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Displaying items by tag: ScotsIrish timber trade

#TimberLinks– Coast Lines Shipping Ltd's Ayress discharged round timber at Passage West, Cork Harbour, from where she is returning today to load the same cargo at Campeltown, Scotland, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The privately owned wharf, at Passage West near Monkstown, in the centre of Cork Harbour handles short-sea coasters in which the Dominica flagged Ayress (1979/1,713grt) is a typical example. Branded as the 'Timber-Link' by the Midelton, Co. Cork company, the single hold 80m vessel is due to arrive at Campeltown tomorrow to load more timber.

Such trade between the two countries, Afloat several years ago reported on which can be read by clicking here.

Nearby to Passage West is the local service of Cross River Ferries that uses a pair of former Scottish ferries that ran to Skye, that link communities across the expanse of Cork Harbour. During the summer, the short-cut becomes busier with tourists visiting Cobh and ferry traffic also from France.

As pictured above is the New Pier at Campbeltown on the Mull of Kintyre where timber is exported to Irish ports, notably along the eastern seaboard. Among the ports are: Wicklow (see transfer to local authority), Rosslare and Youghal to the east of Cork Harbour.

On the adjacent berth can also been seen behind the stack of round timber, the gantry structure of the roll-on roll-off linkspan serving Calmac’s thrice weekly operated Campeltown-Ardrossan route.

On Saturday’s only, ferry, Isle of Arran serves her namesake with an en route call to the island at Brodick before completing the sailing to Ardrossan on the mainland.

The seasonal-only route which became ‘permanent’ this season following a three-year pilot trial, is even more secure as CalMac recently signed an eight-year contract to operate Clyde and Hebridean west isles services.

Published in Cork Harbour

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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