#islandnation –In your maritime 'This Island Nation' column this week. Ireland will lead the world in maritime research ...Will you help to survey the coastline? The Titanic Captain had trouble with his navigation ... Extreme trapezing ... A new cruise opportunity, from Cork to Norway .... Screaming angling reels and more in Rosslare ...
BEAUFORT WILL LEAD WORLD RESEARCH
Work has begun on building the Beaufort Laboratory alongside the National Maritime College in Ringaskiddy, Cork Harbour, a development which will put Ireland in a leadership role in world maritime research. It is fitting that the name of the Irishman who gave the world the Beaufort windscale is attached to a laboratory that will provide a focus for research and commercial opportunities benefiting Ireland.
The Beaufort site
The Coastal and Marine Research Centre attached to UCC has for many years been doing tremendous research work of which this is its latest development with the involvement of the NMC, Cork VEC, the Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre and the Sustainable Energy Research Group in UCC. The building is being funded by the HEA-PRTLI, Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and Bord Gais and is due to be opened in the Autumn of next year. It will have a capacity for more than 130 researchers to work there and several major international companies have already indicated their interest in using its facilities.
HELP TO WATCH THE COAST
The 25th Coastwatch survey of the Irish coastline is underway and public help is being sought for this eco-audit. The survey includes shore and land use, inflow water quality and the effects on plants and animals, as well as waste, pollution and litter. "Citizen science" is how it has been described by Karen Dubsky who has co-ordinated the survey for many years. She has asked for volunteer support which can be done by downloading survey forms from the Coastwatch website to where results can also be Emailed.
"Volunteers can download the questionnaire and guide notes, choose 500 metres of shore to survey then check that area at low tide and note down the results," she said.
TITANIC CAPTAIN HAD DIFFICULTY IN PASSING NAVIGATION TESTS
The UK National Maritime Museum has released documents about seamen and the examinations they had to take in the years between 1850 and 1927. They show that the Captain of the Titanic originally failed his navigation test.
Capt. Edward John Smith, whose body was not recovered after he went down with the Titanic when it sank in 1912, failed his exams the first time round because he did not have sufficient navigating skills. But he did eventually pass the exam and receive his Masters Certificate in February 1888.
The documents provide a fascinating insight into Merchant Navy life at the turn of the 19th-Century. Effectively, they show the change in life at sea from the previous attitudes towards maritime safety towards the more modern requirements for seafarer training.
"They are a rich source of information for anybody looking to find out more about a seafaring relative or trace the career of a famous captain," says the Museum in releasing a total of 280,000 documents.
EXTREME TRAPEZING CAUSES PROTEST
The 49er skiff European Championships on Lake Garda saw a form of extreme trapezing which caused protests! The Danish crew of helmsman Allan Norregaard, an Olympic bronze medallist, crewed by Anders Thomsen, were protested for a new type of 'trapezing'. Other competitors lodged the protest when the two were seen to both 'trapeze' out of the boat at the same time when Norregaard gave the tiller to Thomsen, who took up the normal trapezing position and steered as well, while Norregarrd the normal helm, climbed onto his shoulders and trapezed out of the boat above him – a dual trapezing technique never seen before in international competitive championship sailing!
Summoned before the International Protest Jury to answer complaints, both claimed there was nothing in the sailing rules against what they described as the 'ultimate trapezing technique.'
The jury agreed!
"It works in stable conditions of 15-20 knots and Lake Garda was perfect to try it," said Norregaard.
Other teams subsequently tried the technique but failed to replicate it! The Class Association is considering whether a rule change is needed!
DIRECT FROM CORK TO NORWAY
Cruising has become very popular but direct opportunities from Ireland have been limited, though they are increasing, with a 'first' to a new destination to be launched next year, direct from Cobh in Cork Harbour to Norway. The Port of Cork Company, Royal Caribbean and the Lee Travel agency are to announce details on Thursday, September 27 of the 12-day Norwegian Fjords Cruise.
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CONFERENCE FOR DUBLIN
The 4th International Conference and Exhibition on Ocean Energy will be held from October 17 to October 19 in Dublin. Sixty-five international exhibitors are so far booked for the exhibition which will be held in the Dublin Convention Centre. Major speakers are also lined-up for the event.
ROSSLARE MARITIME ENTHUSIASTS
Rosslare Maritime Enthusiasts have taken over the former Tourist Office on the main road from Rosslare Harbour to Kilrane. The group have begun transforming the building into what will be called 'The Rosslare Harbour Maritime Heritage Centre.' The group, formed in 2004, has published two books and a third is nearing completion.
"We have previously held an annual maritime exhibition during the Rosslare Harbour summer festival but have been looking for a suitable permanent home to establish what we believe will be a great addition to the community and County Wexford," they say.
ROSSLARE'S TOP TRIGGER
Also in Rosslare an "Uptide Girl," an English angling writer and a top triggerfish, combined in the boat name, the writer Gordon Thornes and the 2.32kg. triggerfish to become the Inland Fisheries Ireland 'Catch of the Week' during the Rosslare Small Boats festival which proved to be a great success again this year despite challenging weather conditions for the competition.
For the third time in the last four years 'Screaming Reels' from Rosie's Sea Angling Club in Cork won the competition with 24 different species of fish, beating 28 other boats from the UK. Fishing was very good with 30 different species recorded.
