Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

A Harbour Seal photographed at Dun Laoghaire Marina on Dublin Bay, Ireland. Also known as the common seal, is a true seal found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere. The most widely distributed species of pinnipeds, they are found in coastal waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Baltic and North seas. Photo: AfloatA photograph of a Harbour Seal taken at Dun Laoghaire Marina on Dublin Bay, Ireland. Also known as the common seal, this species can be found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines throughout the Northern Hemisphere. They are the most widely distributed species of pinnipeds and can be found in the coastal waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as the Baltic and North Seas. Photo: Afloat

Displaying items by tag: Rick Tomlinson

Here’s a rare opportunity to join renowned marine photographer Rick Tomlinson in the field for a special workshop at Fastnet Rock during this summer’s Rolex Fastnet Race.

From 23-27 July, four lucky marine photography enthusiasts will join Rick on a professionally skippered 50-foot charter yacht out of Baltimore in West Cork, which will be stationed at the famous rock in prime position to capture the boats rounding in this 50th edition of the legendary race.

Depending on weather, the party go to a small harbour in the hours of darkness. But the group will spend as much time as possible at the rock, with provisions for four full days at sea.

There’s also the chance of seeing some of Ireland’s bounty of marine wildlife in the area.

Places are £1,800 per person which includes accommodation onboard in a shared cabin (flight to Cork not included). For more see Rick Tomlinson’s website HERE.

Published in Marine Photo
Tagged under

Join top yachting photographer Rick Tomlinson for a week-long adventure photographing orcas and humpback whales as they hunt for the herring in the fjords around Tromsø in Norway from 9-16 November.
 
The group will board the expedition yacht Qilak in Tromsø and explore the fjords close by, photographing the whales by day then anchoring each evening in remote coves away from all light pollution to hopefully see the northern lights.
 
This exclusive trip with the Cowes-based marine snapper is limited to just six guests, priced from €3,100 per person including full board.

For more information, get in touch Rick Tomlinson at [email protected].

Published in Marine Photo

Cowes-based photographer Rick Tomlinson's Portfolio Calendar is now available and features 12 months of spectacular sailing images.

Now in its 33rd year, Action and Art has always been the theme of Rick's Portfolio Calendar.

This year's pictures include action from the TP52s in Cape Town, Sir Ben Ainslie's Ineos Team UK  racing in The Solent, plus art from the Fast 40 Class and an amazing shot of an Orca Whale in front of Pelagic in the Falkland Islands.

Wall hanging 56cm x 42cm £19.95 + P&P. Order here

Published in Marine Trade
Tagged under

The 28th edition of the highly acclaimed Rick Tomlinson Portfolio calendar is now available directly from the Afloat.ie marketplace site HERE. The ideal Christmas gift for the sailor in your life features 12 spectacular images from recent assignments around the world.
This year's pictures include action from The Volvo Ocean Race at Cape Horn, the Royal Yacht Squadron Bicentenary Regatta, Sir Ben Ainslie’s Americas Cup challenge, sailing in Greenland, plus other action and art from the international racing circuit.
Action and art has always been Rick’s style, “Each picture will hang on the wall for a month and offer the viewer something that perhaps they didn't see on the first look” says Rick, “my particular favourite this year is the shot of Brunel off Cape Horn.”

Rick has raced in 4 Whitbread Round the World Races, on Drum, The Card, Intrum Justitia and Team EF. Photographs taken onboard Drum started his career, becoming one of the most highly acclaimed marine photographers in the world. High profile projects include the Volvo Ocean Race, Americas Cup, and many SuperYacht commissions. He was recently the Official photographer for Team SCA.

Rick works from his gallery in Cowes - Isle of Wight, and travels the world on assignments for the worlds leading events and yachts.

Published in Marketplace

#ricktomlinson – The 27th edition of  Rick Tomlinson's Portfolio and Desk Calendars are now available featuring 12 spectacular images from recent assignments around the world.
Action and art has always been Rick's style, "Each picture will hang on the wall for a month and offer the viewer something that perhaps they didn't see on the first look" says Rick.
For 2015 there is a great selection and variety, including action from the Volvo Ocean Race, the RC44 fleet in Lanzarote, Oman Sail at 40 knots and a great picture of the Round The Island Race fleet, plus other action and art from the international racing circuit.
Business 2 Business company overprinted calendars are also available to promote your business for a whole year. Company details are printed on each month spread including the cover.
Portfolio Calendar £17.50 plus p&p. Desk Calendar £7.50 plus p&p email [email protected]

Published in News Update
Tagged under

Isle of Man marine photographer Rick Tomlinson will run a one day photography workshop based from the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven on April 6th. This includes both onshore and on the water tuition with as much time as possible spent photographing on the water around Cork Harbour.  Rick is also speaking at the RCYC Spring Cruising Dinner that evening.

