Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Dublin Bay Boating News and Information

Displaying items by tag: Rigger

25th September 2011

Alexander von Humboldt II' Christened in Bremerhaven, First Voyage in October

Alexander von Humboldt II' Christened in Bremerhaven, First Voyage in October
As of today (September 24th) the first square rigger newly built in Germany since 1958 is officially named "Alexander von Humboldt II". The building shipyard founder's wife, Brigitte Rönner, christened the barque today at noon in Bremerhaven. Several thousand spectators followed the event and created a festival atmosphere at Neuer Hafen.
"We all are happy to send off "Alexander von Humboldt II" soon for its first major voyage", Willi Schäfer beams with joy. He is project manager for the ship's construction and chairman of the board of Deutsche Stiftung Sail Training (DSST). The charity DSST, owner and operator of "Alex II", will use the ship starting at the end of October to familiarize young people and people young at heart with traditional seamanship. Everybody can participate. The first winter voyage will see the three-masted ship sailing from Bremerhaven to several ports on the European continent, to Madeira and to the sailing area of the Canary Islands. The new year will see "Alex II" calling the Cape Verde Islands before it will sail to Ireland visiting Portugal on the way. The barque is expected back in its homeport of Bremerhaven in April 2012.
Diedrich Rickens, chief executive officer of DSST, rejoices about the new ship as well: "The old "Alexander von Humboldt" often did not have enough room to offer a bunk to all those interested in sailing her. The new ship can host a crew of 79, that means 20 people more than before." Rickens adds that "Alex II" fulfils international safety and security standards and is operated according to IMO regulations. That simplifies visits to countries like the USA.
Although a modern ship, "Alex II" offers traditional seafaring experience, says Reimer Peters of the project team: "This three-masted ship is new, but its construction is very traditional." As a proof in point Peters mentions the lowerable yardarms featured as well on the most legendary square riggers like "Passat" or "Gorch Fock". Lowerable yardarms make it possible to set the square sails by lifting up the round poles fixed horizontally to the mast.
Safety aspects are certainly not seen in a traditional way: the most modern equipment like electronic sea maps, satellite telephone and high speed work boats (RIB) are available to the crew in double format. Below deck it is much more comfortable than on an old traditional sailing ship: the crew is sleeping in air-conditioned 4-bunk-compartments with showers attached.
Manfred Hövener, who initiated the reconstruction of a lightship into the proud green square rigger „Alexander von Humboldt" in 1986, is happy about the successor as well: "Naturally I am a bit melancholic about the retirement of our old "Alex", but the new ship gives us so many more possibilities. And the most important thing is," adds DSST pioneer Hövener;" that the charitable cause of the foundation can be continued." He wishes that many more generations learn traditional seamanship on "Alexander von Humboldt II", form friendships and simply enjoy life. Just like it has been for the past 25 years on the old "Alex".
Ownership of „Alexander von Humboldt II", which was built at a price of 15 Mio Euro, will be transferred from the building shipyard BVT Brenn- und Verformtechnik Bremen GmbH to DSST at the beginning of October.
Before setting out for its first big winter voyage, training trips for the voluntary staff crew are on the schedule. Meanwhile, the old "Alex" will be retired by the foundation. Several potential buyers came forward, but for the time being the famous barque with the green sails will remain pier side in Bremerhaven. "We are not time-pressured to sell the old ship. The finance concept for the new build is secured without the sales profit", explains Wolfgang Arlt, chief financial officer of DSST.
By the way: "I would like to thank all those who supported the building of "Alexander von Humboldt II", stresses Willi Schäfer. "Only due to the donations in money and material by donors and sponsors we were able to realize the new build", he points out.

Technical Data Alexander von Humboldt II
Length                          65 meters
width                            10 meters
height main mast          33 meters over water surface
draught                        5 meters
sail area                       1,360 square meters, divided into 24 sails
engine power                550 kW
crew                             79 sailors (among those 25 staff crew)
home port                    Bremerhaven
owner and operator       Deutsche Stiftung Sail Training

Published in Tall Ships
Tagged under
Read more...

Dublin Bay

Dublin Bay on the east coast of Ireland stretches over seven kilometres, from Howth Head on its northern tip to Dalkey Island in the south. It's a place most Dubliners simply take for granted, and one of the capital's least visited places. But there's more going on out there than you'd imagine.

