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Displaying items by tag: Stavros S Niarchos

#WeatherBound – Following yesterday's 30th anniversary of the East-Link Toll Lift Bridge as previously reported, the UK flagged STV Stavros S. Niarchos and OPV L.E. Aisling (P23) both made transits through the Liffey road crossing this morning, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The departing vessels had moored at neighbouring berths along Sir John Rogersons Quay, from where the Naval Service 'Emer' class OPV firstly vacated having arrived in Dublin Port the previous day.

Within the hour so did the sale-listed STV Stavros S. Niarchos which cast off lines to head downriver having had to delay her departure yesterday due to weather bound conditions. The sail-training vessel is heading for Warrenpoint.

At 60m (197ft) long she is the largest brig built for over a century in the UK when completed in 2000. The brig is the main vessel of the sail training fleet run by the Tall Ships Youth Trust which offers sailing experience for those aged from 18 to 80. She arrived to the capital from last week and to embark new sailing recruits for a voyage that terminates in Liverpool.

As reported before on Afloat.ie, she flies the Stena houseflag as the three-masted vessel is unique among Northern Marine Management (part of the Stena Group) pool of around 130 vessels that include ro-ro tonnage to very large crude carrier (VLCC) tankers.

 

Published in Tall Ships

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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