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Displaying items by tag: Mike Jones

#SEA KAYAKING - It was a lucky Friday the 13th for Cork adventurer Mike Jones who returned to an enthusiastic reception on completing his solo circumnavigation of Ireland by kayak after 40 days at sea.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Jones set out from Cobh on Monday 4 June in an 18-foot sea kayak with the aim of completing the charity challenge in under five weeks.

Unfortunately the tumultuous weather of the past few weeks put paid to those plans, but as he told the Cork Independent, he "wasn't that far off" the 35-day mark.

"The weather was of course very bad and it was a battle for the first few days of it," he added. "The longest day for me was crossing Donegal Bay up north where I was kayaking for about 17 hours which was pretty tiring."

Despite the rough conditions, Jones was well prepared for any and all eventualities, even using a VHF radio to keep in regular contact with the Irish Coast Guard and carrying a GPS tracker so visitors to his blog could track his daily progress.

And considering his pedigree as an open-water rower - he became one of the first Cork men to row across the Atlantic Ocean in 2010 - Jones was more than able for the job.

But he also admitted that the kindness he received from strangers was pivotal to his successful effort, which has so far raised almost €3,500 for the Children's Sunshine Home and LauraLynn House for children with life-limiting conditions.

The Cork Independent has more on the story HERE.

Published in Kayaking

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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