News Update
Last Sunday (August 30th), the normally quiet and secluded shore of Dromaan on the west side of Lough Derg witnessed a Pink invasion. The Women on Water group from Lough Derg Yacht Club hosted a spectacular floating celebration, raising awareness…
An Irish-flagged yacht was forced to abandon a passage to Portugal's Algarve after its rudder was damaged during an encounter with orcas off the coast of Galicia in north-west Spain. The 11-metre yacht Minerva, with four crew aboard, had departed…
Following the death of Johnny Hooper, sailing historian Vincent Delany recalls the remarkable career of the double Olympian and National Yacht Club and Royal Irish Yacht Club sailor, whose achievements stretched across several decades of Irish sailing. Johnny was born…
We regret to record the death of Johnny Hooper of the National Yacht Club and Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dún Laoghaire, who for many decades was in the forefront of Irish sailing performance and boat class development. The son…
The Secretary-General of the United Nations maritime safety agency, the IMO (International Maritime Organisation), has issued a strong warning about the deterioration of maritime security worldwide. "From the Black Sea to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, this…
Amnesty International Calls For Investigation Into Missing Ecuadorian Fishing Vessel
28th August 2026 News Update
Amnesty International has renewed its call for an investigation into the alleged involvement of the United States in attacks on Ecuadorian vessels, including the Fiorella fishing vessel. Eight crew members have remained missing since January, and Ana Piquer, Americas Director…
Paint the Lake Pink! Get ready to Make a Splash for Breast Cancer Ireland. Dust off your brightest magenta, neon, and pastel pink gear! The Women on the Water (WOW) group at Lough Derg Yacht Club (LDYC) is launching the…
A temporary maritime exclusion zone off the Co Wicklow coast is to come into force from Friday (28 August) as part of what authorities describe as a “major security operation”. The Department of Transport has issued Marine Notice No. 42…
The 50-year-old former fishing vessel MV KATE is due to leave Kinsale Fisheries Pier on Sunday afternoon, bound for Gaza in an attempt to breach the Israeli naval blockade and deliver relief supplies to Palestinians. Previous attempts by vessels taking…
Afloat.ie records with profound regret the death of American sailing writer and historian John Rousmaniere at the age of 82. He was best known on this side of the Atlantic as the author of the best-seller "Fastnet Force 10", his…
Unlicensed Boat Captain Charged After Mother and Baby Killed in New York Capsizing
12th August 2026 News Update
A boat captain is facing federal charges after a vessel carrying 14 people capsized near the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbour, resulting in the deaths of a 27-year-old woman and her five-month-old daughter. The incident occurred at approximately…
Sailing clubs around Ireland looking to grow participation may find valuable lessons in a major new UK watersports survey. While the research focuses on Britain, its findings on recruitment, affordability, safety and social participation are likely to resonate with clubs…
Musician Glen Hansard who died in a motorbike accident early on Wednesday morning is being fondly remembered around the coast for his love of the sea, and the bonds he forged when he participated in the final leg of a…
Ireland's small craft registration system is "simply not fit for purpose", according to Fine Gael Senator Manus Boyle, the Seanad Spokesperson on Fisheries and the Marine, who has called for a simpler and more efficient process for recreational boat owners.…
Consultant Kieran Mulvey made the recommendation in a report prepared for Minister of State for Fisheries Timmy Dooley to inform a new five-year strategy for the fisheries sector under the Programme for Government. Mulvey said discussions across the sector consistently…
An international search is underway for the Irish-flagged sailing yacht Maple after Italian and Greek maritime rescue authorities issued an all-ships distress broadcast seeking assistance from vessels in the Ionian Sea. The search is being coordinated by the Italian Maritime…
