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Displaying items by tag: RHD

28th February 2011

Kinsale's Ron Holland Expands

One of the world's best known and most highly regarded names in international superyacht design who is based in Kinsale Co. Cork officially opens its doors in Vancouver on March 3rd, marking a carefully planned expansion to the western seaboard.

New Zealand-born Ron Holland established a reputation for designing exceptionally fast and successful racing yachts during the 1970s, working from his rapidly-expanding studio at Cork in the south of Ireland. Loyal owners soon asked him to design large cruising yachts too – they wanted comfort and style, but they wanted Ron to inject his talent for achieving performance and sea-keeping ability.

By the mid 1980s Ron had designed the world's first 100ft performance superyacht and after that he did not look back. He and his team have created a wide range of sail and power yachts for some of the world's wealthiest, most experienced and discerning clients. They include the 247ft/75m sloop Mirabella, which features the world's tallest single-masted rig; and the award-winning 150ft/46m Transocean Explorer, Marco Polo, which broke new ground with her innovative and energy-efficient propulsion systems.

Ron Holland Design's new Vancouver office is stunningly situated overlooking Coal Harbour and beyond to the snow-capped mountains surrounding Howe Sound. Here, Ron and his team will collaborate with their colleagues in Kinsale, led by Head Designer Rob Doyle, to provide an active and accessible platform for doing business with European, North American and Asia-Pacific clients and their advisers.

Ron Holland Vancouver already has projects in construction, out to yard tender or in advanced stages of design whilst, in the UK, the 150ft/46m custom ketch Christopher has just been launched at Pendennis Shipyard. Immediately following sea trials, Christopher will sail to the Caribbean island of St Barths where Ron Holland will join her enthusiastic owners to compete in the annual St Barth's Bucket. Christopher will be in good company at this special, 25th anniversary, edition of the Bucket Regattas as there will be at least five Ron Holland-designed superyachts also competing. In addition to Christopher, these are Mirabella V, Ethereal, Helios and Charlatan.

Ron Holland Design, Freedom Marine and Platinum Marine look forward to welcoming visitors to the RHD Open House at 100-510 Nicola St., Coal Harbour, Vancouver from 4 – 7pm on March 3rd 2011.

For further information and images, please contact: [email protected]

Published in Kinsale

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.