Displaying items by tag: German Tall Ship

9th September 2015

Tallship Tours of German Navy Sail Training Ship This Sunday

#TallShipTours – As a reminder the German Navy three-masted barque Gorch Fock, which is currently on a visit of Dublin since arriving last week, will be open to public tours next Sunday (13th September), writes Jehan Ashmore.

In addition the 1958 built tallship which is berthed at Sir John Rogersons Quay will also be open again for the public on the following Sunday (20th September).

Tour times for both of the “Open Ship” days are between 2-5pm, where her crew will welcome you on board her timber decks.

So why not make a visit (free of charge and no registration) on board the sail training ship that has toured the world 168 times.

The primary mission of the Gorch Fock is to provide basic nautical training for officer and non-commissioned officer candidates of the German Navy combining theoretical and practical aspects.

The focus is on the training of the officer candidates, the so-called cadets who climb the rigging in which the masts tower just over 45 metres above the sea.

On board the tall ship, the cadets get their sea legs. They are to experience first hand what it means to work as a team at sea, "to pull together" and "to be in the same boat".

On a sail training ship, this is easily put into practice as the main means of propulsion, the rigging, is operated by muscle power only.

Gorch Foch is to remain in port until the 21st September when she sets sails to Funchal, Portugal. After this first port of call on the Iberian Peninsula, she heads to Cadiz in neighbouring Spain.

She then returns across the Bay of Biscay with the final leg to take place in November from Dartmouth back to the German port of Wilhelmshaven.

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Irish Sailing

The Irish Sailing Association, also known as Irish Sailing, is the national governing body for sailing, powerboating and windsurfing in Ireland.

Founded in 1945 as the Irish Dinghy Racing Association, it became the Irish Yachting Association in 1964 and the Irish Sailing Association in 1992.

Irish Sailing is a Member National Authority (MNA) of World Sailing and a member of the Olympic Federation of Ireland.

The Association is governed by a volunteer board, elected by the member clubs. Policy Groups provide the link with members and stakeholders while advising the Board on specialist areas. There is a professional administration and performance staff, based at the headquarters in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.

Core functions include the regulation of sailing education, administering racing and selection of Irish sailors for international competition. It is the body recognised by the Olympic Federation of Ireland for nominating Irish qualified sailors to be considered for selection to represent Ireland at the Olympic Games. Irish sailors have medalled twice at the Olympics – David Wilkins and Jamie Wikinson at the 1980 games, and Annalise Murphy at the 2016 games.

The Association, through its network of clubs and centres, offers curriculum-based training in the various sailing, windsurfing and powerboating disciplines. Irish Sailing qualifications are recognised by Irish and European Authorities. Most prominent of these are the Yachtmaster and the International Certificate of Competency.

It runs the annual All-Ireland Championships (formerly the Helmsman’s Championship) for senior and junior sailors.

The Association has been led by leading lights in the sailing and business communities. These include Douglas Heard, Clayton Love Junior, John Burke and Robert Dix.

Close to 100 sailors have represented Ireland at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Membership of Irish Sailing is either by direct application or through membership of an affiliated organisation. The annual membership fee ranges from €75 for families, down to €20 for Seniors and Juniors.