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Displaying items by tag: Shannon Ferry Group

#SHANNON FERRY SERVICE - With the May Bank Holiday looming, those travelling along the mid-western seaboard should note that Shannon Ferries are currently offering discounts of 10% on all 'on-line' tickets booked this month and in June, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The route operated by the Shannon Ferry Group, is the country's longest distance domestic car-ferry service between Killimer-Tarbert and takes 20-minutes to cross the estuary.

In total the short-cut can save 137km by road between the two ferry terminals which link counties Clare and Kerry. Alternatively there is the choice of bridging the Shannon in Limerick City or going underground via the tolled tunnel.

Strategically the route links the popular tourist trail linking the Ring of Kerry, Aran Islands (via the Doolin ferry) and Galway the gateway to Connemara.

The route is served also by the country's largest coastal car-ferries the Shannon Dolphin (1995/500grt) and Shannon Breeze (2000/611grt). They were built  by Appledore Shipbuilders in north Devon, which also built the two 'Roisin' class OPV's for the Naval Service over a decade ago.

The 'Breeze' can handle 60 cars and 350 passengers while the slightly smaller 'Dolphin' takes 52 cars and also the same number of passengers to her running mate.

Published in Ferry

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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