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Displaying items by tag: Earthquake

#Tsunami - New Zealand authorities have urged people in low-lying coastal areas to reach higher ground after a tsunami was trigged by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake and a series of strong aftershocks in the country’s South Island.

No injuries have been recorded thus far amid reports of widespread damage after the earthquake and this morning (Sunday 13 November) around 11am Irish time, according to RTÉ News.

TVNZ reports that tsunami waves up to one metre have been noted in Christchurch, some 90km south of the earthquake’s epicentre, as residents in Wellington, on the southern end of North Island, are urged to evacuate.

Published in News Update

#Earthquake - Just a few weeks after the Bristol Channel was stirred up by a 4.1 magnitude earthquake, TheJournal.ie reports of tremors felt in Ireland's south-east yesterday evening (18 March).

No damage has been reported on the relatively minor quake, the magnitude of which is awaiting confirmation from Irish seismologists.

But the tectonic trembling was felt in many parts of Wexford, and detected as far away as Wales across the Irish Sea.

That may put offshore sailors on alert over the coming weeks, following as it did not long after the Bristol Channel quake, not to mention a 2.6 magnitude rumble off the Cork coast late last year.

TheJournal.ie has more on the story HERE, including a link to a questionnaire for anyone who believes they felt last night's quake.

Published in News Update
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#Offshore - Offshore sailors had best beware of some unusual tectonic activity between Britain and Ireland as of late, with the Bristol Channel experiencing its largest ever earthquake last month.

According to Met Éireann, the 4.1 magnitude quake on 20 February had an epicentre between Ilfracombe in Devon and Swansea in South Wales, and could be felt more than 200km away as far east as Guilford in Surrey.

"Most people described the shaking strength of the earthquake to be either weak or moderate, with mainly a trembling effect," said Met Éireann, "whilst others described the effect as swaying or jerky" and many reported rattling windows and shaking crockery.

There are as far no reports that the quake was felt across the Irish Sea here in Ireland, but experts will be vigilant for any further trembles beneath the waves...

Published in Offshore
Tagged under

#EARTHQUAKE - The North West region experienced its biggest ever earthquake this week in an event that poses “very interesting questions for geologists”.

The magnitude 4 quake on the morning of Wednesday 6 June, which was epicentred close to the Corrib Gas Field off the coast of Co Mayo, resulted in tremors felt from Sligo to Galway and numerous reports of houses shaking, as The Irish Times reports.

Minister for Energy and Natural Resouces Pat Rabbitte said all evidence pointed to the incident being a “naturally occurring earthquake” and emphasised there was “no link” to works on the Corrib field.

Experts from the British Geological Survey said it was "not a warning of anything bigger to come".

However, Tom Blake of the Irish National Seismic Network (INSN) said that the "moderate" quake was “significant” in that it challenged existing information about seismic activity in the region.

Shell EP Ireland said the seismic survey had not started and it had “no reason to believe that this event has had any impact on the sub-sea infrastructure”.

“However, as a precautionary measure, a visual inspection of the offshore infrastructure will be carried out in the coming days,” it said.

Ireland's biggest earthquake on record was in 1984, when a magnitude 5.4 quake struck off Wales, causing some structural damage along the east coast.

Published in Coastal Notes

Beneteau 31.7 sailing in Ireland

In Ireland, the Beneteau First 31.7 Ireland One Design Class Association encourages and develop the use of the Beneteau First 31.7 yacht as a one-design keelboat, mainly for racing. 

Each year the association stages national championships with boats coming from different sailing across Ireland. The main centre is Dun Laoghaire Harbour where the bulk of the fleet (15 boats) are based at the National Yacht club but are moored at Dun Laoghaire Marina.

The Beneteau 31.7 boat is not new to Dublin Bay, as boats of this size and type have competed in DBSC in the Cruiser 2 class for some years.

However during the 2006 season, due to their increased numbers, DBSC granted the class its own racing start, thereby facilitating one-design racing for this cruiser/racer. 

Since then it has become one of the biggest one-design keelboat classes on the Bay.

One-design rules were drawn up to discourage modifications, maintain a level playing field and set a generally ‘Corinthian’ ethos.

To preserve the cruising dimension, the boat races with cushions aboard.

Numbers entered in DBSC have settled down to approx 15-18 boats, and regular Thursday and Saturday attendances over the season are usually of the order of 14 to 16 boats, reflecting good participation by members. Racing is close and competitive. 

In addition to scratch results, ECHO results are also posted. This combines the best of both worlds, providing one-design racing which the members like, while also providing an incentive and interest in turning out for those boats who may not always approach podium position on scratch.

At A Glance – Beneteau First 31.7 Specifications

L.O.A 9.61 m
Hull length 9.50 m
L.W.L. 8.80 m
Beam 3.23 m
Draught min (Deep draught keel) Cast iron 1.90 m
Ballast weight (Deep draught keel) 1 025 kg
Air draught (max) 13.90 m
Light displacement (EC) 3 750 kg
Fuel capacity 30 l
Freshwater capacity 160 l
Engine power 21 HP

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