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Originally hosted from the decks of the 102-ft Lightship Albatross in Dún Laoghaire Harbour, the event has grown popular as ever within Sea Scouting under a very exciting team-racing format using fleets of Pico/ Topaz ensuring it is fun and accessible for all at Malahide in North County Dublin.

Alongside the main team-racing event, competitors face a seamanship challenge where they are scored on board a multi-hander to sail efficiently around a course and complete exercises as a team such as man-overboard and anchoring.

To mark the 50th anniversary, a single-handed race was also included in this year's events; the Albatross Race, won by Shane O'Rourke from Arklow.To mark the 50th anniversary, a single-handed race was also included in this year's events; the Albatross Race, won by Shane O'Rourke from Arklow.

To mark the 50th anniversary, a single-handed race was also included in this year's events; the Albatross Race, won by Shane O'Rourke from Arklow.

The 16 teams from Malahide, Howth, Dun Laoghaire, Dollymount and Arklow all put in a fantastic effort under very testing and breezy conditions.

Organisers gave a big thanks to Officer Of the Day Colum McCaffrey and Race Officers Roger Campion and Sean Anglim from Malahide YC, who provided x 46 safe and exciting races under two fleets which made for an excellent day of sailing!

Congratulations to the full female Malahide Néala team, who came out on top as this year's Team Racing winners.

Published in Youth Sailing
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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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