#prolific – A Norwegian Tall Ship built in 2005 to pay homage to the old cutters that fished herring along the Norwegian coast and in Skagerrak in the 1800s has arrived in Dublin Bay for sail training expeditions in the Irish Sea. Regular visitor to the Irish east coast 'Prolific' arrived in to Dun Laoghaire harbour this morning just as the DBSC racing fleet were departing for its Spring Chicken Race.

The British Registered Prolific is 26 metres long and six and a half metres wide, with a total sail area of 527 m2. She has 26 berths and for this voyage is crewed by a mix of crew and trainees from Hiimsmoen, Norway.

in 2011 the Prolific won the Blue Flag prize at The Tall Ships Races in Waterford city.

Low water levels gave the crew a challenge getting locking out of Liverpool but they were soon we heading towards Peel in the Isle of Man and Dublin bay.

 

#tallships – Having recently announced the much anticipated arrival of the Tall Ships to the Drogheda town quays the Drogheda Port Tall Ships Festival in conjunction with the Irish Sea Fleet and Fringe Festival present a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel from Liverpool to Drogheda on the 28th April 2013 or Drogheda to Liverpool on the 6th May 2013 onboard a traditional sailing boat.

Up to six tall ships will visit the Port between the 4th and 6th May 2013 and Sail Training Ireland in collaboration with Merseyside Adventure Sail Training (M.A.S.T.) are organising the unique opportunity to be part of the sail training voyages. The passages range from four to six days.

To mention just two of the vessels the largest is the 'The Pelican of London', measuring 45 meters in length. It has no equivalent among square riggers.

Traditionally rigged with three masts, Pelican's unique Main Mast Barquentine rig and sail plan is derived from the Barbary Coast pirate ships. Her beautiful clipper hull gives her unique performance to windward and a great turn of speed. It operates fulltime as a sail training vessel for young people and has been internationally ranked as a class A tall ship.

The 'Johanna Lucretia' is an oak wooden two masted topsail schooner with a total sail area of 380meters square. Although smaller at 28.65 meters in length she is an impressive vessel and has starred in films such as The Riddle of the Sands and Amazing Grace. She starred in the Irish TV reality show Cabin Fever where she replaced the original Cabin Fever ship after it ran aground off Tory Island. She was also the 2012 Tall Ships races class B overall winner.

Nessa Lally of Drogheda Port Company said "This is a great opportunity for locals to get a taste of Tall Ship Sailing and arrive or depart from Drogheda in the style of a bygone era and to enter the world of the Tall Ships. Drogheda Port has a commercial shipping heritage going back to 1790 and a historical one much further. Such a journey into Drogheda from Liverpool will recreate the voyages of the Tall Ships over the centuries."

Sail training takes place all over the world and in many different types of vessel. It is a growing adventure activity for people of all ages and abilities
If there are any sailing enthusiasts or adventurous souls out there who wish to avail of this fantastic opportunity please come along to the 'Boyne Valley Gathering showcase & Launch taking place on Wednesday 6th March 2013 at the d Hotel, Drogheda between 5–8pm where Sail Training Ireland will be attending.
Alternatively further information can be obtained from Michael Byrne of Sail Training Ireland on 086 0346038, or at their website www.irishsailtraining.com.

Sail Training (S.T.IRL) Ireland will host a talk on sailing on Tall Ships around Irish shores this summer at The National Yacht Club (NYC) on Dun Laoghaire's East Pier, this Friday the 15th of February at 8pm.

S.T.IRL are promoting an opportunity, regardless of experience, to sail on board the tall ships this summer.

The two main tours in Ireland are the Irish Sea Fleet- Maritime Festival Tour and the Alba Venturer- Irish Odyssey Tour

The Irish Sea Fleet- Maritime Festival Tour

There will be 6 Tall Ships doing several voyages around the Irish Sea with voyage-berths available. The Fleet will visit: Drogheda, Dublin (Twice), Belfast (Twice), Cobh, and other ports- May 3rd-June 30th.

The Alba Venturer- Irish Odyssey Tour

This will be conducted over 4 voyages on the Alba Venturer (72' Ketch) also with voyage-berths available. The ship will visit Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland – 48 voyage Berths – Aug 12-Sept 8th.

#TallShips - A tall ship that once plied the route between Bristol and Youghal may be sold to Asia unless funding can be secured to keep it at its current home in Liverpool.

The Daily Mail reports on the 113-year-old schooner Kathleen and May, which has been berthed since 2010 at Liverpool's Hartley Quay where it is cared for by a team of 60 volunteers with support from the UK's Arts Council.

Previously she made heritage visits to Dublin in 2008 and 2009 carrying a cargo of French wine, the first commercial voyages for the vessel since the 1960s.

