The ISORA / RAYC Irish Hospital Supplies Day race was the concluding race in the Viking Marine / RAYC Coastal Series and was also the feeder race to the Greystones Regatta writes Peter Ryan. It took place on Saturday 27th August.
At 10.00, 21 boats headed off towards Greystones harbour in light winds. The forecast for the day was for light to moderate SE veering S winds so the 25 mile course was set by the Sailing Committee to be: Start – South Burford (S) – West Codling (S) – Breaches Shoal (S) – Finish at Greystones. The start was provide by the Comodores of the National YC, Larry Power and of the RAYC Barry MacNeaney. The finish was provided by Daragh Cafferky of Greystones SC. The finish line was from the new clubhouse to a buoy off the pier head.
The fleet set off east towards South Burford in the start of the south going tide in light NE breeze. Chris Power-Smith’s “Aurelia” was the first to round followed closely by Keith & Rodney Martin’s “Lively Lady”. As the fleet approached the first mark the wind started to veer to SE sending the fleet beating down toward West Codling. Fickle winds in the second leg kept the fleet bunched. However, the changing tide soon allowed the leading pack to round West Codling and open the gap before the new north going tide held back the trailing boats. “Lively Lady” was the first to Round West Codling followed by “Aurelia”, George Sisk’s “WOW” and Vincent Farrell’s “Tsunami”. Paddy Gregory’s “Flashback” and Kenneth Rumball’s “Lynx” were very close behind the bigger boats.
The leg to Breaches Buoy was a dead run in light airs. The building tide made rounding that mark very tricky. Rounding the mark “WOW” lead the fleet in the close fetch to the finish.
“WOW” took line honours but could only manage 5th Overall. Paddy Gregory’s “Flashback” and local boat, Steve Hayes’s “Magic Touch” took 1st and 2nd Overall and Class 2. “Aurelia” took Class 1 and 3rd Overall. David Bolger’s “Lady Rowena” took Sliver Class.
“Aurelia” performance managed to displace Liam Shanahan’s “Ruth” from the top spot in the Viking Marine / RAYC Coastal Series and wins that Series.
The result was not significant for the Overall ISORA championship. Only 10 points now separate the top four boats. “Stephen Tudor’s “Sgrech” leads the points with Peter Dunlop’s “Mojito”, “Ruth” and “Aurleia” close behind as they head into the last race from Pwllheli to Dun Laoghaire on the 10th September. The high points scoring system makes it possible for any of them to capture the championship.
When the fleet arrived in Greystones the pre-regatta “atmosphere” was in full swing and it extended well into the early morning in the fantastic new clubhouse.
The race was recorded on the Avery Crest Trackers and can be viewed on the YB app and on the ISORA website
