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Displaying items by tag: Planned maintenance

Last week, the Isle of Man Steam Packet announced a change of ferry for day-time crossings on its Douglas-Heysham route.

As Manx Radio wrote, those travelling on the IOM-England route on Monday (15 April) will be on board the ropax Ben-my-Chree, which was withdrawn from service last year when replaced by the £80m newbuild flagship, Manxman.

According to the company, the change of ferry is due to planned maintenance of safety equipment, with the former flagship operating the Manxman's daytime sailings. The route takes 3 hours 45 minutes.

On Friday, the Ben-my-Chree returned to Manx waters having departed dry-dock at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead in Merseyside, where the 1998-built ropax had been having an overhaul and repaint.

To find out the latest sailing information, click here.

Published in Ferry

About the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is undoubtedly one of the greatest ocean adventures on the planet, also regarded as one of its toughest endurance challenges. Taking almost a year to complete, it consists of eleven teams competing against each other on the world’s largest matched fleet of 70-foot ocean racing yachts.

The Clipper Race was established in 1996 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo, non-stop, around the world in 1968-69. His aim was to allow anyone, regardless of previous sailing experience, the chance to embrace the thrill of ocean racing; it is the only event of its kind for amateur sailors. Around 40 per cent of crew are novices and have never sailed before starting a comprehensive training programme ahead of their adventure.

This unique challenge brings together everyone from chief executives to train drivers, nurses and firefighters, farmers, airline pilots and students, from age 18 upwards, to take on Mother Nature’s toughest and most remote conditions. There is no upper age limit, the oldest competitor to date is 76.

Now in its twelfth edition, the Clipper 2019-20 Race started from London, UK, on 02 September 2019.