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Displaying items by tag: Bull Run

Young south coast boater Adam Brennan is rapidly building a strong reputation for himself within the Irish and UK boating communities.

At just 17, he is still at boarding school in Ireland but has already secured himself a Super Yacht Cadetship with the UK Sailing Association when he leaves school. Alongside his academic career, Adam also manages 12 boats for customers around Kerry during the holidays and advises them on their boating requirements, with Suzuki being the outboard of choice for both his own boats and his recommendations to customers.

In addition to all of this Adam is also the lead organiser of the 'Bull run for fun' which is a 74–nautical mile cruise in company from Kenmare Bay in Ireland to the iconic Bull Rock in the Atlantic. Adam founded this event when he was just 12 years of age and since then it has grown to be one of Ireland's top power–boating events.

Not content with forging a career in the marine industry and organising his own events, Adam is also restoring a Delta Dash 5.5m RIB, which he is re-powering with a Suzuki DF140A outboard motor, which has been generously donated by Suzuki GB. The DF140A benefits from Suzuki's Lean Burn Fuel Control system and will deliver all the power and performance that Adam's RIB needs plus class-leading fuel efficiency.

Whilst Adam is doing much of the restoration work to the RIB himself, he is calling upon the expertise of Suzuki Dealer, Marine Motors in Cork to rig the outboard.

Suzuki's donation of the outboard to Adam is just one of the ways in which it will be participating in the Bull Run for Fun this year, as part of the company's celebrations to mark the 50th Anniversary of its very first outboard motor, the D55, which was launched in 1965.

George Cheeseman, Sales & Marketing Manager for Suzuki GB's Marine Division, said, "When we heard about Adam's activities and superb credentials for someone so young, we were keen to support him. He is incredibly enthusiastic and as such he is a fantastic ambassador for our range of ultimate four stroke outboards."

Published in RIBs
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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

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