Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
John Thompson (54) the skipper of Belfast yacht Avocet participating in the Atantic Rally for cruisers has died in hospital in Barbados following a mid-Atlantic accident.The news of the fatality was issued yesterday by the Directors of the World Cruising…
As a stand alone feat it was the final race world championship win by RoyalCork's Peter O'Leary and Stephen Milne in Miami two weeks ago thatultimately swung selectors towards a pairing whose fifth-ever Star regattawill now also be their Olympic…
The Star keelboat nomination for Beijing is expected to be announced by theIrish Sailing Association (ISA) at lunch time today (Friday, May 2)The selection of one of three candidates for the Qingdao regatta will comefrom a combination of unfettered decisions…
It was a source of pride to the country’s sailing community when Damian Foxall went to Aras an Uachtarain last month, because the visit brought State acknowledgement of the biggest sailing achievement in years.Sailors believed it was through this epic…
Irish boats have been involved in two successful rescues in the Atlantic but the week has ended tragically with the news that Belfast sailor John Thompson remains seriously ill from injuries sustained in the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) scheduled…
British Olympic medallist Ian Walker will take the helm of a 20 million Euro Irish bid to win next year's Volvo Ocean race in the biggest ever announcement for Irish sailing yesterday that promises to generate 43 million Euro for…
Edward Heath declared, in an often quoted line, that offshore sailing was like standing under a shower tearing up five pound notes. Money – or the lack of it – has been a frequent excuse for lack of success on…
Michael Hanahoe, chief executive of the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company, has announced he is to resign. The story of his resignation was put side-by-side with the failure to develop the now derelict Carlisle Pier in the harbour, a source of…
By commemorating two Olympians tonight (Friday, November 16th) Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) ensures both Dr. Alf Delany and Harry Maguire sail into club history.Delany and Maguire, who both died this year, were multiple champions who – in different classes…
The fact that leisure craft berths need to triple in Dun Laoghaire to cater for extra demand is obvious to sailors, but Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company is one of few state companies to see the marine leisure potential that lies…
If persistence is a virtue then it must pay off for The Irish Cruiser Racer Association (ICRA) who – as expected – have announced a further bid to win the Commodore's Cup. Irish crews having been pipped at the post…
With the Irish Sailing Association (ISA) in no doubt about the extent of its dependence on the non sailing public for future growth it launches a new fleet of boats tomorrow (Saturday) in a major Euro 500,000 initiative.The fleet have…
Ireland will be the seventh entry into the 2008/9 Volvo Ocean race when it officially declares a new Reichel Pugh-design for the 39,000 mile race from Alicante in little over a year.Within 13 months of the start of the race…
European Professionals took Gold, Silver and Bronze in the Aberdeen Dragon World championships yesterday but an Irish amateur team proved its worth by taking four of the top ten positions in a series cut short by lack of wind.A year…
By a narrow margin of 2.3 points clubhouse leader Thomas Muller may be a race away from lifting the Aberdeen Dragon World title this afternoon (Friday) following the abandonment of race seven yesterday due to lack of wind.The Royal St.…
Putting on a lifejacket is one of the most important decisions a sailor will make. There should be no ambiguity about taking the decision to wear one so it is a concern that there is no standard regatta procedure around…
In a major show of strength for Irish Dragon sailing four local boats feature in the top ten overall going into today's (Thursday) penultimate round of the Aberdeen World championships on Dublin Bay.Irish champions Neil Hegarty, David Williams and Peter…
Neil Hegarty's reinstatement after a successful protest against the race committee plus a seventh scored yesterday (Tues) has put the Royal St. George helmsman into third place overall at the half way stage of the Aberdeen Dragon World championships off…
In spite of the fact there were only 35 finishers from a fleet of 68 starters in yesterday's third race of the Aberdeen Dragon World Championships there were plenty of grumbles but no formal protests against the race committee last…
It was a day of mixed weather but good fortune for Ireland's 18-boat team at the Aberdeen Asset Management Dragon World Championships off Dun Laoghaire yesterday. Although Britain's Gavia Wilkinson–Cox emerged the eventual winner of yesterday's opening race it was…