The workshop has limited space so a high level of one to one tuition is assured and beginners and experienced photographers are welcome to take part.  Rick will show how to take great yachting photographs and how to work efficiently on the water. You will also be guided through how to set up your camera and the workflow to edit pictures plus useful tips in Photoshop. Checkout www.rick-tomlinson.com for inspiration.

Special price for RCYC members and friends is just €200 per person.

Outline schedule for 1 day workshop

1000 Meet at the RCYC: Introduction to the workshop and how to set up your camera before we take to the water.
1100 Out on the RIB taking pictures on Cork Harbour where Rick will give ideas and instruction on taking pictures of the racing yachts.
1300 Pub lunch probably on the Harbour somewhere, with informal discussion. (lunch is not included in the price)

1600 return to RCYC and review our pictures on the computer including post production importing and editing on the computer, Photoshop tips and techniques and digital workflows.

1700 finish.

What you need to bring: Camera equipment, laptop (optional), warm clothing, boots and wet weather gear.  It can be very wet on the boat.

Individual places and groups of friends welcome.

Published in Royal Cork YC

In response to many requests International Yachting Photographer Rick Tomlinson will give  a one day and a two day photography workshop this Spring. The one day session is on March 17 and two days March 29/30 2013

Both will take place from Cowes, Isle of Wight, with both onshore and on the water tuition with as much time as possible spent photographing from Rick's 6.5m RIB.

Limited to just 5 people a high level of one to one tuition is assured so beginners and experienced photographers are welcome to take part.  Rick will show how to take great yachting photographs and how to work efficiently on the water.  Checkout www.rick-tomlinson.com for inspiration.  You will also be guided through how to set up your camera and the workflow to edit pictures plus some usefull tips in Photoshop.

March 17 is a one day workshop working around the Solent Spring Series from my 6.5m RIB.  With the onshore breifing and post race workflow and analysis that will take place in the new Studio in Cowes Yacht Haven.  Price per person £250 includes lunch. 3 persons are required to run the course (5 max)

Outline schedule for 1 day workshop:
0900 Introduction to the workshop and how to set up your camera before we take to the water.
1000 out on the RIB taking pictures on the Solent where Rick will give ideas and instruction on taking pictures of the racing yachts.
1300 return to Cowes and review our work on the computer including post production importing and editing on the computer, Photoshop techniques and digital workflows.
1500 finish.

March 29 & 30 is a two day workshop that will follow the Easter racing events.  Starting at 0930 on Friday March 29 and finish at 1700 on Saturday March 30.  2 day workshop price £400 per person. 3 persons are required to run the course (5 max)

Outline schedule for 2 day workshop:
0930 Introduction to the workshop and how to set up your camera before we take to the water.
1030 out on the RIB taking pictures on the Solent where Rick will give ideas and instruction on taking pictures of racing yachts.
1500 return to Cowes and review our work on the computer including post production importing and editing on the computer, Photoshop techniques and digital work flows.
1700 finish for the evening.  Time for a beer!

Day 2
0900 Meet for the days briefing, discussion on what we have covered so far, ideas and inspiration.
1000 Out on the water shooting yachts racing and dinghies.
1500 onshore computer editing, show time and de-brief
1700 finish the course.
The exact timetable will depend on the weather, and the interests of those taking part.

What is included: 1 or 2 days of tuition, course notes, onboard picnic lunch on both days. Lifejackets.
What you need to bring: Camera equipment, laptop (optional), warm clothing, boots and wet weather gear.  It can be very wet on the boat.
Not included: Overnight accommodation, evening meal or breakfast.  We can recommend B&Bs and travel arrangements.

New Studio office;  2nd Floor, Cowes Yacht Haven, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO317BD.

To book contact Rick on 01983 248512 or email [email protected]

Published in Marine Photo

Today's 'Sailing by the Lee' lunch in Cork in aid of the RNLI featured guest speaker Rick Tomlinson, the Round the World Photographer who hails from the Isle of Man.

The lunch began with a drinks reception sponsored by The Electric Bar and Restaurant of South Mall.

Tomlinson gave a 40 minute slide show that featured a selection of Antarctic images including maginificent wildlife photography. It was immediately clear to the 200 guests that not only does this photographer have a great eye but also a strong techincal ability, his shots ranging from 360 degree fisheye to telephoto lens shots taken from helicopters.

