In another first for Cork Harbour the 115,000 ton Azura cruise liner docked in Cobh last Friday. 
After her maiden voyage in April, Azura spent summer based in Southampton cruising to the Mediterranean, the Baltic and the Canary Islands. She'll be sailing the Caribbean in winter from Barbados.
She holds 3,100 passengers based on double occupancy (3,574 when all the berths are full).
At 290 metres long and 36 metres wide she looked an impressive sight on the Cobh quayside as our photos show below.
P&O Cruise's Azura is the company's latest cruise liner. Built at the Monfalcone shipyard in Italy, the Azura is one of P&O's largest ships, boasting 14 public decks, 11 restaurants, five boutiques, four pools, two lounges and over 900 private balconies. It also features an outdoor cinema, a first for the company, along with an al fresco spa and single staterooms.

Above and below: two views of the new Azura berthed in Cobh last Friday. Photo: Bob Bateman

It was a very long day of sailing in very light conditions for the Juniors on the second and final day of the All Ireland Junior Championship writes Claire Bateman. PRO Richard Leonard raced the fleet on the Curlane Bank in Cork harbour and was very fortunate to be able to get in three races in extremely difficult conditions.

The final result saw Philip Doran of Courtown Harbour SC taking first place with Rory Lynch of of Blessington Sailing Club second and Ross Vaughan of
Royal North of Ireland YC third.

In the Girls Fleet Sophie Murphy of Quoile YC took first place with Emma Geary of RCYC second and Katherine Geoghegan of Dungarvan Harbour SC third.

Photos of the Junior All Ireland Prizegiving and competition by Bob Bateman HERE.

Following the decision to abandon the final of the All Ireland Sailing Championships yesterday ISA Chief Executive, Harry Hermon has announced a new Notice of Race will be published for a rescheduled event at a date to be agreed writes Claire Bateman.

Eight helmsmen, including the double winner Nicholas O'Leary will be invited to participate in a new final consisting of five races. The eight finallists are

Anthony O'Leary
Neil Kenefick
Nicholas O'Leary
Garrett May
Niall Henry
James Espey
Nick Walsh
Ewen Barry

Forum Discussion HERE

Lack of wind in Cork harbour forced the abandonment of the All Ireland sailing championships this afternoon. Although each flight had been able to sail two rounds since the competition began on Friday the invited class champions had a long wait for wind before Royal Cork organisers scrubbed the event at 4p m today. The Irish Sailing association say the event will be rescheduled. Discussion on the forum HERE.

It's unclear how Spike Island, now a tourism and heritage site, will be marketed says Mary Morrissy in today's Irish Times HERE

 

 

The South Coast Offshore Racing Association (SCORA) Championships will take place out of Cove Sailing Club in Cork harbour on September 25th/26th. A flyer is attached.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation Batt O'Keefe TD told Cobh and Harbour Chamber of Commerce last week that over one million visitors had come to Cobh in the past year and how the famous port had played a vital part in tourism for Cork harbour. Cobh is the deepwater port for visiting cruise liners and a centre of excellence for angling holidays. More from Cobh Edition HERE.

Fastnet Line recorded carrying over 60,000 passengers up to the end of August since the Cork-Swansea route re-opened in March, served by the 21,699 tonnes M.V. Julia, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Commenting on the inaugural season, Paul O'Brien, general manager of Fastnet Line said figures were ahead in June, July and August by an average of 10%. Over 13,000 passengers were carried during July and 15,000 in August on the 10-hour service.

Businesses in the south-west region have reported increased tourism activity and is it from here and in south Wales that many of the shareholders have invested to form the West Cork Tourism Co-operative, which runs Fastnet Line. In 2006, the previous operator of the route, Swansea-Cork Ferries closed the service after selling their vessel, the Superferry to interests abroad.

Marketshare between Ireland and UK passengers appears to be evenly split with the tourist gateway to south-west Ireland proving particularly
popular with Londoners reaching Swansea using the M4 motorway. Motorists can save over 600km /370 miles on the direct round trip compared to alternative ferry routes between Rosslare and Pembrokeshire ports.

During the first two months of operation, booking revenues were in excess of £3m (sterling) alone, with over 15,000 passengers using the 1,860 capacity and freight-ferry, Julia. Unsurprisingly there was a 100% boost in April bookings arising from travel disruption caused by the Icelandic volvanic ash-cloud.

The year-round overnight service operated eight sailings weekly in the high season and is now down to six. Notably there are no Monday sailings as Julia spends a lay-over period at the Ringaskiddy ferry terminal in Cork.

The freight market will continue to be important factor during the offseason with the British Bermuda flagged Julia capable of loading 40 trucks or trailers. As for passengers, Fastnet are promoting short-break and mini-cruise offers only on sailings up to December 21st.

The National Research Ship-time Training Programme today (7th September 2010) announced the launch of the autumn Science@Sea ship-based training courses for undergraduate and postgraduate students studying marine science.

The two-day training courses are to be held between the 18th and 21st of November 2010 and offer students an opportunity to work aboard the national research vessel RV Celtic Voyager, gaining practical experience in marine research in the waters off Cork.

"Students will work with scientists and technicians while on board, allowing them to develop a multidisciplinary approach towards marine science, focussed on integrating the core disciplines of oceanography, marine geophysics, benthic ecology and fisheries biology," said Dr. Paula McGrane, coordinator of National Research Ship-time Training Programme. "Other areas addressed will include the practicalities of survey design and planning, research vessel operations and capabilities and safety at sea".

"Science@Sea courses have been running since spring of 2008 and are recognized by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) as a means of contributing towards a student's professional development and career," she added.

The course dates are as follows: ·

Postgraduate Course: 18th -19th November (Thursday & Friday) ·
Undergraduate Course: 20th -21st November (Saturday & Sunday)

Application forms and further information about the programme can be found on www.marine.ie or by e-mailing [email protected]

Laser training continues in earnest at Royal Cork. A total of 36 sailors participated in the Laser Open Day held at the club on Sunday 5th. September. Under coach Thomas Chaix, Nick Walsh and a group of 6 volunteers, 12 lasers were launched for  training in 15 knot winds.

Following a detailed briefing on the Club's Autumn and Winter schedule, Thomas Chaix outlined the Irish Sailing Association programme for the coming year. This includes club, regional and academy training options available designed to prepare the fleet for the first major of next year - the Munsters in Baltimore at Easter.