Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Displaying items by tag: American College Football

A naval visitor arrived to Dublin Port this afternoon as the USS Mesa Verde is on a courtesy call to the capital to coincide with an American football match classic which is to be held tomorrow, Saturday.

The United States Navy USS Mesa Verde is a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock vessel which had departed Narvik, Norway following what is understood to be training exercises held with their NATO Nordic ally.

Upon arrival to Dublin port’s fairway, tugs approached the naval vessel to the Deepwater Berth on the south quays.

Attending the USS Mesa Verde, Afloat noted the tugs Beaufort at the bow whereas Shackleton and Giano were on duty off the stern of the large naval vessel which docked at Berth 46. This part of the port is a restricted operational area and where such larger naval visitors berth.

USS Mesa Verde is visiting Dublin Port ahead of the 2023 Aer Lingus College Football Classic between Navy Midshipmen and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Up to 40,000 spectators are expected at the Aviva Stadium on Lansdowne Road including crew and marines of the 699 personnel of the foreign naval vessel.

In addition to tomorrow evening's sporting event in Ballsbridge, US military aircraft will be making a flyover above the capital.

Prior to the vessel’s arrival, the Naval Service OPV90 /P60 series leadship, L.E. Samuel Beckett had this morning berthed upriver at Sir John Rogerson's Quay.

The L.E. Samuel Beckett is one of just two operational patrol vessels of the Naval Service will be making a shorter call in the capital whereas the USS Mesa Verde is to remain until Tuesday morning.

Published in Naval Visits

The Half Ton Class was created by the Offshore Racing Council for boats within the racing band not exceeding 22'-0". The ORC decided that the rule should "....permit the development of seaworthy offshore racing yachts...The Council will endeavour to protect the majority of the existing IOR fleet from rapid obsolescence caused by ....developments which produce increased performance without corresponding changes in ratings..."

When first introduced the IOR rule was perfectly adequate for rating boats in existence at that time. However yacht designers naturally examined the rule to seize upon any advantage they could find, the most noticeable of which has been a reduction in displacement and a return to fractional rigs.

After 1993, when the IOR Mk.III rule reached it termination due to lack of people building new boats, the rule was replaced by the CHS (Channel) Handicap system which in turn developed into the IRC system now used.

The IRC handicap system operates by a secret formula which tries to develop boats which are 'Cruising type' of relatively heavy boats with good internal accommodation. It tends to penalise boats with excessive stability or excessive sail area.

Competitions

The most significant events for the Half Ton Class has been the annual Half Ton Cup which was sailed under the IOR rules until 1993. More recently this has been replaced with the Half Ton Classics Cup. The venue of the event moved from continent to continent with over-representation on French or British ports. In later years the event is held biennially. Initially, it was proposed to hold events in Ireland, Britain and France by rotation. However, it was the Belgians who took the ball and ran with it. The Class is now managed from Belgium. 

At A Glance – Half Ton Classics Cup Winners

  • 2017 – Kinsale – Swuzzlebubble – Phil Plumtree – Farr 1977
  • 2016 – Falmouth – Swuzzlebubble – Greg Peck – Farr 1977
  • 2015 – Nieuwport – Checkmate XV – David Cullen – Humphreys 1985
  • 2014 – St Quay Portrieux – Swuzzlebubble – Peter Morton – Farr 1977
  • 2013 – Boulogne – Checkmate XV – Nigel Biggs – Humphreys 1985
  • 2011 – Cowes – Chimp – Michael Kershaw – Berret 1978
  • 2009 – Nieuwpoort – Général Tapioca – Philippe Pilate – Berret 1978
  • 2007 – Dun Laoghaire – Henri-Lloyd Harmony – Nigel Biggs – Humphreys 1980~
  • 2005 – Dinard – Gingko – Patrick Lobrichon – Mauric 1968
  • 2003 – Nieuwpoort – Général Tapioca – Philippe Pilate – Berret 1978

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