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Displaying items by tag: MOD70 City Races

#TALL SHIP- The UK flagged tallship Lord Nelson, built specifically to enable people of all physical abilities to sail side-by-side as equals, last night anchored off Scotsman Bay. It was in these inshore waters recently where the impressive MOD70 'City' Races took place off Dun Laoghaire Harbour's East Pier, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The barque is run by the charity, Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST), and she followed in the wake of another albeit smaller tallship, Vilma, which too had anchored in Scotsmans Bay, though much closer to the shoreline. The Welsh schooner registered in Beaumaris, was in the flotilla with spectators to witness the MOD70s as the high-tech 'Formula 1' of boats belted across Dublin Bay.

JST also own another barque, the Tenacious, and both vessels are regular callers to Irish ports, where they provide sailing holidays for everyone to experience the thrill and adventure of life at sea and get involved in almost every activity on board. This can involve taking the helm, setting the sails and keeping watch, regardless of physical ability and previous sailing knowledge.

For details of voyages around the UK and Ireland click HERE, noting the vessels also cruise in far distant waters. For example Lord Nelson is scheduled to depart on a voyage from Kochi in India next year.

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

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