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Displaying items by tag: Back for More: Portsmouth

#BackForMore - All Leisure Group (ALH), the UK cruise group, has signed a three-year agreement with Portsmouth International Port that will extend a relationship that begin in 2010 to 2018.

The group owns three well-known companies; Swan Hellenic, Voyages of Discovery and Hebridean Island Cruises. During the last five years ships from each company have visited Portsmouth, a decision based on transport connections, location and investment in new facilities.

The new three-year agreement with ALH starts this month and is a vote of confidence for the Hampshire port that celebrates its 40th anniversary this year having begun operating as a ferryport.

The cruise team at Portsmouth offers a wide range of services to visiting cruiseships, with an ever-growing reputation for handling luxury smaller-sized ships.

For the last five years Swan Hellenic’s Minerva has been based at Portsmouth International Port for cruises in Northern Europe, the Baltic and Scandinavia. That relationship will continue for at least another three years, with Minerva starting Portsmouth 2016 cruise season on 15 April.

The first cruise of next year from the famous ‘Waterfront City’ will see passengers taken on a two-week holiday to explore three fascinating French rivers – the Loire, the Seine and the Garonne.

Throughout the summer the 350 passenger Minerva with ‘country house hotel’ facilities offers a varied and distinctive series of nine cruises from Portsmouth, including visits to the glorious gardens of Europe.

Afloat has identified a cruise by Minerva with a call to Dublin Port in late summer as part of a 14-day ‘Celtic Traditions & Edinburgh Tatoo’ cruise.

Other destinations include the Baltic, an Icelandic quest, the Norwegian fjords, the Scottish Highlands and Islands and a chance to discover the treasures of Portugal and Spain.

Published in Cruise Liners

Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat

For the first time in sailing's Olympic history, a Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat event will be on the slate at the Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Competition.

The Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat will join kiteboarding, windsurfing, multihulls, singlehanded and doublehanded dinghies and skiffs, promoting the diversity of the sport. This, in turn, will support World Sailing's desire to promote and grow universality in all disciplines and increase female participation with gender-equal medals and athletes.

Offshore sailing is the ultimate test of endurance, skill, discipline, navigation and critical decision making.

Embracing a major part of sailing in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will enable new stars of the sport to come to the forefront.

Qualification

Offshore sailing is a universal discipline that every World Sailing Member National Authority (MNA) can participate in.

Up to 20 nations will be on the start line at Paris 2024 and sailors from every continent will be represented. To qualify for the Olympic Games, continental qualification events will be held and competition for a spot will be hotly contested.

Equipment

For qualification events, World Sailing will approve a list of one-design boats that are already regionally available and can be accessed as a charter boat. Boats will be equalised to ensure fair competition.

For Paris 2024, World Sailing's Council will select a list of different Equipment it considers to meet the key criteria by 31 December 2020 and then make a decision on the Equipment, selecting from the list, no later than 31 December 2023.

MNAs, Class Associations and Manufacturers have all been invited to propose Equipment for the list and a World Sailing Working Party will evaluate each proposal. A recommended list will be presented to Council for approval in November 2020.

This recommended Equipment list will ensure that event organisers, MNAs and the sailors have opportunities to train and compete in Equipment that is readily available and affordable within their continent and country. It will also ensure each MNA has a fair opportunity to prepare for qualification events and eventually, Paris 2024.

Format

Starting and finishing in Marseille, the Mixed Offshore event is expected to last for either three days and two nights or four days and three nights off the French coastline and whoever crosses the finish line first will be declared Olympic champion.

The race course and length will be announced in the lead up to the start so the competition can take advantage of the latest weather forecast. Current options proposed include long and short courses heading towards the West and East of France.

Safety and Security

The French Navy and Mediterranean forces have extensive experience of supporting major oceanic sailing races. They will provide safety and security at Paris 2024.

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