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#DublinPort - On the same day of W.B. Yeats maiden delivery voyage to its Irish homeport of Dublin Port today, having docked first at the main ferry terminal, the 54,000 tonnes newbuild by mid-afternoon shifted berths, writes Jehan Ashmore

The 1,800 passenger/1,200 vehicle W.B. Yeats custom built for ICG's division, Irish Ferries, to serve primarily the Dublin-Cherbourg route from mid-March 2019, shifted berth to vacate for fleetmate flagship, Ulysses. This is to facilitate the slightly smaller, 50,000 tonnes fleetmate which is due this evening (17.25) to make a routine inbound crossing from Holyhead, Wales.

W.B. Yeats built by German shipyard FSG at a contract cost of €144m, arrived mid-morning docking at Dublin Port at Berth 49, located at the port's main ferryport at Terminal 1. However, a change of berth took place upriver to Terminal 3, close to the Tom Clarke (East-Link) road toll lift-bridge.

This terminal is where P&O Ferries are based, see related photo story on plans by the Government to buy land in ports in the event of a hard Brexit.

The 194m long vessel which is Cypriot flagged, is to remain close to the East Link, while alongside the North Wall Quay Extension for at least the next week, given the festive period.

It is understood that a departure is set for the day after St. Stephen's Day.

No doubt further crew training will be underway, in advance to whatever are the requirements of the operator.  

Published in Dublin Port

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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