following…
A temporary maritime exclusion zone covering the River Liffey and Dublin Bay will operate for three days in November as part of a major security operation requested by An Garda Síochána. The Department of Transport has issued Marine Notice No.…
Inland Waterways Update: Shannon Navigation Bridge Works and Lower Bann Lock Closure
28th October 2026 Inland Waterways
Waterways Ireland confirms that Tarmonbarry Bridge on the Shannon Navigation has reopened for normal operations as of Wednesday 28 October, following its closure last week due to an electrical fault affecting the lifting mechanism. Repairs were successfully completed by Waterways…
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels passaging the Grand Canal of a fallen tree blocking the navigation between Henry Bridge and Lock 13, which will be removed at the earliest opportunity. Following the past weekend of high winds and storm…
The concept of converting former cruise ships into residences has become increasingly popular, but the experience of those who lived aboard Villa Vie Odyssey, which left Belfast Port two years ago, has shown that it can be financially difficult, with…
Those of us whose childhoods were shaped by living in Bangor on the south shore of Belfast Lough find it sufficiently bewildering to take on board the fact that what was once a seaside borough town of perfect size has…
An “Urban Design Vision” for Galway City’s Murrough Lands has opened to public consultation for a month. Coastal protection and flood defence, use of public space, transport infrastructure, dedicated cycleways and footpaths, and housing provision are among the elements of…
Former Naval Service Captain Marie Gleeson's Book Shortlisted for An Post Book Awards
28th October 2026 Book Review
Former Naval Service captain Marie Gleeson's book Be Like the Sea has been shortlisted for this year's An Post Irish Book Awards. Written with Orlaith Carmody, the book documents how Gleeson, a farmer's daughter from Ireland's largest landlocked county, chose…