As always it was a packed attendance at the Maryborough hotel for the start of season function, organised by Kinsale's Susie Elliott. This years lunch included host RNLI Governor Peter Crowley, sailmaker Des McWilliam, Afloat.ie's Claire Bateman, Vinnie O'Shea, commodore of SCORA, Gary and Susan Horgan of Sovereigns Cup, Race officer Alan and Mary Crosbie and many, many more. Scroll down for photos (by Bob Bateman) below!

During the lunch, Peter Crowley paid a special tribute to Rick on his remarkable career, "I wish to acknowledge Rick's absolute dedication; commitment and enthusiasm in representing those connected to the sea, in bringing the thrills and excitement of the Volvo Ocean Race back to us at home and capturing the ongoing challenges and adventures of the international maritime community. Rick has also been most important to us over the years, as through his work, he has also captured with his talents the volunteer life saving work of the RNLI."

Rick Tomlinson is best known for capturing the Southern Ocean at its most treacherous from the decks of various yachts in the Whitbread Round the World Race/Volvo Ocean Race. Born in 1958, Rick grew up on the Isle of Man, where he established a serious interest in sailing. Rick's enthusiasm for photography began while he was boatbuilding and sailing. Yacht racing aside, Rick has extended his skills into expedition and project photography to such places as the Arctic and Antarctic, Chile, Alaska, Caribbean and Africa, together special assignments for the RNLI.

Speaking at the event, Kinsale RNLI Fundraising Secretary Susie Elliott stated, "It has been a remarkable year for Kinsale RNLI. Having opened our boathouse just over a year ago, we continue to work to raise the funds needed to meet the construction costs. Our sponsors and supporters for this year's event have been extremely generous and we are very grateful to them, particularly given the challenging economic climate.

Related Safety posts

RNLI Lifeboats in Ireland


Safety News


Rescue News from RNLI Lifeboats in Ireland


Coast Guard News from Ireland


Water Safety News from Ireland

Marine Casualty Investigation Board News

Marine Warnings

 

 

Published in RNLI Lifeboats

For all you need on the Marine Environment - covering the latest news and updates on marine science and wildlife, weather and climate, power from the sea and Ireland's coastal regions and communities - the place to be is Afloat.ie.

Coastal Notes

The Coastal Notes category covers a broad range of stories, events and developments that have an impact on Ireland's coastal regions and communities, whose lives and livelihoods are directly linked with the sea and Ireland's coastal waters.

Topics covered in Coastal Notes can be as varied as the rare finding of sea-life creatures, an historic shipwreck with secrets to tell, or even a trawler's net caught hauling much more than just fish.

Other angles focusing the attention of Coastal Notes are Ireland's maritime museums, which are of national importance to maintaining access and knowledge of our nautical heritage, and those who harvest the sea using small boats based in harbours where infrastructure and safety pose an issue, plying their trade along the rugged wild western seaboard.

Coastal Notes tells the stories that are arguably as varied as the environment they come from, and which shape people's interaction with the natural world and our relationship with the sea.

Marine Wildlife

One of the greatest memories of any day spent boating around the Irish coast is an encounter with Marine Wildlife. It's a thrill for young and old to witness seabirds, seals, dolphins and whales right there in their own habitat. And as boaters fortunate enough to have experienced it will testify, even spotting a distant dorsal fin can be the highlight of any day afloat. Was that a porpoise? Was it a whale? No matter how brief the glimpse, it's a privilege to share the seas with Irish marine wildlife.

Thanks to our location in the North Atlantic, there appears to be no shortage of marine life to observe. From whales to dolphins, seals, sharks and other ocean animals, the Marine Wildlife category documents the most interesting accounts around our shores. And we're keen to receive your observations, your photos, links and video clips, too!

Also valuable is the unique perspective of all those who go afloat, from coastal sailing to sea angling to inshore kayaking to offshore yacht racing, as what they encounter can be of great importance to organisations such as the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG). Thanks to their work we now know we share the seas with dozens of species who also call Ireland home. But as impressive as the list is, the experts believe there are still gaps in our knowledge. Next time you are out on the ocean waves, keep a sharp look out!

Weather

As an island in the North Atlantic, Ireland's fate is decided by Weather more so than many other European countries. When storm-force winds race across the Irish Sea, ferry and shipping services are cut off, disrupting our economy. When swollen waves crash on our shores, communities are flooded and fishermen brace for impact - both to their vessels and to their livelihoods.

Keeping abreast of the weather, therefore, is as important to leisure cruisers and fishing crews alike - for whom a small craft warning can mean the difference between life and death - as it is to the communities lining the coast, where timely weather alerts can help protect homes and lives.

Weather affects us all, and Afloat.ie will keep you informed on the hows and the whys.

Marine Science

Perhaps it's the work of the Irish research vessels RV Celtic Explorer and RV Celtic Voyager out in the Atlantic Ocean that best highlights the essential nature of Marine Science for the future growth of Ireland's emerging 'blue economy'.

