Displaying items by tag: Stena HSS Explorer

9th April 2014

Stena HSS Is Back for Business On Central Irish Sea Route

#HSSreturns - The HSS Stena Explorer re-entered service on Stena Line's Dun Laoghaire-Holyhead route today and will continue to operate throughout the summer until 9 September.

This is the HSS high speed sea service fourth season operating the route on a seasonal only basis and which takes the fast-craft to cross the Irish Sea in just 2hours 20 minutes.

She has capacity for up to 1,500 passengers and 1,100 lane metres, will operate one round trip each day with a 10:30hrs sailing from Holyhead and a 13:30hrs sailing from Dun Laoghaire.

Richard Horswill, Stena Line's Head of Freight UK & Ireland said: "We are pleased to offer increased capacity to our freight customers on the HSS Stena Explorer, this service complements the existing timetable in operation on the Dublin Port to Holyhead route with the Stena Adventurer and Stena Nordica providing greater flexibility and choice of sailing times for freight customers across the Irish Sea".

For further information and details go to www.stenalinefreight.com or call 0870 850 3535.

Published in Ferry

Tagged under

Forty Foot Swimming Spot on Dublin Bay

The 'Forty Foot' is a rocky outcrop located at the southern tip of Dublin Bay at Sandycove, County Dublin from which people have been swimming in the Irish Sea all year round for 300 years or more. It is popular because it is one of few spots between Dublin city and Greystones in County Wicklow that allows for swimming at all stages of the tide, subject to the sea state.

Forty Foot History

Traditionally, the bathing spot was exclusively a men's bathing spot and the gentlemen's swimming club was established to help conserve the area.

Owing to its relative isolation and gender-specific nature it became a popular spot for nudists, but in the 1970s, during the women's liberation movement, a group of female equal-rights activists plunged into the waters and now it is also open to everyone and it is in the control of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Many people believe that swimming in extremely cold water is healthy and good for the immune system.

Is it safe to swim at the Forty Foot?

The Forty-Foot is a great place to swim because there is always enough water to get a dip but like all sea swimming, there are always hazards you need to be aware of. For example, a lot of people like to dive into to the pool at the Forty-foot but there are submerged rocks that can be hazardous especially at low water. The Council have erected signs to warn people of the underwater dangers. Other hazards include slippy granite cut stone steps that can often be covered with seaweed and of course marine wildlife including jellyfish that make their presence felt in the summer months as do an inquisitive nearby Sandycove seal colony.