The biggest boating centre is at Dun Laoghaire Harbour on the Bay's south shore that is home to over 1,500 pleasure craft, four waterfront yacht clubs and Ireland's largest marina.

The bay is rather shallow with many sandbanks and rocky outcrops, and was notorious in the past for shipwrecks, especially when the wind was from the east. Until modern times, many ships and their passengers were lost along the treacherous coastline from Howth to Dun Laoghaire, less than a kilometre from shore.

The Bay is a C-shaped inlet of the Irish Sea and is about 10 kilometres wide along its north-south base, and 7 km in length to its apex at the centre of the city of Dublin; stretching from Howth Head in the north to Dalkey Point in the south. North Bull Island is situated in the northwest part of the bay, where one of two major inshore sandbanks lie, and features a 5 km long sandy beach, Dollymount Strand, fronting an internationally recognised wildfowl reserve. Many of the rivers of Dublin reach the Irish Sea at Dublin Bay: the River Liffey, with the River Dodder flow received less than 1 km inland, River Tolka, and various smaller rivers and streams.

Dublin Bay FAQs

There are approximately ten beaches and bathing spots around Dublin Bay: Dollymount Strand; Forty Foot Bathing Place; Half Moon bathing spot; Merrion Strand; Bull Wall; Sandycove Beach; Sandymount Strand; Seapoint; Shelley Banks; Sutton, Burrow Beach

There are slipways on the north side of Dublin Bay at Clontarf, Sutton and on the southside at Dun Laoghaire Harbour, and in Dalkey at Coliemore and Bulloch Harbours.

Dublin Bay is administered by a number of Government Departments, three local authorities and several statutory agencies. Dublin Port Company is in charge of navigation on the Bay.

Dublin Bay is approximately 70 sq kilometres or 7,000 hectares. The Bay is about 10 kilometres wide along its north-south base, and seven km in length east-west to its peak at the centre of the city of Dublin; stretching from Howth Head in the north to Dalkey Point in the south.

Dun Laoghaire Harbour on the southside of the Bay has an East and West Pier, each one kilometre long; this is one of the largest human-made harbours in the world. There also piers or walls at the entrance to the River Liffey at Dublin city known as the Great North and South Walls. Other harbours on the Bay include Bulloch Harbour and Coliemore Harbours both at Dalkey.

There are two marinas on Dublin Bay. Ireland's largest marina with over 800 berths is on the southern shore at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. The other is at Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club on the River Liffey close to Dublin City.

Car and passenger Ferries operate from Dublin Port to the UK, Isle of Man and France. A passenger ferry operates from Dun Laoghaire Harbour to Howth as well as providing tourist voyages around the bay.

Dublin Bay has two Islands. Bull Island at Clontarf and Dalkey Island on the southern shore of the Bay.

The River Liffey flows through Dublin city and into the Bay. Its tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac.

Dollymount, Burrow and Seapoint beaches

Approximately 1,500 boats from small dinghies to motorboats to ocean-going yachts. The vast majority, over 1,000, are moored at Dun Laoghaire Harbour which is Ireland's boating capital.

In 1981, UNESCO recognised the importance of Dublin Bay by designating North Bull Island as a Biosphere because of its rare and internationally important habitats and species of wildlife. To support sustainable development, UNESCO’s concept of a Biosphere has evolved to include not just areas of ecological value but also the areas around them and the communities that live and work within these areas. There have since been additional international and national designations, covering much of Dublin Bay, to ensure the protection of its water quality and biodiversity. To fulfil these broader management aims for the ecosystem, the Biosphere was expanded in 2015. The Biosphere now covers Dublin Bay, reflecting its significant environmental, economic, cultural and tourism importance, and extends to over 300km² to include the bay, the shore and nearby residential areas.

On the Southside at Dun Laoghaire, there is the National Yacht Club, Royal St. George Yacht Club, Royal Irish Yacht Club and Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club as well as Dublin Bay Sailing Club. In the city centre, there is Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club. On the Northside of Dublin, there is Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club and Sutton Dinghy Club. While not on Dublin Bay, Howth Yacht Club is the major north Dublin Sailing centre.

© Afloat 2020

Dublin Bay Buoy

4WeHelp Movers Cincinnati

Kish Lighthouse

4WeHelp Movers Cincinnati
Afloat Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine

Copyright © 2024 Baily Publications Ltd Terms and Conditions

Our site uses cookies. If you're not happy about that please hit your back button.

Web Design & Development by Red Evolution