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Displaying items by tag: force 10

#storm – With more than a quarter of a million homes without power this evening as the current extreme westerly weather event sweeps across Ireland with all-destructive force, you'll scarcely spare a thought for the sailors on the North Atlantic route where this winter has seen winds of Force 10 and more become almost the norm.

But these quietly heroic folk go about their business with a steady professionalism which ensures that goods are in the shops and the raw materials are feeding into the factories all over the world.

Here are three photos from the bulk carrier MV Atlas (75000 tonnes, 225m long) in a recent sustained North Atlantic wind strength of 72 knots and more, which is 133-plus kilometres per hour in the new money.

It's all in a day's work out on the Western Ocean.

More pics below

atlas2
The anonometer does not exaggerate – 72 knots and counting

atlas3
The ship may be 225m long and weighing in at 75,000 tonnes, but even with the bridge and accommodation right aft you can feel a sea like this hitting home.

Photos courtesy Lavinia Bulk London.

Published in Ports & Shipping

SB20 (formerly Laser SB3) information

Designed by Tony Castro, the SB20 is a British-built strict one-design 6.15m keelboat conceived as a wide appeal, affordable, competitive sportsboat for teams of three or four sailors. It is also, arguably, the most successful sportsboat in the world with 800 owners competing regularly in a programme of exciting local, national and international events.

Originally known as the Laser SB3, the SB20 continues to deliver on its pioneering promise: a boat that is fun, fast and easy to sail by anyone of any age; the best value-for-money sportsboat in the market.

The Laser SB3 was designed by Castro and launched in 2002. In 2007 the Laser SB3 was awarded ISAF Recognised Status and the first World Championships were held in Ireland in 2008. In 2012, Tony Castro appointed a new builder, Sportsboat World. At this time, the Laser SB3 was renamed the SB20 and building was returned to the UK from Malaysia. The ethos of the class continues.

The boat is a strict one-design class, economic to buy and campaign, easy to sail with a simple deck layout and electric downwind performance delivered by the generous sail plan. The boat has a lifting keel, can easily be launched from a slipway and towed behind a family car.

Previous SB20 World Champions

2008 GBR: Geoff Carveth, Roger Gilbert, Roz Allen & Sarah Allan

Host National Yacht Club, Dun laoghaire, Ireland

2009 GBR: Craig Burlton, Stephen White, Adam Heeley

Host Clube Naval de Cascais, Cascais, Portugal

2010 GBR: Jerry Hill, Grant Rollerson, Joe Llewellyn

Host Circolo Vela Torbole, Lake Garda, Italy

2011 GBR: Geoff Carveth, Andy Ramus, Ian Mills & Emma Clarke

Host Royal Torbay Yacht Club, Torquay, UK

2012 GBR: Geoff Carveth, Lesley Dhonau, Roger Hudson & Asenathi Jim

Host Hamilton Island Yacht Club, Queensland, Australia

2013 GRB: Craig Burlton, Stephen White, Adam Heley Host COYCH Club, Hyeres, France