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Displaying items by tag: Sir Robin KnoxJohnson

#RouteDuRhum - Sir Robin Knox-Johnson has surprised even himself by claiming a podium place in the Route du Rhum transatlantic offshore solo sailing challenge.

The 75-year-old sailing legend completed the more than 3,500-mile course from St Malo in Brittany to Guadeloupe in the Caribbean in less under 20 days and eight hours, taking third place in a fleet filled with world-class solo sailors.

"I didn't expect to get on the podium when I started the race," said the Clipper Round the World Race founder, as reported by the Independent.

But as he found himself towards the front of the pack, in spite of his older and heavier boat, he "got competitive and that was tiring. It came down to boat speed.

"She's a fast boat I've got," he added, referring to his 60-foot yacht with the charmingly self-deprecating name Grey Power.

The Independent has more on the story HERE.

#ClipperRace - The harassment case against Clipper Round The World Race organiser Sir Robin Knox-Johnson has been dismissed by an employment tribunal.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the offshore sailing legend was sued along with fellow organisers by lawyer-turned-sailor Ruth Harvey over victimisation and harassment she allegedly experienced while crewing the yacht Jamaica Get All Right in the most recent edition of the Clipper Race.

Harvey, a specialist in employment law, argued that she should have been classified as an employee because she had been a full crew member despite dropping out of the race after two legs, according to the Daily Telegraph.

But a tribunal judge this week rejected her case on a number of legal points, including whether Harvey could indeed be classed as an employee, and whether Sir Robin, as founder of the race company, should have been named a defendant.

The news will come as some relief to the 75-year-old Sir Robin, who continues to climb the rankings in the solo transatlantic Route du Rhum.

The Telegraph has more on the story HERE.

Published in Clipper Race

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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