Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Displaying items by tag: LISW23

Mersey Maritime, a regional cluster organisation for the maritime industry in the Liverpool City Region and greater North West England, will be part of the forthcoming London International Shipping Week (LISW) of 11-15 September.

This year, Mersey Maritime is hosting ‘Mersey on the Thames‘, an exclusive drinks and networking session hosted by Shadow Maritime Minister, Mike Kane MP of the Terrace of the House of Commons.

Alongside our host Mike Kane MP, Shadow Transport Minister, guests will hear from Ruth Wood, Interim CEO of Mersey Maritime and Stephen Carr, Group Commercial Director of Peel Ports Group.

Guests will hear about opportunities within the Liverpool City Region and wider North West and ambitions for the region to become the test bed for emerging technologies, decarbonisation and interconnectivity of freight journeys.

As Afloat previously reported, General Lighthouse Authority, Trinity House will also be attending LISW, which is one of the most important international shipping and maritime events in the world. Since its conception in September 2013, LISW has grown consistantly and is set to become an even bigger event in 2023, when the shipping world is able to meet again in person and in earnest.

The Mersey on the Thames event which is invitation only, takes place at the terrace overlooking the Thames.

Published in Ports & Shipping

The shipbuilder, Harland & Wolff Group, is to be part of this year’s London International Shipping Week (LISW23) as Afloat previously reported is to take place 11-15 September.

The London listed H&W is to be a reception sponsor for the upcoming LISW23 Parliamentary Cruise.

The cruise on the Thames will take place on the 11th September on board a City Cruises' vessel, bringing together the UK Government and industry leaders. Afloat adds the excursion vessel is the Erasmus which has a 320 seat capacity.

In addition to this sponsorship, Harland & Wolff will host an innovation focused event entitled 'Great British Green Tugs’ – How do we get there?'

The event will be on the afternoon of 13th September and will be followed by a reception hosted by H&W.

Full details of speakers and registration can be found here.

Published in Shipyards

Trinity House, the General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) for England, Wales and Channel Islands, has signed up to join London International Shipping Week 2023 (11-15 September).

The GLA's multi-function buoy tender THV Galatea is to visit the Pool of London where it will be a host to showcase its people, skills and technology-driven practices on board.

LISW is an industry-facing calendar of over 200 events across the centre of London, making great use of the capital’s maritime connections and landmark venues, including Trinity House, the International Maritime Organization and the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.

Maritime safety organisation Trinity House is taking this opportunity to engage with industry and government by bringing THV Galatea into the Pool of London to berth alongside HMS Belfast, the iconic floating visitor tourist attraction on the Thames.

While the custom-built buoy tender THV Galatea will serve as a platform to showcase Trinity House’s people and how it approaches its dual missions as an aid to navigation prover and maritime charity.

Trinity House will make the ship also available as a space for functions and meetings during the week, among them Afloat includes to highlight a Maritime UK Careers fair following the UKSST report launch which is to take place on Monday, 11 September. 1.00am - 16.00pm.

This invite-only event will welcome students from Further and Higher education establishments and introduce the wide-ranging maritime careers available for those considering opportunities after education.

Afloat also highlights the event of Maritime Careers and Opportunities on Wednesday 13 September (09:00 - 15:00) This high-level seminar will identify innovations in training and support for industry entrants throughout their careers, at sea and beyond. For more details including to reserve a free ticket click here.

As for the main showcase, this too is to take place onboard THV Galatea on Wednesday 13 September (1830-2130) when a private event is held for industry, the government and press/media.

Visitors to the event will meet a number of our multi-disciplinary shore and vessel teams, whose work and expertise will vary from cutting edge research and development, navigational requirements, multiple engineering disciplines, cadet training, maritime welfare and giving, marine operations and commercial services.

For a list of all events and details click here.

On the importance of sending THV Galatea to exhibit at LISW, Deputy Master Captain Ian McNaught said: “While we can only show our guests a small part of what we do, we hope that everyone will appreciate the critical work being done by our people to safeguard seafarers and ships and keeping our island nation open for business, but also to raise awareness of the importance of the Red Ensign and the UK’s vital maritime sector.”

Published in Lighthouses

RORC Fastnet Race

This race is both a blue riband international yachting fixture and a biennial offshore pilgrimage that attracts crews from all walks of life:- from aspiring sailors to professional crews; all ages and all professions. Some are racing for charity, others for a personal challenge.

For the world's top professional sailors, it is a 'must-do' race. For some, it will be their first-ever race, and for others, something they have competed in for over 50 years! The race attracts the most diverse fleet of yachts, from beautiful classic yachts to some of the fastest racing machines on the planet – and everything in between.

