Displaying items by tag: Irish Sea services

20th February 2023

Fast-Ferries Prepare to Resume Seasonal Service on the Irish Sea and Isle of Man-UK

Fast-ferries of the Irish Sea which number just two, are currently berthed in Belfast and Birkenhead, from where works are been carried out to prepare both craft in advance of seasonal services in the spring, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Irish Ferries high-speed craft, Dublin Swift is at Harland & Wolff’s Belfast Dry-Dock for routine annual overhaul. The 2001 built craft had arrived last week from Liverpool, having been in lay-over mode during the winter months on Merseyside.

Afloat has consulted the operator’s website booking system which sees the first fast-ferry crossing on the Dublin-Holyhead scheduled on 10th March, a week in advance of the St. Patrick’s Day bank holiday weekend.

The Ireland-Wales link is just 1 hour 35 minutes crossing time and runs in tandem with the conventional ferry time of 3 hours 30 minutes. As for passenger (fast-ferry) facilities they include a brasserie, TV lounge, a shop, games zone and free WiFi is available.

On the other side of the Mersey, the Isle of Man Steam Packet’s 1998 built craft, Manannan is at Cammell Laird undergoing maintenance and a partial refit while at the shipyard’s wet basin in Birkenhead.

Also occupying the basin is Stena Europe as Afloat reported previously, the Rosslare-Fishguard ferry which is undergoing repairs following an engine-room blaze. Noting sailings are suspsended until 26th February, just day's before St. David's Day on 1st March.

As for Manannan's return to duties, this is due to take place on 23rd March, but firstly to cover Douglas-Heysham sailings otherwise routinely carried out by the main ferry, Ben-My-Chree which is to have its annual maintenance in Cammell Laird.

The dry-docking of the 'Ben' is take place between 23-31 March, however this has been brought forward to ensure the ferry provides a more resilient and reliable service during the main busy season, as the delivery of the newbuild Manxman is delayed. The reason follows sea-trails where problems arose with a faulty gearbox which led the new ferry to return to the ship’s Asian shipyard.

Seasonal high-speed craft services between the Manx capital and Merseyside, will see Manannan resume scheduled daily sailings between Douglas and Liverpool landing stage on 31st March.

This fast-ferry operated route takes 2 hours 45 minutes. On board there is seating areas and those comprising of three lounges based on reserved, premium and executive club categories. In addition to two cinema lounges, a bar area and cafe.

Afloat will also have more on the Steam Packet's fast-ferry seasonal routes of Dublin-Douglas and Belfast-Douglas.

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National Yacht Club Facilities

Facilities include a slipway directly accessing Dun Laoghaire Harbour, over eighty club moorings, platform parking, pontoons, fuelling, watering and crane-lifting ensure that the NYC is excellently equipped to cater for all the needs of the contemporary sailor. Berths with diesel, water, power and overnight facilities are available to cruising yachtsmen with shopping facilities being a short walk away. The club is active throughout the year with full dining and bar facilities and winter activities include bridge, snooker, quiz nights, wine tasting and special events.

National Yacht Club History

Although there are references to an active “club” prior to 1870, history records that the present clubhouse was erected in 1870 at a cost of £4,000 to a design by William Sterling and the Kingstown Royal Harbour Boat Club was registered with Lloyds in the same year. By 1872 the name had been changed to the Kingston Harbour Boat Club and this change was registered at Lloyds.

In 1881. the premises were purchased by a Captain Peacocke and others who formed a proprietary club called the Kingstown Harbour Yacht Club again registered at Lloyds. Some six years later in 1877 the building again changed hands being bought by a Mr Charles Barrington. and between 1877 and 1901 the club was very active and operated for a while as the “Absolute Club” although this change of name was never registered.

In 1901, the lease was purchased by three trustees who registered it as the Edward Yacht Club. In 1930 at a time when the Edward Yacht Club was relatively inactive, a committee including The Earl of Granard approached the trustees with a proposition to form the National Yacht Club. The Earl of Granard had been Commodore of the North Shannon Y.C. and was a senator in the W.T.Cosgrave government. An agreement was reached, the National Yacht Club was registered at Lloyds. The club burgee was created, red cross of Saint George with blue and white quarters being sky cloud, sea and surf. The Earl of Granard became the first Commodore.

In July of 1950, a warrant was issued to the National Yacht Club by the Government under the Merchant Shipping Act authorising members to hoist a club ensign in lieu of the National Flag. The new ensign to include a representation of the harp. This privilege is unique and specific to members of the National Yacht Club. Sterling’s design for the exterior of the club was a hybrid French Chateau and eighteenth century Garden Pavilion and today as a Class A restricted building it continues to provide elegant dining and bar facilities.

An early drawing of the building shows viewing balconies on the roof and the waterfront façade. Subsequent additions of platforms and a new slip to the seaward side and most recently the construction of new changing rooms, offices and boathouse provide state of the art facilities, capable of coping with major international and world championship events. The club provides a wide range of sailing facilities, from Junior training to family cruising, dinghy sailing to offshore racing and caters for most major classes of dinghies, one design keelboats, sports boats and cruiser racers. It provides training facilities within the ISA Youth Sailing Scheme and National Power Boat Schemes.

Past Commodores

1931 – 42 Earl of Granard 1942 – 45 T.J. Hamilton 1945 – 47 P.M. Purcell 1947 – 50 J.J. O’Leary 1950 – 55 A.A. Murphy 1955 – 60 J.J. O’Leary 1960 – 64 F. Lemass 1964 – 69 J.C. McConnell 1969 – 72 P.J. Johnston 1972 – 74 L. Boyd 1974 – 76 F.C. Winkelmann 1976 – 79 P.A. Browne 1979 – 83 W.A. Maguire 1983 – 87 F.J. Cooney 1987 – 88 J.J. Byrne 1988 – 91 M.F. Muldoon 1991 – 94 B.D. Barry 1994 – 97 M.P.B. Horgan 1997 – 00 B. MacNeaney 2000 – 02 I.E. Kiernan 2002 – 05 C.N.I. Moore 2005 – 08 C.J. Murphy 2008 – 11 P.D. Ryan 2011 – P. Barrington 2011-2014 Larry Power 2014-2017 Ronan Beirne 2017 – 2019

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