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Displaying items by tag: Lighthouse Vessel

Northern Lighthouse Board's NLV Pharos, one of two ships that service and maintain lighthouses and marine Aids to Navigation in Scotland and the Isle of Man, will be in Douglas Harbour to hold Open Days for the public this weekend (23-24 July).

NLV Pharos will be berthed in the Manx capital alongside the Victoria Pier with free ship tours from 2 pm to 4 pm. This will enable the public to get a chance to board the aids to navigation ship, meet the crew and find out about their work as part of the Northern Lighthouse Board.

Mike Bullock, NLB’s Chief Executive, said: “This is a rare opportunity for the public to come on board and to meet the crew. Visitors will get a real insight into our operations and vital safety service for mariners in Scottish and Isle of Man waters. We know Pharos is often seen in Manx waters, but this is a chance to get onboard our most modern vessel. The open days are a welcome opportunity for NLB to forge links with the local community and showcase what we do.”

The homeport of NLV Pharos is Oban, in west Scotland, and the vessel works mainly in Scottish and Isle of Man waters. In addition to the ship’s primary role in responding to wrecks and new navigational dangers, this highly sophisticated vessel supports maintaining and refurbishing NLB’s 200-plus lighthouses and conducting buoy operations.

NLV Pharos came into service in 2007 and is equipped with a helicopter pad, dynamic positioning, a 30 Tonne crane and a hydrographic survey suite.

In recent months, Afloat reported on the dry-docking 'Special Survey' of the NLV Pharos, which took place at Harland & Wolff's Belfast shipyard.

Published in Isle of Man

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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