Blogs
Asgard sank, and so did the economy. The doomsayers are taking to the lifeboats but the Taoiseach says we can't afford to "wallow in a sea of doubt". It's not the most auspicious start to the 2009 Allianz Boat Show…
Just over a year ago, consultants were pointing to the fact that leisure craft berths needed to triple in Dun Laoghaire harbour to cater for extra demand. It was obvious to the watersports community at that time, but Dun Laoghaire…
It is almost 12 months since the Irish Marine Federation called for the immediate introduction of a National Marine Policy for Ireland. To date, there has been almost no progress to report. The European Union has requested each coastal member…
When the media showed up in the RDS I did not hesitate to tell them in my role as Marine Federation Chairman that the marine sector could develop jobs. I called it a 'potential gold mine'. A wise man I…
In the last month or so, it has become much harder to take out our wallets without feeling guilty. No one in authority has told us not to spend. But people are scared, and that fear is showing up in…
Not many of us will need to be reminded that 2008 represented the toughest set of business circumstances in decades. Few will be sorry to see the back of it. Senior members have make the point that that these times…
Until this summer, feeling the pinch was something you did upwind if you weren't paying attention. But nowadays, even posh yotties have to admit they're tightening their belts, so here at Afloat HQ, we're talking money. We've put a question…
We picked up on a new blog out there this last week, belonging to one Mike Perham, who's trying to become the youngest ever person to circumnavigate the globe non-stop. He's writing daily(ish) missives from his nav station, and the…
Those of us who get to look at the back-end cogs and wheels of the machine that is Afloat.ie get an interesting view of the website. One thing that certainly grabs attention is when a reader poll goes nuts all…
Last week I asked my bank manager if there was any danger of his bank going bust. Thankfully, he assured me it was in fine shape but it’s an indication of the times in which we live. A small marine…
On the podium in Cape Town, after two shredded spinnakers and a high speed collision, Ian Walker easily shrugs off the age-old superstition that painting a boat green brings bad luck. What's more, the British leader of Irish hopes in…
It's an ill wind that doesn't blow some good. In the south Atlantic and alsoin county Waterford, winter gales have produced record results for sailorsthis week while a record-breaking run, set in a summer gale, will be toastedin Wicklow tomorrow…
Only a week into the Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) and Ireland's new-found loveaffair with world offshore sailing is to continue as Belfast prepares to bidfor stop-over port status in the 2011 edition of the race.The news comes in the first…
Peter O’Leary starts as a favourite for the All–Ireland sailingchampionships and that's not just because he is a past winner. Above allelse, he says, it is his Beijing preparations that give him an edge offHowth this morning. A week ago…
Although a week of great highs is in prospect for Irish sailing over thenext two weeks, it has been preceded by tragedy after a coastal race turnedto disaster for a Poolbeg crew last Sunday.In Dun Laoghaire, 136 SB3s have assembled…
In any yacht race if the wind changes direction just about anything canhappen. The last few months have been like that for Ger O'Rourke,chasing his dream of entering next month's Volvo Ocean Race. It's anagainst-all-the-odds story, and that's even before…
