OLYMPIC SAILOR AND LASER DESIGNER DIES

HOMENEWSINDUSTRY NEWSOLYMPIC SAILOR AND LASER DESIGNER DIES

21 Jul 2021

Email

Share

Facebook

LinkedIn

Twitter

Print

Bruce Kirby who died at the age of 92 on 18 July, photographed at Kiel Week in 1972 Photo: Dick Enersen

Bruce Kirby, three-time Olympian, sailing journalist and inventor of the Laser dinghy has died at the age of 92.

Born in Ottawa in Canada, Bruce began his working life as a newspaper journalist before specialising in sailing journalism, becoming editor of One-Design and Offshore Yachtsman, now Sailing World.

He was a keen yachtsman from the beginning, competing in International 14 dinghies from age 15. Design was always a passion and after being beaten in a regatta at Cowes in heavy wind, he drew the Kirby Mark I on a piece of shelf paper. “I had a copy of Skene’s Elements of Yacht Design,” he once said.

“If you can understand 50 per cent of what’s in that book, you can design a boat. Design isn’t brain surgery.”

Designing the Laser

It was whilst working at Sailing World in 1969 that the Laser was designed, beginning its life as a doodle whilst Bruce was talking on the phone. Now renamed the ILCA following a legal dispute, the 50-year-old singlehander now numbers more than 220,000.

Although best known for the Laser, his design career featured many more classes including the Sonar, Kirby 25, Ideal 18 and the America’s Cup Twelve Metres as well as production cruisers such as the San Juan 24 and 30 and offshore racing boats like the Admiral’s Cup 40’ runaway.

Bruce was also a fêted sportsman, representing Canada at three Olympic regattas as well as the America’s Cup and Admiral’s Cup and International 14ft Class at team racing. He was inducted into the Canadian and US Sailing Hall of Fames and Order of Canada, the International Yacht Racing Hall of Fame and the International Laser Class Association Hall of Fame amongst other recognitions.

via Boating Business | Olympic sailor and Laser designer dies.

SAILING SHIP RELEASED FOLLOWING ARREST

HOMENEWSINDUSTRY NEWSSAILING SHIP RELEASED FOLLOWING ARREST

19 Jul 2021

Email

Share

Facebook

LinkedIn

Twitter

Print

The ‘Golden Horizon’

A spectacular sailing ship has arrived safely in Torbay following a dramatic arrest over a financial dispute between its original owners and the shipyard who built her.

The Golden Horizon, the world‘s largest square-rigged sailing ship, was detained in Dover on 15 July on the orders of the UK Admiralty Court just hours before she was due to begin her maiden voyage. The arrest was the latest development in a long-running legal dispute between builders Brodosplit Group in Croatia and her original owners, cruise line Star Clippers.

Originally scheduled for 2017, she was delayed until 2019 resulting in the shipyard being ordered to pay the cruise line a reported €6 million plus interest. Star Clippers laid claim to the vessel saying it would only release the ship once the debt was settled.

Payment received

But at the last moment, Star Clippers confirmed it had received a first payment from the shipyard and the Golden Horizon was freed to continue her journey.

A statement issued by Brodosplit and Tradewind Voyages which now owns the ship said, “On the 14 July 2021, at the request of the ship owner, the courts allowed the establishment of a court deposit to pay ‘buyers supply’ after the mortgage was taken out. This mean that a mortgage ceased to exist.

“Therefore we are delighted to be able to inform that you that Golden Horizon has continued its voyage today will be able to sail free of mortgages, across all the planned seas of the world wherever it is carried by the trade winds.”

At 8,770 tonnes and a length of 531 feet, the five-masted Golden Horizon is a near replica of the France II, built in 1913. She has over 6,000 square metres of sail, more than twice that of the Cutty Sark. She has accommodation for 300 passengers and 140 crew, with a restaurant, bars, pools, gym and spa.

via Boating Business | Sailing ship released following arrest.

EDDIE JORDAN: NEW BRAND AMBASSADOR

HOMENEWSPEOPLEEDDIE JORDAN: NEW BRAND AMBASSADOR

19 Jul 2021

Email

Share

Facebook

LinkedIn

Twitter

Print

Eddie Jordan has taken an ambassadorial role at Oyster Yachts

INDUSTRY DATABASE

OYSTER YACHTS

Oyster Yachts has appointed Eddie Jordan as brand ambassador.

