Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

#oppiewordsnz – A 14th and a 42nd scored in the penultimate rounds of the Optimist worlds today drop Ireland's Sophie Browne from ninth to 13th overall. Browne needs to move up ten points with a single day's racing left to…

#julesvernetrophy – As the only British crew member on-board, Brian Thompson, today clocked up two major records as the maxi trimaran, Banque Populaire V, crossed the Jules Verne Trophy finish line near Brest, France this evening. Thompson is part of…

#RNLI – Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat was tasked at 7.30pm  on 6 January to a report of a red distress flare being reported by the control tower at Cork airport. A compass bearing was given which put the incident in the…

# FiREBALL – As the report that precedes this one suggested, the penultimate day of the Fireball Worlds in Mandurah saw a duel in the sun and waves between the young British combination Tom Gillard and Sam Brearey and the…

#scottishseries – The organisers of  Scotland's bigest sailnig event, the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Series at Tarbert have announced changes on and off the water at this year's event, creating a festival of sailing for competitors and spectators alike. The Clyde…

#MARINE WILDLIFE - The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) says 2011 was a record year for whale and dolphin strandings, according to The Irish Times. IWDG co-ordinator Dr Simon Berrow confirmed a total of 160 strandings reported by year's…

#POWER FROM THE SEA - This morning the wind farm turbine installation vessel Sea Energy, departed Wicklow Bay having spent over a fortnight based in Wicklow Port, where her Danish crew celebrated Christmas Day, writes Jehan Ashmore. The Esbjerg registered…

#optiworldsnz – Support from home including Volvo Ocean Race sailor Damian Foxall urged Sophie Browne back in to the top ten of the Optimist World Championships at Napier, New Zealand today. The 14 year old from Tralee maintained her position at…

#WORLD RECORD - France's Banque Populaire V has smashed the record for the fastest yacht sailing around the world, shaving nearly three days off the previous best. BBC News reports that the yacht's 14-man crew crossed the line at 45…

#SAILOROFTHEMONTH – Noelle Doran of Mayo is the latest Afloat.ie/Irish Independent "Sailor of the Month" in recognition of her December achievement in being the fastest woman in the world in 2011. Her sustained speed of 36.88 knots along 500 metres…

#AVONRIBS – Worldwide specialist Jet RIB tender designer and manufacturer Avon is displaying its entire 2012 Seasport Jet Tender range at the Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show 2012 today. The recently launched Seasport 380 Jet Tender will be accompanied by…

#ZODIACRIBS – Rigid Inflatable manufaturer Zodiac continues to evolve its range of RIBs, inflatable boats, tenders and liferafts with the some new concepts, new hulls and designs. In addition to displaying three new models for the first time at today's…

#CLIPPER – Clipper Ventures Plc announced at the London Boat Show today that it has signed a major sponsorship deal with Qingdao, host of the sailing events of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, to continue its participation in the Clipper…

#CLYDE – The first of the Clyde Cruising Club's Sailing Directions to be published under the Imray imprint is the 148 page Firth of Clyde book. The book is in fact the merger of Martin Lawrence's Yachtsman's Pilot series with…

#GENMAR – After delays due to bad weather, the operation to remove 54,304 tonnes of Vacuum Gas Oil from the merchant vessel Genmar Companion is expected commence imminently (6th January). Both ships are currently being manoeuvred together by tugs and…

#optimist – Impressed with the sailing success of 14-year-old Sophie Browne in New Zealand this week? Could you be the next to represent Ireland on the world stage? The Irish Optimist class is making every effort to bring on as…

#ISA – The Irish Sailing Association (ISA) is convening an extraordinary general meeting to propose a revised membership fee structure next month. The introduction of the 'joint membership scheme' in 1993 fundamentally changed the representative base of the Association and…

#YOUTH SAILING – 400 Irish youth sailors get the opportunity to fight for a place to represent Ireland at April's Misubishi Youth National championships on Dublin Bay.  The massive junior event is a Test event for organisers of the ISAF…

#RESCUE - The Irish Times reports that an Air Corps maritime patrol aircraft joined a search and rescue mission to evacuate a fisherman off the West Cork coast today. The Casa CN 235 - one of two operated by the…

After a brilliant start the crew of Sara G has been finding the going much tougher as they attempt to set a new record for rowing across the Atlantic. Seasickness and difficult winds have not helped. The English station Heart…