The testing course passes eight famous landmarks along the route: The Needles, Portland Bill, Start Point, the Lizard, Land’s End, the Fastnet Rock, Bishop’s Rock off the Scillies and Plymouth breakwater (now Cherbourg for 2021 and 2023). After the start in Cowes, the fleet heads westward down The Solent, before exiting into the English Channel at Hurst Castle. The finish for 2021 is in Cherbourg via the Fastnet Rock, off the southern tip of Ireland.

  • The leg across the Celtic Sea to (and from) the Fastnet Rock is known to be unpredictable and challenging. The competitors are exposed to fast-moving Atlantic weather systems and the fleet often encounter tough conditions
  • Flawless decision-making, determination and total commitment are the essential requirements. Crews have to manage and anticipate the changing tidal and meteorological conditions imposed by the complex course
  • The symbol of the race is the Fastnet Rock, located off the southern coast of Ireland. Also known as the Teardrop of Ireland, the Rock marks an evocative turning point in the challenging race
  • Once sailors reach the Fastnet Rock, they are well over halfway to the finish in Cherbourg.

Fastnet Race - FAQs

The 49th edition of the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race will start from the Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes, UK on Sunday 8th August 2021.

The next two editions of the race in 2021 and 2023 will finish in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin at the head of the Normandy peninsula, France

Over 300. A record fleet is once again anticipated for the world's largest offshore yacht race.

The international fleet attracts both enthusiastic amateur, the seasoned offshore racer, as well as out-and-out professionals from all corners of the world.

Boats of all shapes, sizes and age take part in this historic race, from 9m-34m (30-110ft) – and everything in between.

The Fastnet Race multihull course record is: 1 day 4 hours 2 minutes and 26 seconds (2019, Ultim Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, Franck Cammas / Charles Caudrelier)

The Fastnet Race monohull course record is: 1 day, 18 hours, 39 minutes (2011, Volvo 70, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing).

David and Peter Askew's American VO70 Wizard won the 2019 Rolex Fastnet Race, claiming the Fastnet Challenge Cup for 1st in IRC Overall.

Rolex SA has been a longstanding sponsor of the race since 2001.

The first race was in 1925 with 7 boats. The Royal Ocean Racing Club was set up as a result.

The winner of the first Fastnet Race was the former pilot cutter Jolie Brise, a boat that is still sailing today.

Cork sailor Henry P F Donegan (1870-1940), who gave his total support for the Fastnet Race from its inception in 1925 and competed in the inaugural race in his 43ft cutter Gull from Cork.

Ireland has won the Fastnet Race twice. In 1987 the Dubois 40 Irish Independent won the Fastnet Race overall for the first time and then in 2007 – all of twenty years after Irish Independent’s win – Ireland secured the overall win again this time thanks to Ger O’Rourke’s Cookson 50 Chieftain from the Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland in Kilrush.

©Afloat 2020

Fastnet Race 2023 Date

The 2023 50th Rolex Fastnet Race will start on Saturday, 22nd July 2023

.

At A Glance – Fastnet Race

  • The world's largest offshore yacht race
  • The biennial race is 695 nautical miles - Cowes, Fastnet Rock, Cherbourg
  • A fleet of over 400 yachts regularly will take part
  • The international fleet is made up of over 26 countries
  • Multihull course record: 1 day, 8 hours, 48 minutes (2011, Banque Populaire V)
  • Monohull course record: 1 day, 18 hours, 39 minutes (2011, Volvo 70, Abu Dhabi)
  • Largest IRC Rated boat is the 100ft (30.48m) Scallywag 100 (HKG)
  • Some of the Smallest boats in the fleet are 30 footers
  • Rolex SA has been a longstanding sponsor of the race since 2001
  • The first race was in 1925 with 7 boats. The Royal Ocean Racing Club was set up as a result.

Featured Sailing School

INSS sidebutton

Featured Clubs

dbsc mainbutton
Howth Yacht Club
Kinsale Yacht Club
National Yacht Club
Royal Cork Yacht Club
Royal Irish Yacht club
Royal Saint George Yacht Club

Featured Brokers

leinster sidebutton

Featured Webcams

Featured Associations

ISA sidebutton
ICRA
isora sidebutton

Featured Marinas

dlmarina sidebutton

Featured Chandleries

CHMarine Afloat logo
https://afloat.ie/resources/marine-industry-news/viking-marine

Featured Sailmakers

northsails sidebutton
uksails sidebutton
watson sidebutton

Featured Blogs

W M Nixon - Sailing on Saturday
podcast sidebutton
BSB sidebutton
wavelengths sidebutton
 

Please show your support for Afloat by donating