The ship is the last traditional (West Country) wooden topsail schooner and was built at Deeside. She is also listed on the National Historic Ships Register.

Kathleen and May is priced at £2 million (€2.36 million) and has been on the market since last year.

Now an offer for the former coal ship has come in from a Far East Asian buyer - and concerns are growing that she could leave the British Isles for a new life half-way round the world.

The Daily Mail has more on the story HERE.

#tallships – Lord Nelson, the British 55-metre tall ship, a regular visitor to Irish ports, arrived in Cape Town on Sunday morning on her inaugural visit to South Africa as part of the Norton Rose Sail the World Challenge. The voyage has been organised by UK-based charity, the Jubilee Sailing Trust, and is supported by international legal practice Norton Rose, which has five of its 42 offices in Africa.

The ship, which is designed to enable physically disabled and able-bodied crew to sail alongside each other, was escorted into the V&A Waterfront by a Cape Town pilot vessel in a brisk 25-30 knot south-easterly breeze at 0830 local time on Sunday 3 February.

Lord Nelson came alongside at Quay 6 in front of the Table Bay Hotel at 0900 after a 24-day transatlantic crossing, marking the first time the unique ship has visited Africa. The 35-strong crew was welcomed on the quayside by friends, family and supporters along with African drummers and face painters from the restaurant, Moyo.

Among the crew that sailed the on the 3,455-mile passage from Rio de Janeiro was 28-year-old Gareth Cooper from Essex in the UK, who has a congenital form of brittle bone disease and uses a wheelchair. Cooper is one of the voyage crew supported by Norton Rose.

"It has been an amazing experience and life changing for me. I've sailed with the Jubilee Sailing Trust before but only for a few days at a time, and certainly never across an ocean," Cooper said.

Having formerly represented Great Britain as a swimmer before developing a shoulder injury that ended his career in the pool, Gareth has also competed in semi-pro wheelchair basketball.

"We saw whales, dolphins and flying fish on the transatlantic crossing, and we even got to see Tristan da Cunha [an isolated group of volcanic islands in the South Atlantic], and how many people can say that they've done that in their lifetime?" Cooper said.

"The best part was just the experience of being at sea, and I can't wait to do some more sailing. Life is going to feel a bit dull by comparison when I get home," Cooper added.

A number of Norton Rose employees were on the quayside to welcome the crew to South African shores including Charlene Snedden, a legal secretary at the international legal practice's Cape Town office.

Snedden, 48, who has no previous sailing experience, will embark on a week-long voyage on Lord Nelson from Cape Town on Wednesday 6 February.

"I only found out that I was going to be sailing on Friday so I'm shocked and excited. I'm looking forward to going beyond my limits, and getting to know the other people on board," Snedden said.

Another Capetonian taking part is Russell Vollmer, 55, former commodore of the Royal Cape Yacht Club, who is being sponsored by Norton Rose. He will also embark on Wednesday for the inter-country voyage.

Vollmer, who has lived as a quadriplegic since the age of 19, became disabled when he broke his neck in a diving accident in 1976 while serving with the South African Navy.

In addition to successfully competing at regattas on Chen, a 30-ft Miura keelboat and logging a Cape to Rio in 2000, Vollmer was the first South African sailing entry at the Paralympic Games at Sydney in 2000 competing in the single-person 2.4m class.

"To be able to participate in the Norton Rose Sail the World Challenge is the fulfillment of something that I've had on my bucket list since I first heard about the Lord Nelson," Vollmer said.

"I'm over the moon to be part of this exciting adventure, and it will take my sailing to the next level. I love teamwork in sailing and I'm looking forward to being a fully integrated crew member on a working ship, and having a break from being the skipper," Vollmer added.

Lord Nelson was built in the UK and first set sail in 1986. The bespoke features on board, including hearing loops, wheelchair lifts, integrated Braille instructions and speaking compasses, allow a disabled sailor to contribute to
the voyage just as much as an able-bodied crew member and their interdependence creates a community aboard the ship for the duration of the voyage – a bond which remains long after the crew is back on dry land.

During her inaugural 23-month circumnavigation, Lord Nelson, will log four Equator crossings and visit 30 countries on seven continents. More than 1,000 people will have the opportunity to participate during this 50,000-mile voyage.

The Norton Rose Sail the World Challenge started from Southampton in the UK on Sunday 21 October, buoyed by the resounding success of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, and is due to return to the UK in September 2014.

#tallships – Sail Training Ireland has announced a series of sail training voyages on a variety of Tall Ships in 2013. The aim is to increase the number of tall ship sea voyages to and from Ireland. The opportunity is open to anyone interested in experiencing life at sea on a traditional sailing ship.

