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Displaying items by tag: DryDocking completed

#FerryNews - Fresh from a Falmouth dry-docking, Stena Horizon arrived in Dublin Port today, not Rosslare from where the ropax routinely operates on the France route to Cherbourg, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The reason for the call to the capital of the Stena Line ferry which recieved a refit at A&P Falmouth, is to facilitate further annual dry-docking cover of fleetmates. This will see Stena Horizon operate on the Dublin-Holyhead route.

Operating on this route is Stena Adventurer which will be replaced by Stena Horizon from tomorrow, 6 March 20.40hrs to 20 March 02.30hrs inclusive.

As the Stena Horizon is of a 'ropax' design (more freight orientated) compared to the 'Adventurer' there will be some reduction in facilities, products and services during this time on the Dublin-Holyhead route.

Also maintaining service as usual on the central Irish Sea route is the Stena Superfast X which was introduced in 2015.

As previously reported on Afloat, while Stena Horizon is off service on the Ireland-France route, a freight-only ship Stena Carrier is operating. The vessel is providing an important role in the export of livestock to the mainland continent until the 'Horizon's return is scheduled for 20 March.with the 21.30hrs sailing to France.  

Stena Europe also fresh from overhaul in Falmouth, returned to resume Rosslare-Fishguard services. 

For several days last month all Stena Line services to Wales and France were not operating 'passenger' sailings. On the Fishguard route, while Stena Europe was in Cornwall, customers were instead transferred onto a replacement ferry. This was in the form of rivals Irish Ferries whose Isle of Inishmore (see ferry focus) serves on the Rosslare-Pembroke route.

Published in Ferry

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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