This stamp shows the CORK CLIPPER racing past Cobh as part of the Clipper race in 2010. This yacht was a replacement for a vessel of the same name, lost in the Clipper Round the World Race in January 2010. Stuart Jackson's Challenge 67 yacht "Aurora of London" was chartered and prepared and re-branded as "Cork" in Antigua before being delivered to Panama where she rejoined the race.
The Challenge 67' Class yachts were designed for The Challenge Business by David Thomas, specifically to race around the world "the wrong way". The design brief called for exceptionally strong, seaworthy, fast, attractive, modern, steel yachts that were able to sail to windward across the Southern Ocean in relative comfort.
Devonport Yachts (DML) were chosen to build the fleet to Bureau Veritas’ highest notation. The construction method allowed relatively simple and cost effective alterations to the interior layout.
Dimensions
LOA 67ft 0in 20.42m
LWL 55ft 0in 17.76m
Beam 17ft 3in 5.26m
Draught 9ft 6in 2.82m
Top of mast from waterline 85ft 3in 25.98m
Displacement 38 tons half load
Ballast keel 12 tons
Tankage
Fuel 385 gallons 1900 litres
Water 242 gallons 1100 litres
Sail Areas
Including 100% foretriangle 1,932 sq ft 179.49 sq m
Main 926 sq ft 86.01 sq m
Genoa 1,480 sq ft 137.49 sq m
Spinnaker 3,780 sq ft 351.17 sq m
Yacht Designer and Design Team
Designer David Thomas
Working Drawings Thanos Condylis of C & S Yacht Designs
Structural Engineering Roger Scammell
Builder Devonport Yachts Ltd
Build Date Challenge Business 21 through to 30 first launched 1992
Challenge Business 31 through to 35 first launched 1996
From BBC News: 15th January 2010
A crew of 16 sailors that included Britons has been rescued from a sinking yacht after it struck rocks in the Clipper Round the World Race. The crew abandoned the CORK CLIPPER on life rafts after the accident in Indonesian waters, and was later rescued by two other competing yachts.
The 68ft (20.72m) yacht ran into trouble in high winds and rough seas in the early hours of Thursday local time. All of the sailors are now safe and their families have been informed. The CORK CLIPPER was holed by a rock near the small Indonesian island of Gosong Mampango, about 200 miles north-east of Java.
The crew radioed nearby yachts CALIFORNIA CLIPPER and Team Finland before abandoning their boat on life rafts and paddling to nearby rocks. The sailors were forced to paddle out on the stormy seas again to reach rescue boats, which had been about four nautical miles away and arrived near daybreak.
Irishman Sean Coote, 47, who lives in Sunbury on Thames, said: "Our life raft was picked up approximately half an hour after leaving the island by the California crew who were immediately on hand with biscuits and hot tea. "We are grateful to have escaped with no major injuries and proud to have rallied together as a team and survived a harrowing ordeal and test of our resilience."
International Rescue Services had been alerted by Falmouth Coastguard, who co-ordinated the operation to rescue the crew after being contacted by Team Finland. A spokeswoman for Falmouth Coastguard said: "The crew had a lucky escape. You don't abandon ship unless you have to."
The CORK CLIPPER was the Irish entry in the race and the multinational also included members from the UK, Australia and one Chinese sailor. It was skippered by Richie Fearon, 29, from Londonderry. The boat is based in Gosport, Hampshire.
The 10-strong clipper fleet began the race on 13 September last year from the Humber estuary. Its current leg is from Geraldton in Western Australia to Singapore.
Famed sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, chairman of race organisers Clipper Ventures, said: "Clearly our priority has been the safety of the crew and we have confirmation that all on board have evacuated and are now safe. "Their welfare is our prime concern at this time."
CORK CLIPPER was abandoned a few days later after the decision was made that any attempt to salvage her would be uneconomical.
Ireland 2013 60c sg?, scott?
Sources: An Post. Wikipedia. Various web sites.
http://www.yachtcouncil.com/Berthon%20I ... 7&curr_id=.
Peter Crichton
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