From marine research to development and sustainable management, Ireland is developing a strong and well-deserved reputation as an emerging centre of excellence. Whether it's Wavebob ocean energy technology to aquaculture to weather buoys and oil exploration, the Marine Science category documents the work of Irish marine scientists and researchers and how they have secured prominent roles in many European and international marine science bodies.

Power From The Sea

The message from the experts is clear: offshore wind and wave energy is the future. And as Ireland looks towards the potential of the renewable energy sector, generating Power From The Sea will become a greater priority in the State's 'blue growth' strategy.

Developments and activities in existing and planned projects in the pipeline from the wind and wave renewables sector, and those of the energy exploration industry, point to the future of energy requirements for the whole world, not just in Ireland. And that's not to mention the supplementary industries that sea power projects can support in coastal communities.

Irish ports are already in a good position to capitalise on investments in offshore renewable energy services. And Power From The Sea can even be good for marine wildlife if done properly.

Aside from the green sector, our coastal waters also hold a wealth of oil and gas resources that numerous prospectors are hoping to exploit, even if people in coastal and island areas are as yet unsure of the potential benefits or pitfalls for their communities.

Changing Ocean Climate

Our ocean and climate are inextricably linked - the ocean plays a crucial role in the global climate system in a number of ways. These include absorbing excess heat from the atmosphere and absorbing 30 per cent of the carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere by human activity. But our marine ecosystems are coming under increasing pressure due to climate change.

The Marine Institute, with its national and international partners, works to observe and understand how our ocean is changing and analyses, models and projects the impacts of our changing oceans. Advice and forecasting projections of our changing oceans and climate are essential to create effective policies and management decisions to safeguard our ocean.

Dr Paul Connolly, CEO of the Marine Institute, said, “Our ocean is fundamental to life on earth and affects so many facets of our everyday activities. One of the greatest challenges we face as a society is that of our changing climate. The strong international collaborations that the Marine Institute has built up over decades facilitates a shared focusing on our changing ocean climate and developing new and enhanced ways of monitoring it and tracking changes over time.

“Our knowledge and services help us to observe these patterns of change and identify the steps to safeguard our marine ecosystems for future generations.”

The Marine Institute’s annual ocean climate research survey, which has been running since 2004, facilitates long term monitoring of the deep water environment to the west of Ireland. This repeat survey, which takes place on board RV Celtic Explorer, enables scientists to establish baseline oceanic conditions in Irish waters that can be used as a benchmark for future changes.

Scientists collect data on temperature, salinity, water currents, oxygen and carbon dioxide in the Atlantic Ocean. This high quality oceanographic data contributes to the Atlantic Ocean Observing System. Physical oceanographic data from the survey is submitted to the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) and, in addition, the survey contributes to national research such as the VOCAB ocean acidification and biogeochemistry project, the ‘Clean Atlantic’ project on marine litter and the A4 marine climate change project.

Dr Caroline Cusack, who co-ordinates scientific activities on board the RV Celtic Explorer for the annual survey, said, “The generation of long-term series to monitor ocean climate is vital to allow us understand the likely impact of future changes in ocean climate on ecosystems and other marine resources.”

Other activities during the survey in 2019 included the deployment of oceanographic gliders, two Argo floats (Ireland’s contribution to EuroArgo) and four surface drifters (Interreg Atlantic Area Clean Atlantic project). The new Argo floats have the capacity to measure dissolved ocean and biogeochemical parameters from the ocean surface down to a depth of 2,000 metres continuously for up to four years, providing important information as to the health of our oceans.

During the 2019 survey, the RV Celtic Explorer retrieved a string of oceanographic sensors from the deep ocean at an adjacent subsurface moored station and deployed a replacement M6 weather buoy, as part of the Irish Marine Data Buoy Observation Network (IMDBON).

Funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the IMDBON is managed by the Marine Institute in collaboration with Met Éireann and is designed to improve weather forecasts and safety at sea around Ireland. The data buoys have instruments which collect weather and ocean data including wind speed and direction, pressure, air and sea surface temperature and wave statistics. This data provides vital information for weather forecasts, shipping bulletins, gale and swell warnings as well as data for general public information and research.

“It is only in the last 20 years, meteorologists and climatologists have really began to understood the pivotal role the ocean plays in determining our climate and weather,” said Evelyn Cusack, Head of Forecasting at Met Éireann. “The real-time information provided by the Irish data buoy network is particularly important for our mariners and rescue services. The M6 data buoy in the Atlantic provides vital information on swell waves generated by Atlantic storms. Even though the weather and winds may be calm around our shores, there could be some very high swells coming in from Atlantic storms.”