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Displaying items by tag: Newbuild Valiant Launch

#Valiant – Following our pre-launch coverage of Arklow Valiant, the above footage shows the third Royal Bodewes newbuild make first contact with the water at the Dutch yard for Arklow Shipping, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Newbuilding 723 was launched from the quayside at the yard in Hoogezand, Groningen, last Friday for ASL’s Dutch division, Arklow Shipping Nederland B.V. 

The single-hold 5,150dwat cargoship will became the 17th Dutch-flagged vessel out of the total fleet of 46 ships which are otherwise Irish-flagged.

Notably, she also differs to her completed 5,100dwat Trader sisters, Arklow Vale and Arklow View,  in terms of an efficient and cost-effective straight stem bow design.

She is the first vessel in the Arklow fleet to be named ‘Valiant’ in the series also known as the V class. Over the decades there have been previous V class generations that have carried names among them, Valour, Venture and Villa.

The christening of Arklow Valiant will be performed at a handing over ceremony in the port of Delfzijl that is reached from the inland yard by canal. Delfzijl is where Arklow View was also named.

Unlike last year's launch of leadship Arklow Vale where the naming was carried out at the Hoogezand yard.

Published in Arklow Shipping

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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