Up to six Tall Ships will take part in two months of voyages around the Irish Sea with 534 voyage-berths available to the people of Ireland and no experience is necessary for those that wish to join a crew. Ages 15-99 are welcome.

The Fleet will visit Drogheda, Dublin (Twice), Belfast (Twice), Cobh, and other ports.

This series will include a Gathering Ireland 2013 project – 'Sail Home To Your Roots' bringing Irish Diaspora by sea from Liverpool to Dublin between May 13 &19. The fleet will then sail to Belfast arriving on May 24. Following the maritime festival in Belfast the fleet will then sail back to Dublin for the June Bank holiday weekend.

Jimmy Miley, Director of the Gathering Project commented; "The 58 berths available across 5 traditional tall ships will provide an exciting incentive for budding sailors to come to Ireland to participate in the Gathering and will play a part in reaching the overall target number of overseas visitors for the Gathering project."

Scottish vessel Alba Venturer will conduct 4 voyages between Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland – 48 voyage berths between Aug 12-Sept 8.

The Irish Flagged Ship "Spirit of Oysterhaven" is due to launch their voyage programme in early spring.

In 2012 almost 200 young men and women from Ireland participated in Tall Ship voyages, mostly during the Tall Ships Races. To celebrate this and launch our programme of voyages for 2013 we are hosting a Prize Giving and Annual Launch Event in the Mansion House, Saturday 26 January from 2 - 4 p.m. MC for the event is Theo Dorgan, renowned Irish poet and Sailing enthusiast.

Speaking ahead of the Launch, Lord Mayor, Naoise O Muirí said: "One of the huge benefits of the Tall Ships is the experience offered to the trainees that take part in voyages. Through Sail Training Ireland, Dublin City Council together with Dublin Port Company funded 40 young people to sail on the ships from Spain to Dublin City during the Tall Ships Races. This is a life changing experience that challenges ordinary young people to achieve their full potential and opens their horizons to great possibilities. Sail Training Ireland is making this experience available to all Irish people regardless of social, economic, physical or other circumstances. As Admiral of the Port, this is precisely the kind of activity that I support as a means of integrating the people of Dublin with its maritime heritage."

Michael Byrne, Manager of Sail Training Ireland commented on the voyages; "To sail a Tall Ship is truly the adventure of a lifetime. The voyages we are organising in 2013 are available to all people of Ireland and most importantly – no experience is necessary for those that wish to take part. Sail Training is a sure way of encouraging people to reach their full potential through challenge and adventure. Our aim is to increase the number of sea-going voyages available to Ireland and to make them more accessible to the general population".

Key Speakers at the Mansion House launch will include:

• Lord Mayor of Dublin, Naoise Ó Muirí: Admiral of the Port of Dublin

• Kalanne O'Leary, Chair of Sail Training Ireland

• Peter Cardy, CEO of Sail Training International

• Jim Graves, organiser of the "Sail Home to Your Roots" Gathering Ireland Project

#TallShips - If you're still stumped for the perfect Christmas gift for a maritime-minded loved one, how about a trip aboard Celtic Mist?

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group's (IWDG) Celtic Mist Certificate entitles holders to a trip on board the cetacean research vessel, which was launched just months ago after extensive renovation work from its new home berth in the Shannon Estuary at Kilrush, Co Clare.

And if you're lucky, you might have a real whale of a time - like the video above showing some stunning underwater footage from the boat's maiden voyage in its new life.

As part of the fundraising campaign to refit Celtic Mist as a research vessel, the IWDG produced a very attractive A4 certificate acknowledging the support of the purchaser towards the refitting work and entitling them to a voyage on board the vessel.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Celtic Mist - the yacht formerly sailed by late Taoiseach Charles Haughey - was gifted by the Haughey family to the IWDG to assist in its marine wildlife conservation work.

A €60,000 refit of the sailing ketch - and former Tall Ships Races competitor - was completed in August this year, which saw extensive work on the interior of the vessel to transform crew accommodation and make space for scientific instruments necessary for the IWDG's research mission.

#tallships – Sail Training International (STI) has launched exciting new opportunities to sail on the high seas and enjoy TallShips around the world.

Mediterranean Tall Ships Regatta (September-October 2013)

Race around the Med in early autumn next year and visit glamorous ports in Spain, France and Italy.

Enjoy a port festival in Barcelona from Saturday 21 – Tuesday 24 September, then race on a Tall Ship to Toulon, France arriving Friday 27 September for a port festival lasting until Monday 30 September. The second race leg then leaves Toulon and shipssail to La Spezia, Italy - arriving Friday 4 October, where the Regatta winners in each class will be announced. La Spezia is holding a port festival untilMonday 7 October.

