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Coronavirus and Boating
British sailing has been put on pause under the current coronavirus restrictions
A British sailing industry figure is looking to form a Special Interest Group (SIG) of clubs, classes, sailors, trade and other stakeholders to lobby for the safe restarting of racing in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. SailRacer managing director…
A Dun Laoghaire Harbour start of a 2019 ISORA race to Wales
Although ISORA has announced a further postponement of its May fixtures, the ambitious offshore sailing body has also published a revised calendar for the rest of the season (downloadable below) as it commits to running a full programme this season…
These photos from the previous expedition in 2018 show the scientists going out to lay the sensors which they are now heading out to sea to collect
A team of scientists who have been self-isolating like astronauts for the past fortnight set sail from Galway at the weekend on an unusual mission. Six researchers from the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) and 15 crew on Marine…
The formation of trailers and tugs into the words “Stay Home” at Rosslare. See video below
TUG drivers and hauliers using Rosslare Europort have created a “stay home” message which has been captured by drone photography. The formation of trailers and tugs into the words “Stay Home” is intended to appeal to non-essential travellers during the…
Fishing boat in Howth Harbour
Marine Minister Michael Creed has announced that the implementation of the Pilot Quota Balancing Policy for Demersal (Whitefish) Stocks will be delayed until Monday 1 June. The Pilot Quota Balancing Policy for Demersal (Whitefish) Stocks (with technical amendment of August…
Dave Quinn crossing the final finish line to take the title at last year’s Irish Laser Masters in Howth
Dun Laoghaire’s dinghy fleet reports that the Irish Laser Masters will now take place on the weekend of 19-20 September at the Royal St George Yacht Club. The Laser Masters was one of a number of events that fell to…
‘Let’s BEAT This’ With Viking Marine’s Swim Cap Fundraiser For Frontline Health Workers
Viking Marine has teamed up with athletic sportswear brand Swimzi in the global effort to help fight Covid-19 and to support our frontline workers at the HSE. You can show your support by purchasing a charity ‘Let’s BEAT this’ swim…
An INSS J109 keelboat on Dublin Bay
There’s a demand for short term, easily available yacht charter on Irish waters, that's according to a survey conducted earlier this month by a Dun Laoghaire Harbour Sailing School. As Afloat reported previously, the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School…
Waterways Ireland Extends Winter Mooring To End Of May
Winter mooring facilities have been further extended until Sunday 31 May to ease the pressure on the inland boating community, Waterways Ireland has announced. There will be no additional cost for this extension, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways…
Liz Baker, Quoile Yacht Club members and Team Leader, with scrubs made by volunteers from Quoile Yacht Club and Killyleagh Yacht Club
Around the shores of Strangford Lough, two long-time friends, Thelma and Louise, set up the North Down & Ards Scrubs for NHS group. The group was set up to help support NHS workers such as Thelma’s son who is a…
The audience will take a back seat to the action at this year’s Kiel Week regattas, organisers say
As reported last month on Afloat.ie, 2020’s Kiel Week (Kieler Woche) in Germany was pushed back from its late June date to September amid the many disruptions to sailing calendars caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. But with the change in…
Bangor Marina on Belfast Lough
Last week the Quay Marinas/Dean & Reddyhoff Bangor marina closed, a victim of the COVID-19 Government restrictions in Northern Ireland. As Afloat reported previously, the Five Anchor Marina on Belfast Lough announced that from this Spring it would become part…
Dublin's Docklands: Field tents erected by the Irish Army in efforts to assist the HSE Covid-19 Virus Testing Centre on the Liffey Quays, Dublin has so far involved three OPV (above L.E. Samuel Beckett) of the Naval Service take in turns to also run and provide help with ships used as quayside bases. NOTE: The Naval Service have announced that former personnel are encouraged to re-enlist and join the fight against #COVID19 - (see below for details).
When the P60 class L.E. Samuel Beckett took up critical supporting duties along with the army to assist the HSE establish a Covid-19 virus testing centre on the Liffey in Dublin last month, a further two navy patrol vessels have…
As AFLOAT reported last week the Irish Exporters Association in conjunction with the Irish Dept of Transport held an online webiner to discuss the impact of Covid-19. Likewise in the UK, the British Ports Association (BPA) will be holding a webinar later this week for its port members to address the issues outlined in a short paper on the employment implications for UK ports (among them as above the Port of Dover) as the shipping industry addresses the global coronavirus pandemic.
The UK ports industry undertakes a vital role in Britain's economy, facilitating trade, fuel, energy, fishing, recreation and tourism. All tiers of the UK Government and the industry are committed to ports staying open to help sustain the country during…
The new gowns being manufactured at the Crosshaven sail loft
Cork Harbour sailmaker Barry Hayes and his UK Sailmakers firm at Crosshaven have joined the fight against Covid-19 and are deploying their resources to help make Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for local healthcare workers at the front line in the fight…
Irish Lights continues to provide essential services to maritime trade during the COVID-19 crisis. Their tender vessel ILV Granuaile along with coastal teams provide maintenance for marine aids to navigation, vital for the safe movement of food, fuel, medical, hygiene and other supplies. Afloat adds the tender is seen at the Fastnet Rock Lighthouse off the Co. Cork coast.
The Commissioners of Irish Lights continues to provide essential services to maritime trade for Ireland, north and south during the Covid-19 crisis.  In an update yesterday on operational activity, Irish Lights announced that their ILV Granuaile and coastal teams provide…

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Irish Sailing & Boating

Since restrictions began in March 2020, the Government is preparing for a 'controlled and gradual return to sport' and the 2020 sailing fixtures are being tentatively redrafted by yacht clubs, rowing clubs angling and diving clubs across Ireland as the country enters a new phase in dealing with the Coronavirus. The hope is that a COVID-19 restrictions might be eased by May 5th as Sport Ireland has asked national governing bodies for information on the challenges they face. 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) information

COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It's caused by a virus called coronavirus.

To help stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) everyone has been asked to stay at home. But some people may need to do more than this.

You may need to either:

You do these things to stop other people from getting coronavirus.

Read advice for people in at-risk groups

Read advice about cocooning.

Restricted movements

Everybody in Ireland has been asked to stay at home. You should only go out for a few reasons, such as shopping for food.

But you need to restrict your movements further if you: 

  • live with someone who has symptoms of coronavirus, but you feel well
  • are a close contact of a confirmed case of coronavirus
  • have returned to Ireland from another country

You need to restrict your movements for at least 14 days.

But if the person you live with has had a test and it is negative, you don't need to wait 14 days. You should still follow the advice for everyone - stay at home as much as possible.

Close contact

This is only a guide but close contact can mean:

  • spending more than 15 minutes of face-to-face contact within 2 metres of an infected person
  • living in the same house or shared accommodation as an infected person

How to restrict your movements 

Follow the advice for everybody - stay at home.