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As summer is underway along with leisure activities, ABP’s Port of Southampton has published its Marine Leisure Guide to help recreational users stay safe in and around The Solent and Southampton Water.

As one of the UK’s busiest ports located in Hampshire, Portsmouth is visited by cruise ships, container ships, automotive carriers, tankers and ferries, as well as countless leisure vessels and craft as people enjoy time on one of the country’s most popular stretches of water. It is for this reason that ABP issues this downloadable guidance to help those using the water know how to prepare well.

“The Solent and Southampton Water are fantastic places to be, and we want people to stay safe when they venture out,” says ABP Southampton Harbour Master, Steve Masters. “The guide can be easily downloaded to a mobile device, and we strongly advise people take time to familiarise themselves with it to make sure they get the basics right.”

The Marine Leisure Guide contains helpful information on everything from pre-departure preparation such and what equipment to carry, understanding tides and weather, lights and signals used by vessels, and navigational safety. It also contains information on Local Notices to Mariners and being aware of the various VHF channels used by HM Coastguard, Southampton Pilots and ABP’s Southampton’s Vessel Traffic Service, which controls shipping movements in and around The Solent and Southampton Water.

A handy chartlet provides a map of the area, with information on channel approaches, different speed restrictions and much more.

The Marine Leisure Guide is available to download from the Southampton VTS website which links to download full copy of the guide (also available in a printed version).

Published in News Update

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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