Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Displaying items by tag: German Tall Ship

#TallShipTours – As a reminder the German Navy three-masted barque Gorch Fock, which is currently on a visit of Dublin since arriving last week, will be open to public tours next Sunday (13th September), writes Jehan Ashmore.

In addition the 1958 built tallship which is berthed at Sir John Rogersons Quay will also be open again for the public on the following Sunday (20th September).

Tour times for both of the “Open Ship” days are between 2-5pm, where her crew will welcome you on board her timber decks.

So why not make a visit (free of charge and no registration) on board the sail training ship that has toured the world 168 times.

The primary mission of the Gorch Fock is to provide basic nautical training for officer and non-commissioned officer candidates of the German Navy combining theoretical and practical aspects.

The focus is on the training of the officer candidates, the so-called cadets who climb the rigging in which the masts tower just over 45 metres above the sea.

On board the tall ship, the cadets get their sea legs. They are to experience first hand what it means to work as a team at sea, "to pull together" and "to be in the same boat".

On a sail training ship, this is easily put into practice as the main means of propulsion, the rigging, is operated by muscle power only.

Gorch Foch is to remain in port until the 21st September when she sets sails to Funchal, Portugal. After this first port of call on the Iberian Peninsula, she heads to Cadiz in neighbouring Spain.

She then returns across the Bay of Biscay with the final leg to take place in November from Dartmouth back to the German port of Wilhelmshaven.

Published in Tall Ships

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 Sailmakers

northsails sidebutton
uksails sidebutton
quantum sidebutton
watson sidebutton

Featured Chandleries

CHMarine Afloat logo
https://afloat.ie/resources/marine-industry-news/viking-marine

Featured Blogs

W M Nixon - Sailing on Saturday
podcast sidebutton
BSB sidebutton
wavelengths sidebutton
 

Please show your support for Afloat by donating