The Royal Navy will once again be attending the 2019 Barclays Jersey Boat Show with a number of vessels and assets on display for the public to enjoy.
Taking pride of place in the Royal Navy assets attending the three-day event, which takes place over the spring bank holiday weekend, is HMS TYNE, an 80m River-Class offshore patrol vessel used by the Royal Navy for fisheries protection and security.
The 1,700-tonne vessel is capable of speeds up to 20 knots and able to spend up to 21 days at sea. Due to tidal restrictions this year HMS TYNE will be berthed alongside the New North Quay throughout the weekend and therefore, public access will be via a brief tender journey across the harbour. Due to various activities taking place in the harbour access to the ship will be every 45 minutes and for safety reasons limited to numbers per access visit.
Anyone who wishes to visit the vessel must pre-book their time slot by visiting the Jersey Boat Show website jerseyboatshow.com and follow the link via the Royal Navy page. Tickets are free and subject to availability. HMS Tyne, which previously visited the show in 2015 will be open to the public on Saturday and Monday afternoon as well as all day on Sunday. Check the website for available times.
Other assets on display include two P2000 Archer Class Patrol Vessels, HMS SMITER and HMS RANGER, both Royal Navy Unit patrol ships from Oxford University and Sussex University respectively. These two vessels, which will be berthed in St Helier Marina, provide travel opportunities for Royal Navy students, both in the UK and overseas as well as personal development and leadership training. Two offshore raiding crafts (ORCs) will also be appearing, equipped with forward facing heavy machine guns. The 9-metre-long ORCs feature an aluminium hull with a low enough draft to allow for safe, rapid beach insertions, capable of carrying 2 crew and up to 8 fully-equipped Royal Marines.
On behalf of Ports of Jersey, Myra Shacklady, said: “The Royal Navy assets on display are a popular addition and the Boat Show would not be complete without them. We receive fantastic support from the Royal Navy who have attended every show since the inaugural event in 2008 and I’m delighted that they will be with us again this year, subject to operational duties. The Royal Navy attendance guarantees another exciting element to the event.”
A Military Village will be established in Weighbridge Place, featuring a Royal Marines Armoured Support Group (RMASG) Viking All-Terrain Vehicle alongside the Commando Recruitment Team who will be in attendance with a full inflatable weapons dome allowing the public to get up close and personal with the mix of machinery in their arsenal. They will also be undertaking weapons demonstrations twice a day, timings of which can be found via the Boat Show website. All assets will be open for public inspection with the chance to meet the crew. The Jersey Field Squadron will also be located in the Military Village showcasing their range of locally based assets.
Weighbridge Place will also be the location for the formal inspection of Jersey young cadets on Sunday morning, 05 May 2019. The inspection will be carried out by His Excellency Sir Stephen Dalton, the Island’s Lieutenant Governor who, as part of the ceremony will present the Governor’s Cup to the best turned out cadet group. The inspection is open to the public and is due to start at 10:30am.
The Barclays Jersey Boat Show remains the largest free-entry event in the Channel Islands and is taking place in and around the award-winning St Helier Marina and Weighbridge Place over the Spring Bank Holiday Weekend (Saturday 04 to Monday 06 May 2019). The show gives residents and visitors alike the opportunity to dip their toes into all things nautical and discover at close quarters the wealth of maritime activities, services and leisure facilities available in the Island
Further details on the 2019 Barclays Jersey Boat Show can be viewed online at jerseyboatshow.com – Updates are also available via Facebook and Twitter.
