Displaying items by tag: Former HAL sisters

19th September 2020

Former Irish Serving Cruiseships Delivered to Scotland to Began New Career for UK Operator

Secondhand tonnage: Borealis and Bolette form a pair cruiseships acquired by Fred. Olsen Cruises. Bolette is to make an Irish debut in March 2021, which is to include a call to the Port of Cork followed by a visit to Belfast Harbour.

Cruiseships Rotterdam along with Amsterdam both acquired from Holland America Lines to the ownership of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines have together met up in Scotland following a delivery voyage from Cyprus, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The pair custom built for HAL will serve new careers with the UK operator which introduced the secondhand meidum sized cruiseships to become part of the newly revamped Fred. Olsen fleet. Each of the 61,000 gross tonnage ships of the same series have a capacity for 1,360 (standard occupancy) and crew od 615. Asides restuarants and bars, they have swimming pools, spa, gym, sports courts and a 'culinary' theatre.

The Amsterdam on Friday having sailed under the Forth and Queensferry bridges headed to Babcock's Rosyth facility, where already in the basin was berthed Rotterdam (previously reported for Covid-19 related incident).

The Amsterdam is to be renamed Bolette (as flagship) whereas Rotterdam is now Borealis whose Captain Jozo Glavic this week proudly raised the Fred Olsen houseflag on board, as part of the new ship’s official handover ceremony at the Scottish south-east port.

The cruiseships directly replace the ageing sisters Black Watch dating to 1972 and the one year younger Boudicca which over the years were callers to Dublin, Cork and Belfast.

Cruises for 2021/2022 are available now on both Bolette and Borealis for those scheduled to start from March 2021, but all of this remains subject to the uncertainty of Covid-19 and related travel restrictions.

Afloat has noted that Bolette starts a 7-nights 'Scenic Scotland' cruise on 5 March with an embarkation in Southampton. Also from the English Channel port is where Bolette is also to depart on 12 March on a 6-nights 'Cities of the UK & Ireland' cruise.

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Ireland & La Solitaire du Figaro

The Solitaire du Figaro, was originally called the course de l’Aurore until 1980, was created in 1970 by Jean-Louis Guillemard and Jean-Michel Barrault.

Half a decade later, the race has created some of France's top offshore sailors, and it celebrated its 50th anniversary with a new boat equipped with foils and almost 50 skippers Including novices, aficionados and six former winners.

The solo multi-stage offshore sailing race is one of the most cherished races in French sailing and one that has had Irish interest stretching back over 20 years due to the number of Irish stopovers, usually the only foreign leg of the French race.

What Irish ports have hosted The Solitaire du Figaro?

The race has previously called to Ireland to the following ports; Dingle, Kinsale, Crosshaven, Howth and Dun Laoghaire.

What Irish sailors have raced The Solitaire du Figaro?

So far there have been seven Irish skippers to participate in La Solitaire du Figaro.

In 1997, County Kerry's Damian Foxall first tackled the Figaro from Ireland. His win in the Rookie division in DHL gave him the budget to compete again the following year with Barlo Plastics where he won the final leg of the race from Gijon to Concarneau. That same year a second Irish sailor Marcus Hutchinson sailing Bergamotte completed the course in 26th place and third Rookie.

In 2000, Hutchinson of Howth Yacht Club completed the course again with IMPACT, again finishing in the twenties.

In 2006, Paul O’Riain became the third Irish skipper to complete the course.

In 2013, Royal Cork's David Kenefick raised the bar by becoming a top rookie sailor in the race.

In 2018, for the first time, Ireland had two Irish boats in the offshore race thanks to Tom Dolan and Joan Mulloy who joined the rookie ranks and kept the Irish tricolour flying high in France. Mulloy became the first Irish female to take on the race.

Tom Dolan in Smurfit Kappa competed for his third year in 2020 after a 25th place finish in 2019. Dolan sailed a remarkably consistent series in 2020 and took fifth overall, the best finish by a non-French skipper since 1997 when Switzerland’s Dominique Wavre finished runner up. Dolan wins the VIVI Trophy.

Dolan finished 10th on the first stage, 11th on the second and seventh into Saint Nazaire at the end of the third stage. Stage four was abandoned due to lack of wind.

Also in 2020, Dun Laoghaire’s Kenneth Rumball became the eleventh Irish sailor to sail the Figaro.

At A Glance – Figaro Race

It starts in June or July from a French port.
The race is split into four stages varying from year to year, from the length of the French coast and making up a total of around 1,500 to 2,000 nautical miles (1,700 to 2,300 mi; 2,800 to 3,700 km) on average.
Over the years the race has lasted between 10 and 13 days at sea.
The competitor is alone in the boat, participation is mixed.
Since 1990, all boats are of one design.