Displaying items by tag: Coast Guard Academy

19th November 2010

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle to visit Waterford

The largest tall-ship sailing the US flag the USCGC Eagle is to visit Waterford and northern Europe in 2011 during the vessels 75th anniversary celebrations, according to a report in TheDay.com.

The United States Coastguard Cutter operates the sail-training vessel which is to depart next summer from her homeport of New London, Connecticut on the 7 May. The ports of call are Waterford, 27-30 May; Hamburg, Germany, 3-6 June; London, 10-13 June; Reykjavik, Iceland, 24-27 June; Halifax, Nova Scotia, 15-18 July; Boston, Mass., 22-25 July; New Bedford, Mass., 29 July- 1 August and New York 5-8 August.

"This is a great opportunity to tie the Eagle's rich history directly into the annual cadet summer training at sea," said Capt. Eric C. Jones, commanding officer. "By the time the ship arrives in Hamburg, the cadets will have shared in an experience that the Coast Guard Academy has shared with prospective officers for 65 years- learning to live and work on the ocean aboard a tall ship."

USCG Eagle is also the only active square-rigger in U.S. government service. Originally the three-masted barque was commissioned for the German Navy. In 1936 the vessel was launched as Horst Wessel from the Blohm & Voss Shipyards, Hamburg. A decade later the 295-foot vessel was taken as war reparation to the U.S Government.

Looking for further reading on Tall Ships in Ireland? Click the links below:

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Previewing Ireland's Tall Ships 2011 Season

Can Ireland Get a New Tall Ship?

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Forty Foot Swimming Spot on Dublin Bay

The 'Forty Foot' is a rocky outcrop located at the southern tip of Dublin Bay at Sandycove, County Dublin from which people have been swimming in the Irish Sea all year round for 300 years or more. It is popular because it is one of few spots between Dublin city and Greystones in County Wicklow that allows for swimming at all stages of the tide, subject to the sea state.

Forty Foot History

Traditionally, the bathing spot was exclusively a men's bathing spot and the gentlemen's swimming club was established to help conserve the area.

Owing to its relative isolation and gender-specific nature it became a popular spot for nudists, but in the 1970s, during the women's liberation movement, a group of female equal-rights activists plunged into the waters and now it is also open to everyone and it is in the control of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Many people believe that swimming in extremely cold water is healthy and good for the immune system.

Is it safe to swim at the Forty Foot?

The Forty-Foot is a great place to swim because there is always enough water to get a dip but like all sea swimming, there are always hazards you need to be aware of. For example, a lot of people like to dive into to the pool at the Forty-foot but there are submerged rocks that can be hazardous especially at low water. The Council have erected signs to warn people of the underwater dangers. Other hazards include slippy granite cut stone steps that can often be covered with seaweed and of course marine wildlife including jellyfish that make their presence felt in the summer months as do an inquisitive nearby Sandycove seal colony.