After three years on the board of directors at Oyster Yachts, Eddie Jordan, former motorsport team owner and Oyster owner moved from his non-executive director position in July 2021 to take up the new ambassadorial role.

“Eddie’s presence within Oyster has been invaluable,” said Richard Hadida, CEO and Oyster Yachts owner. “He knows the true quality of our yachts and those that craft them. Keeping Eddie close to the business and a voice of Oyster was priority for me and the brand.”

Eddie will continue to collaborate with Oyster on a programme of activity to enhance the boatbuilder’s global brand awareness.

“Having circumnavigated the world on an Oyster, I have a very special relationship with Oyster Yachts,” said Eddie. “I relished the opportunity to stay closely involved with this truly magical brand and their yachts.”

via Boating Business | Eddie Jordan: new brand ambassador.

CAPE HORN ASSISTS WITH ECOCLIPPER DESIGN

HOMENEWSINDUSTRY NEWSCAPE HORN ASSISTS WITH ECOCLIPPER DESIGN

01 Jul 2021

Email

Share

Facebook

LinkedIn

Twitter

Print

Cape Horn Engineering is using its CFD expertise to assist with the hull design for a fleet of EcoClippers Photo: Cape Horn Engineering

INDUSTRY DATABASE

CAPE HORN ENGINEERING

Marine technology consultant Cape Horn Engineering is to assist with the design of the first EcoClipper ship, which will use the power of the wind to propel cargo, passengers and trainees around the world’s oceans.

The EcoClipper500 will be built in steel and is based on the design of the Dutch clipper Noach, launched in 1857. Its development will use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technology to optimise critical elements such as weight saving, performance predictions and emissions reduction.

Cape Horn Engineering, which has been at the forefront of America’s Cup and Ocean Racing design campaigns for more than 15 years, was chosen by EcoClipper to provide the CFD analysis for the design of the first hull shape. Chief executive, Dr Rodrigo Azcueta, said the company was delighted to be involved in the project. “We are dedicated to reducing shipping emissions and improving air pollution, and we have a strong desire to contribute to such developments, to help protect our planet,” he said.

CFD design optimisation

With such a complex sail plan, consisting of three square rigged masts and 29 sails with an area of around 1,580m2, the generation of a full aerodynamic model was not possible. Therefore, sail coefficients for similar sailing vessels found in literature had to be used to enable accurate calculations to be made for the hydrodynamic performance of the hull candidates.

Another detailed investigation was aimed at finding the best possible position to install the hydro-generators that will provide the electricity requirements of the vessel.

via Boating Business | Cape Horn assists with EcoClipper design.

REGULATIONS FOR MASTS?

HOMENEWSAFTERMARKETMASTS, SPARS, SAILS & RIGGINGREGULATIONS FOR MASTS?

30 Jun 2021

Email

Share

Facebook

LinkedIn

Twitter

Print

Regulations probably should be introduced for masts and rigging in the leisure market.

That’s the opinion of marine consultant David Barrow who carries out surveys for MS Amlin and was director of Sparcraft for 20 years.

“I’ve seen many bent and broken masts over the years. There’s no real regulation of masts and rigging in the leisure sector,” he said. “There’s no specific rule to change a boat’s rigging after ten years.”

And he pointed out that while superyachts are regulated under MCA regs and boats that have done a circumnavigation usually have a survey carried out, when it comes to other boats, owners often don’t see the need.

If a boat had suffered a knock, this could affect the rigging without the owner knowing. If a boat was inspected very few years, there would be more chances to look at the mast.

“It’s not the insurers’ job to regulate the rigging business; the insurer’s job is to behave according to the results of their surveys,” David says.

Maintenance

“There can be a mass of different reasons as to why masts fall down, but quite a few are because of maintenance issues.

“I’ve seen other masts where there have been technical issues with the masts themselves.”

This is particularly the case with carbon masts – a relatively new product when it comes to masts – where there could be gremlins within the manufacture and possible delamination.

“It’s pretty hard to get insurance for a carbon mast, especially in a race boat as insurers are not going to pay for their development any longer.

“Some insurers are calling for NDT inspections before the masts leave the factory.

“Regulations probably do need to come in.”

via Boating Business | Regulations for masts?.