Displaying items by tag: Colin Mudie

22nd September 2010

Waterford Tall Ships Races 2011 Participant Sails into Dublin

The Jubilee Sailing Trust's (JST) three-masted 'flagship' STS Lord Nelson arrived into Dublin today (Wednesday) as part of her sail-training programme. The barque is one of over 30 tall ships so far confirmed out of an expected 70 entrants for next year's Tall Ships Races starting from Waterford, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The famous race consists of three race legs, which starts with a customary 'Parade of Sail' that will depart from Waterford on 3 July 2011. The sailing spectacle is eagerly awaited and will mark the final day of the four-day long maritime festival that the 'Crystal' city is to host for the second time. As in 2005, the tall ships will grace both sides of the city quays along the River Suir from 30 June-3 July.

In the 'A' class tall ships (the large square-rigged vessels) the Lord Nelson will be sharing this category with a further six ships representing these impresssive vessels to include Christian Radich, Europa and the Polish Pogoria, which also called to Dublin recently.

The Lord Nelson will participate in the first race between Waterford and Greenock. From the Scottish port the tall ships will 'Cruise-In-Company' to Lerwick, the capital of the Shetland Islands. The race then crosses the North Sea to Stavanger, Norway and the final leg is to culminate in the Swedish west coast port of Halmstad in early August.

The Lord Nelson was designed by Colin Mudie and is specifically constructed to enable people of all physical abilities to sail side-by-side as equals. The vessel has an overall length of 54.7m and when under canvas (1,024m2) that's all 18 sails, Lord Nelson can achieve around 10 knots.

In addition to Lord Nelson, the JST which is run as a registered charity operates the SV Tenacious. Likewise this barque is designed for the same purpose and they can claim to be the only tall ships in the world having this distinction of providing sailing opportunities for all.

Since the charity started in 1978, over 36,000 people have sailed with the trust. Of those, over 24,000 people have sailed onboard Lord Nelson, which was launched in 1986, and 12,000 have sailed on Tenacious which was launched in 2000.

The countdown for the Waterford Tall Ships Races 2011 continues with less than 281 days to go!...The prestigious event is organised by Sail Training International in association with Szczecin.

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

Click this link to read all our Tall Ships Stories on one handy page

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.