jjj
New member
Could someone explain to me when discussing a yacht what the term 1/2 tonner means. Is it for racing purposes or displacement?
1/2 tonner
- Thread starter jjj
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jamesjermain
Active member
Briefly
Others will, I am sure, post chapter and verse, but the terms One Ton, Half Ton, Quarter Ton, Mini Ton and, indeed, Two Ton, refer to level rating divisions within the IOR rating rule.
In the seventies, when people were first becoming disillusioned by IOR racing and the rule of the designers, an idea was born for yachts to be grouped together round a 'level rating' and then race boat for boat as in class or one design racing today. Results in those pre-computer days, were available instantly and everyone knew where he stood and, in theory, at least, could only blame himself for coming last.
The reason for the names was that at the time the divisions were being formed, someone remembered an old, disused cup called the One Ton Cup which belonged, I think, to the Royal Thames Yacht Club and had been awarded for a class of Thames racing yachts. The term 'ton' had no relevance to the length, weight, displacement, Thames Measurement or any other dimension of the new One Ton Cup Class. The boats tended to be around 36ft long. Soon, owners of smaller and smaller boats wanted a piece of the action hences the Half (30 to 32ft) Quarter (24 to 26ft) and Mini (18ft approx) divisions. Then the big boys wanted a go hence the Two Ton Cup for yachts around 40ft.
JJ
Others will, I am sure, post chapter and verse, but the terms One Ton, Half Ton, Quarter Ton, Mini Ton and, indeed, Two Ton, refer to level rating divisions within the IOR rating rule.
In the seventies, when people were first becoming disillusioned by IOR racing and the rule of the designers, an idea was born for yachts to be grouped together round a 'level rating' and then race boat for boat as in class or one design racing today. Results in those pre-computer days, were available instantly and everyone knew where he stood and, in theory, at least, could only blame himself for coming last.
The reason for the names was that at the time the divisions were being formed, someone remembered an old, disused cup called the One Ton Cup which belonged, I think, to the Royal Thames Yacht Club and had been awarded for a class of Thames racing yachts. The term 'ton' had no relevance to the length, weight, displacement, Thames Measurement or any other dimension of the new One Ton Cup Class. The boats tended to be around 36ft long. Soon, owners of smaller and smaller boats wanted a piece of the action hences the Half (30 to 32ft) Quarter (24 to 26ft) and Mini (18ft approx) divisions. Then the big boys wanted a go hence the Two Ton Cup for yachts around 40ft.
JJ
tonyleigh
New member
Re: Briefly
I must have used those terms for years without realising the history - that was an excellent concise explanation - thanks.
I must have used those terms for years without realising the history - that was an excellent concise explanation - thanks.
Jeremy_W
New member
Re: Briefly
The OTC is the Coupe de la Cercle de Voile de Paris. The "One Ton" label is because it was competed for by yachts of the "Un Tonneau" class back in the 1890's. Everybody called the Cup the "One Ton Cup" and the yachts one-tonners. When the powers that be created a class for smaller yachts it was immediately dubbed the Half Ton Cup by all sailors.
Anyone who either knows or cares that the HTC is officially the "Admiral Gurnard Trophy" is either a miserable anorak or a setter of fiendishly complex nautical quizzes.
The OTC is the Coupe de la Cercle de Voile de Paris. The "One Ton" label is because it was competed for by yachts of the "Un Tonneau" class back in the 1890's. Everybody called the Cup the "One Ton Cup" and the yachts one-tonners. When the powers that be created a class for smaller yachts it was immediately dubbed the Half Ton Cup by all sailors.
Anyone who either knows or cares that the HTC is officially the "Admiral Gurnard Trophy" is either a miserable anorak or a setter of fiendishly complex nautical quizzes.
david_e
Active member
Re: Briefly
Just to add; the boats that competed in this year's One Ton Cup were all just about 45 ft and Farr one designs.
Just to add; the boats that competed in this year's One Ton Cup were all just about 45 ft and Farr one designs.
jjj
New member
Re: Briefly
thank you, very informative JJJ
thank you, very informative JJJ
G
Guest
Guest
Re: Briefly
I recently heard a conversation between a few seasoned half-ton sailors and they said that the rule was based on the a theoretical rule where if a load was attached to the top of the mast and the boat was heeled, it was the load required to capsize the boat i.e half ton, etc. I think this was a test on paper rather than in practice.
Can anyone verify this.
I recently heard a conversation between a few seasoned half-ton sailors and they said that the rule was based on the a theoretical rule where if a load was attached to the top of the mast and the boat was heeled, it was the load required to capsize the boat i.e half ton, etc. I think this was a test on paper rather than in practice.
Can anyone verify this.
Twister_Ken
Well-known member
Re: Briefly
News to me and I sailed half ton in the 70's.
Old wives tail (sorry, tale)
News to me and I sailed half ton in the 70's.
Old wives tail (sorry, tale)
Jeremy_W
New member
Sounds garbled!
When measuring any yacht for its IOR rating, stability was one of the factors and the measurer would attach a weight to the end of the main halyard, push it out from the centreline using the spinnaker pole to measure how much the yacht healed.
But this test was for all yachts, not just Half-Tonners; the weight was nowhere near half a ton; and they didn't come near to capsizing the yacht.
When measuring any yacht for its IOR rating, stability was one of the factors and the measurer would attach a weight to the end of the main halyard, push it out from the centreline using the spinnaker pole to measure how much the yacht healed.
But this test was for all yachts, not just Half-Tonners; the weight was nowhere near half a ton; and they didn't come near to capsizing the yacht.
G
Guest
Guest
Exact meaning
James Jermain has given correct answer. Forget weights, inclining etc. One Ton is the figure '1' in the result of the measurement rule: originally a French rule in the nineteenth century. The One Ton Cup awarded to that class was and is one of the most impressive pieces of silverware in the whole of yachting history. Subsequently other classes were allocated this cup by the owners, the Cercle de la Voile de Paris. These included the 6-metre (IYRU), the RORC rated 22.5 rating, then IOR 27.5 rating. This latter became known as the 'One Tonner'. It was a very keenly raced class in its time. Now the One Ton Cup has been realloctated yet again to a one-design class and was raced in Wales last year.
James Jermain has given correct answer. Forget weights, inclining etc. One Ton is the figure '1' in the result of the measurement rule: originally a French rule in the nineteenth century. The One Ton Cup awarded to that class was and is one of the most impressive pieces of silverware in the whole of yachting history. Subsequently other classes were allocated this cup by the owners, the Cercle de la Voile de Paris. These included the 6-metre (IYRU), the RORC rated 22.5 rating, then IOR 27.5 rating. This latter became known as the 'One Tonner'. It was a very keenly raced class in its time. Now the One Ton Cup has been realloctated yet again to a one-design class and was raced in Wales last year.
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