Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Displaying items by tag: Arklow's Leadship 'V' class

#VesselValeVisits – Leadship of Arklow Shipping’s newest and only cargsoship currently in service out of 10 vessels ordered, Arklow Vale is understood to have made her maiden call to the island of Ireland, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The 2,999grt cargoship had berthed in the Port of Belfast from where she departed the Herdmand Channel yesterday. Later that day ASL’s ‘R’ class cargoship Arklow Ranger docked at the same part of the port's estate on the Co. Antrim side of the Northern Ireland capital. This also Dutch built cargoship launched from the yard of Bijlsma Lemmer in 2002, had arrived from Gijon in northern Spain.

Overnight the Arklow Vale built to a design from the yard of Royal Bodewes own 5,100dwt Trader Series, had sailed southbound through the Irish Sea. As of this morning the 87m long vessel exited St. Georges Channel into the Celtic Sea.

Arklow Vale is bound for Terneuzen, Netherlands to where despite her career which only begin last month, the cargoship had visited this port en-route to Ghent in Belgium while on a maiden voyage from Delfzijl.

The Dutch port on the Ems Estuary, provided a base for sea-trials and is likely to be the case for second sister, Arklow View.

Afloat reported yesterday that this latest newbuild launched from the inland yard of Royal Bodewes located near Groningen, is to be handed over at Delfzijl and be given a naming ceremony.

The roll-out of the ‘V’ class newbuilds will continue to provide ASL through its subsidiary Arklow Shipping B.V. Nederland, in the transportation of cargoes. Among the cargoes that the overall fleet of 45 ships in between them can carry are in the bulk grain trades, steel rails, minerals and containers.

 

Published in Belfast Lough

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