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Displaying items by tag: German

19th September 2011

New German Tall Ship Launched

At noon on September 24th, Germany's first newly built tall ship since 1958 will be christened Alexander von Humboldt II in Bremerhaven. Together with its predecessor, the famous green sailed barque Alexander von Humboldt, the new ship will be moored for the ceremonies at Neuer Hafen. For this special occasion, the owner and operator Deutsche Stiftung Sail Training (DSST) expects about 800 invited guests and numerous spectators. Several Shanty choirs will provide a musical background.

Already on the day before the ceremonies, an unique welcome comitee will assemble on River Weser to welcome the two tall ships. Several traditional ships, tugs and other boats will expect Alex I and Alex II on Friday September 23rd, when both windjammers are going to sail up River Weser passing Seebäderkaje about 2.15 p.m. Afterwards, the Ships will enter Neuer Hafen. After mooring there will be a skipper party with live music at the party pavilion on the pier.

The charitable DSST, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, operates the tall ship Alexander von Humboldt with the goal to familiarize young and young at heart people to experience traditional seamanship on a historic ship. The goal will remain the same with Alex II. The three-masted ship was built at BVT Brenn- und Verformtechnik Bremen, a part of Rönner Group.

 

Published in Tall Ships

The GP14 is a popular sailing dinghy, with well over 14,000 boats built.

The class is active in the UK, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and parts of north-eastern USA, and the GP14 can be used for both racing and cruising. 

Designed by Jack Holt in 1949, with the assistance of the Dovey Yacht Club in Aberdyfi. The idea behind the design was to build a General Purpose (GP) 14-foot dinghy which could be sailed or rowed, capable of also being powered effectively by a small outboard motor, able to be towed behind a small family car and able to be launched and recovered reasonably easily, and stable enough to be able to lie to moorings or anchor when required. Racing soon followed, initially with some degree of opposition from Yachting World, who had commissioned the design, and the boat soon turned out to be an outstanding racing design also.

The boat was initially designed with a main and small jib as a comfortable family dinghy. In a design philosophy that is both practical and highly redolent of social attitudes of the day the intention was that she should accommodate a family comprising parents plus two children, and specifically that the jib should be modest enough for "Mum" or older children to handle, while she should perform well enough to give "Dad" some excitement when not taking the family out. While this rig is still available, and can be useful when using the boat to teach sailing, or for family sailing, and has some popularity for cruising, the boat is more commonly seen with the full modern rig of a mainsail, genoa and spinnaker. Australian boats also routinely use trapezes.

GP14 Ireland Event Dates 2023

  • O'Tiarnaigh (Apr 22-23) Blessington Sailing Club
  • Ulsters (May 20-21) East Antrim Boat Club
  • Munsters (Jun 17-18) Tralee Bay Sailing Club
  • Leinsters (Jul 7-9) Dun Laoghaire Regatta
  • SOYC (Aug 19-20) Rush Sailing Club
  • Nationals (Sep 1-3) Sutton Dinghy Club
  • Hot Toddy (Sep 30-Oct 1) Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club

 

At A Glance – GP14 Dinghy Specifications

Crew 2
Draft 1,200 mm (47 in)
Hull weight 132.9 kg
LOA 4.27 m (14 ft)
Beam 1.54 m
Spinnaker area 8.4 m2
Upwind sail area 12.85 m2

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