Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Resolute, Don't Dilly Dally, Obsession, Big Mac and Four Seas took IRC class wins in the Cobh-to-Blackrock Race as the 2026 Hibernia Line Triple Crown opened in Cork Harbour on Saturday (5 September). Two of the IRC divisions were decided…
Howth Yacht Club’s Darren Wright and his Adrenaline crew have finished eighth overall at the 2026 Melges 24 European Championship in Tønsberg, Norway, completing their campaign with seventh place in the ninth and final race. The Irish entry finished the…
International water specialist Ele Jan Saaf will use a Loughs Agency symposium in Derry this month to argue that rivers should have legal rights and be represented in negotiations over how water resources are managed. The call will be made…
Eve McMahon Leads Irish Challenge at ILCA 6 Worlds on Dublin Bay
5th September 2026 ILCA Worlds 2026
Ireland’s world number two Eve McMahon will lead a four-strong home challenge when the 2026 ILCA 6 Women’s World Championship brings 110 sailors from 45 nations to Dún Laoghaire from 7–12 September. The Howth Yacht Club sailor will be joined by…
Strong south-westerly winds provided a lively finish to the Thursday Night Points Series at Royal Ulster Yacht Club (RUYC), with gusts of up to 20 knots for the final race on Thursday, 3rd September. Twenty-one yachts and two dinghies took…
The SailGP Championship makes its first visit to València this weekend, with 13 international teams racing as the battle for places in November’s winner-takes-all Grand Final in Abu Dhabi enters its closing stages. Racing on Saturday, 5 September, and Sunday…
Export by Brittany Ferries of Live Irish Calf Ends Leaves One Operator Serving France
5th September 2026 Brittany Ferries
Brittany Ferries at the start of September ceased trading in the transportation of live farm animals, including unweaned calves exported from Rosslare Europort to Cherbourg. As the Maritime Logistics Professional reports, the move on Tuesday by the Breton-based operator marks another…
First Keel Laid of Fleet Solid Support (FSS) Ships for RFA as Assembly Begins at Appledore
5th September 2026 Shipyards
Harland & Wolff, Belfast, whose owner Navantia UK also has shipyards across the Irish Sea, has laid the keel of RFA Resurgent at its Appledore shipyard in North Devon, England. The event, which took place on UK Merchant Day, also…
“Making the leap to travel to international events with much bigger fleets and a higher standard allows sailors to hone their sailing and racing skills at another level,” says Bill Thullier of the 420 National Association in an analysis, along…
Forget your Cape Horners, Fastnet winners and Arctic circumnavigators. We’ve always thought that family cruising is among the most challenging forms of sailing or boating known to mankind. It’s certainly a demanding activity even with a cruising boat of adequate…
Junior racing at Kinsale Yacht Club has drawn to a close for the summer season following the conclusion of the Kinsale Collective August League, which attracted fleets of more than 20 boats for its Tuesday evening racing off Charles Fort.…
"New Irish" Making Lives on Irish Offshore Islands Focus of TG4 Documentary Series
5th September 2026 Island News
The “new Irish” who have chosen to make Ireland’s offshore islands their home is the focus of a new documentary series on TG4. Trasna na dTonnta is described by TG4 as “an intimate and compelling four-part documentary series” which “explores…
Operator Says Manannan Replacement Project Ongoing Despite Claims By Minister Its 'On Pause'
5th September 2026 Ferry
The ferry operator, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (IOMSPCo), says that the planning and preparatory work for Manannan's replacement is continuing "behind the scenes." That's despite what the IOM Treasury Minister Chris Thomas told Manx Radio's Douglas Central…
ILCA 6 Women’s Worlds Being Contested In A Dublin Bay For All Sailors
5th September 2026 ILCA Worlds 2026
The attention of the sailing community is understandably focused this weekend on the opening stages of the ILCA 6 Women’s Worlds 2026 in Dublin Bay, and the wonders of the ways in which the National Yacht Club and the neighbouring…
Howth Yacht Club’s Darren Wright and his Adrenaline crew are eighth overall going into the final race of the Melges 24 European Championship in Tønsberg, Norway. The Irish-flagged GBR 822 has 63 points after nine races and one discard, with…
Strong winds wiped out the opening day's racing at the Flying Fifteen National Championship of Ireland at Carrickfergus Sailing Club on Friday (4th September), leaving the 20-boat fleet ashore and raising the prospect of a four-race programme on Belfast Lough…
Rosslare-Fishguard 120th Exhibition Exceeds Expectations With Weekend Open to Visitors
4th September 2026 Rosslare Europort
Within less than two weeks since a launch of the Rosslare-Fishguard routes' 120th anniversary exhibition was 'extended', it has further exceeded expectations, as more than 1,000 visitors have admired attending, writes Jehan Ashmore. Its organisers, the Rosslare Harbour Maritime Heritage Centre…
Foynes Yacht Club will welcome J/24 crews from across Ireland to the Shannon Estuary for the 2026 J/24 National Championships. The event will bring together some of the country’s leading J/24 crews for what is expected to be a highly…
World Premiere of the Beneteau Swift Trawler 43 World Premiere at Cannes with BJ Marine
4th September 2026 BJ Marine
BJ Marine has confirmed it will be in attendance for the world premiere of the new Beneteau Swift Trawler 43 at the Cannes Yachting Festival, running next week from Tuesday 8th to Sunday 13th September. As Afloat reported yesterday, the 2026…
Former and Current Inishbofin Ferries Meet in Dun Laoghaire
4th September 2026 Dun Laoghaire Harbour News
Former and current Inishbofin Island serving ferries have met in Dun Laoghaire Harbour this week, and both have been involved in charter roles to tender passengers of cruise ships anchored in Dublin Bay, writes Jehan Ashmore. The St. Bridget of Dublin…