Sydney - Auckland Regatta (September-October 2013)

Ships in the Sydney to Auckland Tall Ships Regatta will visit Melbourne, Hobart and Sydney, Australia and then race across the Tasman Sea, to Auckland, New Zealand. It is the first ever Sail Training International event to be held in Australasian waters; to commemorate the centenary of the first entry of the Royal Australian Navy into Sydney.

Melbourne, Australia

Mon 9 - Saturday 14 September

Hobart, Australia

Fri 20 - Wednesday 25 September

Sydney, Australia

Mon 7 - Thursday 10 October

Auckland, New Zealand

Thurs 24 October - Sunday 27 October

SCF Black Sea Tall Ships Regatta (May 2014)

Sponsored by Sovcomflot (SCF) this is an opportunity to take part in the first event of its kind and sail across the unique Black Sea visiting fascinating ports in Bulgaria, Russia and Romania.

Varna, Bulgaria                    Wed 30 April – Sat 3 May

Novorossiysk, Russia        Fri 9 – Mon 12 May

Sochi, Russia                      Thurs 15 – Sun 18 May

Constanta, Romania          Sun 25 – Wed 28 May

PLUS:   The Tall Ships Races (July-August 2013)

In addition to these exciting new events the annual Tall Ships Races are also open to vessel entries until May 2013, offering the opportunity to visit Denmark, Finland, Latvia and Poland.  Lots of trainee places are also available.  This year's Races are looking to be twice the size of last year; an event and spectacle not to be missed.

Arhus, Denmark                  Thurs 4 - Sun 7 July

Helsinki, Finland                 Wed 17 - Sat 20July

Riga, Latvia                           Thurs 25 - Sun 28 July

Szczecin, Poland                 Sat 3 - Tues 6 August

Further details about the races can be seen on the Sail Training International website.

Peter Cardy, Chief Executive at Sail Training International and himself a  frequent Tall Ships racer said, "These races bring spectacle, unmatched by other events, to millions of spectators.  An experience, which is utterly unique for all intrepid trainees. However you become involved the Tall Ships promise asailing experience like no other for seafarers and landlubbers alike."

Would you like to enter a vessel?

All of these events are open to any monohull sailing vessel of more than 9.14m (30ft) water line length, which meets STI's safety equipment requirements.  Ships interested in taking part need to submit an entry form, which can be found here:

Mediterranean Regatta – deadline 1 August 2013

Sydney Auckland Regatta – deadline 1 September 2013

SCF Black Sea Regatta – deadline 1 March 2014

Tall Ships Races 2013 – deadline 1 May 2013

Interested in becoming a trainee sailor?

People of all abilities, including those with mental and physical disabilities, can take part as trainee sailors aboard the vessels, providing they are over the age of 15.

Trainees may join for all or part of the race series and all ships entering the races are encouraged to recruit trainees between the ages of 15 and 25.  Trainees interested in joining a ship canregister their interest here.   Skippers with available berths visit the page regularly and will be in contact with you.

#JEANIE LECTURES – Having started this month, the 'Below the Surface' series of six lectures is a celebration of Ireland's maritime heritage and archaeology. They are held on the first Wednesday of each month on board the replica 19th century barque Jeanie Johnston in Dublin Docklands. The next lecture on 5th December is about Sir Ernest Shackleton, one of Irelands greatest polar explorers.

The talk presented by historian and guide - Jonathan Shackleton will give a unique insight by delving into his family background of the polar explorer and for his reputation and growth in four expeditions to Antarctica.

Doors open at 7.15pm (lecture starts 8pm) and those attending will experience an intimate space ideal for maritime tales, oozing with seafaring ambience with the creaking sounds of the hull.

It is advisable to arrive early as entry to venue will not be possible upon commencement of the lecture venue.  The emmigrant famine museum ship is berthed alongside Custom House Quay. To book online tickets costing €15 each, click the link HERE

Below the Surface is hosting a series of intriguing maritime stories in a unique venue - The Jeanie Johnston, with the atmospheric creaking sounds of the famine ship's hull enveloping the audience as they listen to enthralling tales of Ireland's exciting, seafaring past - from Vikings fleets and their Dublin slave trade to 17th century pirates, 18th century emigration to 19th century polar exploration. All told in a most intimate setting, while the River Liffey gently sways the hull beneath your chair.

These events are celebration of Ireland's maritime heritage and archaeology and generously sponsored by the Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht and Dublin City Council

Limited seating, doors open 7.15pm, adm €15

Please see attached flier for additional information.

Booking @ www.jeaniejohnston.ie