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Displaying items by tag: Alex Von Humboldt II

As if to signal the start of summertime this Sunday, a magnificent three-masted Tall Ship arrived on Dublin Bay this morning, and with her spring arrival, the promise - perhaps - of a bumper 2023 Irish boating season ahead.

The German-flagged Alex Von Humboldt II sailed into the capital's waters overnight after a 12-day sail from Ponta Delgada in Portugal. 

Built in 2011, as Afloat reported here, the 65-metre-long ship anchored in the south of the Bay.

The ship is a civilian square-rigger offering tall ship voyages, regardless of previous experience, from her home port of Bremerhaven.

With rigging resembling a wind jammer of 150 years ago, Alex II has been built with a traditional barque rig. That means the fore and main mast carry square sails while the sternmost, the mizzen mast, carries gaff sails. 

At 0900 hrs on March 23rd, her traditional barque rig was identifiable on this Dublin Bay ship anchorage webcam here before she weighed anchor and moved up into Dublin Port under engine, arriving at the mouth of the River Liffey at 10 am. 

Alex II is driven by 24 sails with a sail area of 1.360 m2. In favourable wind conditions, she runs up to 14 knots. 

The Alex Von Humboldt II will compete in this summer's Tall Ships Races 2023.  The international fleet of Tall Ships and Small Ships will return to Den Helder, Hartlepool, Fredrikstad, Lerwick and Arendal from 29 June to 6 August.

Published in Tall Ships

About the TP52 Racing Yacht

The TP52 racing yacht is a remarkable example of cutting-edge technology in the world of competitive yachting. Measuring 52 feet (15.85 metres) in length, this vessel is constructed entirely from carbon fibre, making it an incredibly light and agile craft.

The TP52 features a 6.25-metre high rig, complete with a fractional asymmetrical spinnaker and a self-tacking jib. This design reduces the workload of the crew, allowing for more efficient manoeuvres and freeing up the crew to focus on the mainsheet upwind and on two-sail reaches.

The spinnaker rigging set-up, measuring 15.00 m2, presents a challenge to even the most experienced crews, requiring them to be fit and perfectly coordinated. Maneuvering the boat requires athleticism due to the vessel's lack of inherent stability and the high speed generated by the fully battened mainsail and jib.

The TP52's hull is constructed of fibreglass-reinforced polyester in a foam sandwich layout, resulting in a weight of just 74kg. The fully battened mainsail and jib are made from a transparent Mylar laminate with orange or red Dacron trimming, while the spinnaker is manufactured from ripstop Nylon.

The mast is made up of three parts, featuring an aluminium bottom and middle section, with a polyester-fibreglass composite tip to increase mast bend and decrease overall weight. The capsizing moment, which can be generated by a heavy mast tip, is also reduced through this design. The TP52's foils are constructed from either aluminium or fibreglass, depending on the specific requirements of the vessel.

Overall, the TP52 racing yacht is an exceptional example of the latest advancements in yacht design and technology. Its lightweight construction, advanced rigging, and high-speed capabilities make it a top contender in the world of competitive yachting, challenging even the most skilled and experienced crews.