Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Displaying items by tag: Manchester Ship Canal Cruises

#CanalCruises – Operators of the famous ferry cross the Mersey will again be launching Manchester Ship Canal Cruises starting in early April, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Treat yourself to the leisurely 6 hour return cruise along the 35 mile canal. To wet your appetite click HERE for a taster of the passage by viewing the Mersey Ferries TV Advert.

The canal cruise can start at Salford Quays (M50 3AH); or at the opposite end of the route from either our Seacombe (Wirral CH44 6QY) or Liverpool (L3 1DP) terminals.

Take in the spectacular scenery whilst a live commentary tells the story of how this magnificent waterway shaped the city of Manchester and the North West of England.

Over the passage of time, Runcorn (near the start of the canal) and Salford Docks where locations for the discharging of Guinness.

The 'black-stuff' was transported across the Irish Sea by the last of the stout-tankers The Lady Patricia and Miranda Guinness.

The trade ceased two decades ago in 1993 following the introduction of road-stout tankers that take the ferry instead.

Another Irish Sea route connection to Dublin Port had up untill recently operated two container vessels from Liverpool, however one of these ships, Coastal Deniz has shifted to a newly upgraded domestic service.

The service which is operated by this larger container vessel is running  between Liverpool's Seaforth Container and the Irlam Container Terminal, near Trafford Park in Manchester.

Due to a marked increase in trade along the canal from customers among them Kelloggs, a trail-run period in running Coastal Deniz during January had proved successfull, leading to the transfer of the 260 TEU capacity vessel operated by Peel Ports.

The deployment of the 1991 built vessel to the canal route will move in the region 20,000 containers during 2013. The service between Liverpool  to Irlam will operate four times weekly. For more WorldCargoNews.com has a report.

Once you've finished your day of cruising, Mersey Ferries we'll return to your point of departure by dedicated bus transfer.

Tickets are available from only £36 per person. Advance booking is necessary. To book or for more information call 0151 330 1444 or visit this LINK.

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

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 Chandleries

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

Featured Sailmakers

northsails sidebutton
uksails sidebutton
watson sidebutton

Featured Blogs

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

Please show your support for Afloat by donating