Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Ian Walker's Green Dragon team has become the first boat to enter into 'StealthPlay', a move that hides the Galway boat's position from the other teams – and us – for 12 hours.

If an income levy was not enough, yesterday's budget will put extra costs on Irish boaters next season with a rise in VAT on most boating products sold here.

Viking marine is sponsoring a series of seven races to be held on Sunday mornings on Dublin bay. The event is organised by Dublin Bay Sailing Club and racing takes place under modified ECHO handicap.

For any self-respecting sailor, nothing compares with the cut-and-thrust of one-design racing and the Loughs Agency-sponsored J24 National Championships on Carlingford Lough in September provided plenty of tight competition in widely varying weather conditions.

Hamburg's hanseboot 2008 show is claiming to meet all the wishes of sailors, from small entrance level boats to high-performance cruisers, and the big classic yachts, too. With numerous first presentations, and new diversity in its range of exhibits, the…

Ben Rogerson's support team (including Brian Thompson, Open 60 Vendee Globe Skipper) has today (July 6th) confirmed that he has a green light for a start of his Mini Transat 6.50m Round Britain Ireland record attempt, supporting the charitable organisation…

In their opening logs, the skippers of the two Irish entries say they shared the frustration of trying to escape the Med's fickle winds. Walker is concerned at Green Dragon's lack of speed in light airs. Ger O'Rourke in seventh…

The much-anticipated new James Bond film QUANTUM OF SOLACE, due for Irish release on 31 October, will feature two Sunseeker motoryachts in one of the biggest-ever 007 boat chases – as well as a further Sunseeker model. The news is…

Donegal County Council is to use the Maritime Safety Act 2005 to create a bye-law that could prohibit recreational craft and Personal watercraft being used in certain waters (initially 14) around the Donegal coast. 

Just 48 hours into leg 1 and the all the boats, except Telefoncia Blue (see Dave Kneale's pic below) who had to serve a 12 hour pit stop penalty for repairs, are through the straits and out into the Atlantic. …

The Irish Marine Federation (IMF) has welcomed news that the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is taking on the responsibility of developing the marine leisure sector, but a department spokesperson has maintained the decision to take on this…

Only minutes after the Green Dragon team started the Volvo Ocean Race yesterday, Dublin businessman and sailor Tom Roche was plucked from the sea in Alicante bay having gone over board from the Galway yacht. But there was no panic…

There will be quite a spectacle off Cowes Green at midday this Friday; the biggest RORC fleet of the season will be jostling for position along the Yacht Squadron line, approximately 1,500 competitors will be on board, eager to race,…

Leg 1: Day 1: 1330 GMT– The long-awaited start day of leg one of the 10th running of the Volvo Ocean race dawned grey and very windy in Alicante, just as the forecasters had predicted, but it did not dampen the…

U2 lead singer Bono and his brother Norman Hewson made a surprise visit to the Green Dragon.Norman Hewson, an avid sailor had travelled from Dublin to support the Green Dragon team and bumped into his larger than life brother face…

From next month (1st November 2008) diesel used for "private pleasure navigation" is subject to mineral oil tax at the full "propellant" rate of 36.805 cent per litre, instead of the marked gas oil rate of 4.736 cent that applies…