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Displaying items by tag: Met Eiereann

As thoughts turn towards weekend boating fixtures, it looks like winds – or the lack of them – will be the deciding factor for sailing events. On Dublin Bay forecasters are holding out the prospect of afternoon sea breezes for the weekend's National Cruiser Racer Championships as gradient winds remain light and variable. This morning the meteorological situation is that a light to moderate and moist southwesterly airflow covers the country as high pressure continues to build from the southeast. Met Eireann are giving the following Sea Area forecast. 

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Forecast for coasts from Mizen Head to Slyne Head to Bloody Foreland 

Wind: South to southwest force 3 or 4. Decreasing variable mainly southerly force 2 to 4 this evening or early tonight, strongest for southwest coasts. 

Forecast for coasts from Bloody Foreland to Carnsore Point to Mizen Head and the Irish Sea 

Wind: South to southwest or variable force 2 to 4, strongest along the east coast and on the Irish Sea. Decreasing variable force 3 or less early tonight. 

Weather for all sea areas: Patches of mist, drizzle and fog. Becoming mainly fair later today. 

Visibility for all sea areas: Moderate or poor at times, improving mostly good. 

Outlook for a further 24 hours until 0600 Saturday 22 May 2010: Light to moderate southerly or variable winds. Fair, apart from drizzle, mist and fog patches.

Published in Weather

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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