Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Hundreds of recreational boat owners in Northern Ireland could be affected by an HM Treasury decision outlining that from June they will be required to use white diesel instead of red. As part of the Spring Budget announcement, the UK…

Northern Ireland recreational boaters will no longer be able to use red diesel for propelling their craft. This is despite the British Chancellor Rishi Sunak announcing on Wednesday, as Afloat reported here, that UK sailors will still be able to use…

Use of red diesel will be maintained for all commercial boat operators and for private pleasure craft users in Great Britain following the UK's Spring Budget 2021 announcement. Lesley Robinson, CEO of British Marine called it a 'Red-letter day' for…

Following the Prime Minister's announcement on Monday 22 February outlining the roadmap of when restrictions are likely to be eased across England, British Marine met with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to clarify the guidance specific…

Portaferry Coastguard Rescue team was joined by the Bangor team for joint mud and water rescue training in Strangford Lough on Sunday, 28th February. The Dorn at Ardkeen was the location for the mud training. The word Dorn, from the…

NI’s Agriculture Minister has cited “practical difficulties” with the Northern Ireland Protocol in his decision to order a halt on construction of post-Brexit port inspection facilities. According to Politico, acting DAERA Minister Gordon Lyons has also told NI ports not…

When the "low black schooner" America won what was to become an historic race around the Isle of Wight on Friday 22nd August 1851 from a small fleet of varied English yachts, thereby winning a silver ewer which was eventually…

A full agenda of expert talks and coaching sessions is promised this weekend at the RYA Virtual RYA Dinghy Show, plus two exhibition halls hosting just over 100 exhibitors. The RYA has brought together world-class dinghy sailors and leading experts who'll…

RNLI Portrush has posted that RNLI Lifeguards are recruiting and applications are open for 2021. If you have a National Vocational Beach Lifeguard qualification and are interested in joining a dynamic, well-trained team responsible for keeping beach users safe around…

The Seabin Project is providing funding for a Seabin and its installation in the UK, ideally in the London area to support cleaning up the capital’s waterways. This funding package is worth over £5,000. An award-winning piece of technology, the…

Bloodlands is a new crime thriller following DCI Tom Brannick, played by Co Antrim born actor James Nesbitt and filmed in Northern Ireland, principally in Strangford Lough. It's a classic Jed Mercurio executive produced thriller written by Chris Brandon who…

The opinion is divided in Donaghadee about the Ards and North Down Borough Council plans to create within the harbour a 'recreational area' outside of the inner portion but still within harbour limits. The recreational area would be a safe…

Northern Ireland's biggest sailing event, Bangor Town Regatta, scheduled for June has been cancelled due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. The Belfast Lough biennial event has sadly joined the queue of cancelled sailing events this year. Chairman of the BTR Organising…

The notion of a rail and possibly road tunnel linking Northern Ireland and Scotland is once again a matter of speculation, and a Discussion Paper will be published by the British Government “within weeks”. Eleven months ago, before Brexit had…

An operation to clean up an oil leak from a shipwreck in Canadian waters has consulted archives in Northern Ireland where the vessel was built in the late 1940s. As the Belfast Telegraph reports, the MV Schiedyk sank in January…

If you're on the North Coast of Ireland today keep an eye out for the RRS Sir David Attenborough says RSPB Rathlin Island Reserve. This ship is the UK's brand new polar research vessel, and it will be off the…