Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Blue Heart by Mark Mellett Praised by Mary Robinson as a "Call to Conscience"
9th October 2026 Book Review
“A timely warning” and a “call to conscience” is how former Irish president Mary Robinson has described a book just published by Vice Admiral Mark Mellett. Entitled Blue Heart: War, Climate and the Battle for the Ocean That Keeps Us…
New Research Shows "Massive" Population Decline in Antarctic Penguin Species
9th October 2026 Marine Wildlife
A remote volcanic island near Antarctica has lost its title as the world's largest penguin colony after new research revealed massive population declines. Researchers from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) found that over half a million chinstrap penguins have disappeared…
English Channel Ferry's Final Sailing Set Before Temporary Transfer to Ireland-France Link
9th October 2026 Brittany Ferries
An English Channel ferry of Brittany Ferries, which has sailed from the Dorset coast for more than 30 years, is set to make its final crossing on its route to Normandy, France. As BBC News reports, the Breton-based company’s Barfleur…
Philip Mayne Will Tell All About Saving Dublin’s Tugboat Rosbeg To DBOGA
9th October 2026 Dublin Bay Old Gaffers
There are few, if any, sailors in Ireland with the breadth and depth of experience accumulated by Philip Mayne of Lough Ree. A cradle sailor with the Shannon One Designs, he was Class Chairman of the SODs in 2022 when…
Third-placed Ertan Beskardes in the Rustler 36 Miss Beagle was making best speed of the 14 Golden Globe racers as he powered down the Atlantic finally south of the Equator, showing 6.5 knots as Thursday night came on, with the…
Europe’s Ocean Leaders Gather in Galway to Advance Atlantic Research, Innovation and Skills
9th October 2026 Marine Science
Leading ocean researchers, policymakers, innovators and industry representatives from across Europe and the wider Atlantic region gathered in Galway on Thursday (8 October) for the opening of Atlantic Summit Galway 2026, a flagship event of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council…
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels of arrangements for the Erne Navigation and use of jetties during the 21st Erne Pike Fishing Classic, taking place from Friday 9 to Sunday 11 October. Bank fishing will take place between 10am and…
Ireland has secured an EU Council negotiating position on future fisheries funding as preparations continue for talks on 2027 fishing opportunities Ireland's first 100 days holding the EU Presidency have seen progress on future fishing fleet funding, while preparations continue…
Survey Vessel Roman Rebel Makes Dún Laoghaire Harbour Call
8th October 2026 Dun Laoghaire Harbour News
The Liverpool-registered offshore survey catamaran is alongside Carlisle Pier for a week-long stopover involving crew changes and provisioning The British-registered offshore survey vessel Roman Rebel has arrived in Dún Laoghaire Harbour for a stopover of between seven and ten days.…
A former Dublin Bay Sailing Club racing buoy, donated to Mullaghmore Sailing Club in County Sligo several years ago, has turned up beside a rural road in landlocked County Laois. A large yellow racing buoy originally used by Dublin Bay…
Council tender covers seabed investigations for harbour dredging and ground investigations for the proposed National Watersports Campus Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is seeking contractors to carry out seabed and ground investigations at Dún Laoghaire Harbour as part of preparations for…
UK Royal Navy Flagship Calls to Belfast Harbour as First Aircraft Carrier in Over 60 Years
8th October 2026 Belfast Lough
Belfast Harbour has welcomed one of the UK’s largest and most powerful ships ever constructed for the Royal Navy. The 65,000-tonne flagship aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is the lead ship of the QE Class (HMS Prince of Wales), which…
Irish Olympic rower Aifric Keogh has had her school club, Coláiste Iognáid Rowing Club, in Galway, name a boat after her. “For Coláiste Iognáid Rowing Club, Aifric’s achievements are a source of enormous pride. Her journey from the club’s boathouse…
From around the country, representatives of Irish Port companies have expressed frustration at the rate of progress concerning planning decisions for future developments. As RTE News reports, a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, chief executives from facilities…
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) has reminded the fishing industry of the prohibition on trawling by vessels over 18 metres in length within six nautical miles of the Irish coast, which came into effect on 1 October. While described as…
A relatively small fleet of 31 Flying Fifteens has assembled in Palma de Mallorca for the 2026 European Championship, but the entry list is packed with former world, European and national champions, including a seven-boat Irish contingent. Racing began on…
World Sailing is to launch a global consultation with offshore sailors and yacht owners over the growing influence of technology on racing, confirming a move towards wider consultation highlighted by Afloat. World Sailing is to seek the views of offshore…
Pat Lawless of Dingle and Limerick had the top speed of the Golden Globe round the world fleet going into Wednesday night, with his Saga 36 Silvermines Hydro showing 7.1 knots in the brisk easterly by comparison with the 5.9…
Britain’s James Coxon has taken the lead in the Para Inclusive One Person Multihull competition at the World Sailing Inclusion Championships in Portimão, Portugal, after adding two race wins on Wednesday. The former British Laser squad sailor, who later set…
Irish sailors are on both sides of the battle for the 2026 52 Super Series title as a record 16-boat TP52 fleet gathers in Valencia for the season's final regatta. Harm Müller-Spreer's Platoon Aviation, with Oisín McClelland and Grattan Roberts…
