A long day on the water for the Dun Laoghaire ISORA fleet saw just three boats finish the second race of the Viking Marine Coastal Series that ran until after 7 pm on Saturday.
Second in line honours, Paul O'Higgins' JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI claimed her second overall IRC victory, plus a Division Zero win, after a 22-nautical mile misty, light air race.
(Above and below) Paul O'Higgins' JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI sailed closest to the shore in a bid to escep the worst of the flood tide at the start of the second Viking Marine ISORA Coastal Race from Dun Laoghaire Photo: Afloat
Of the 14 entries, 11 boats retired in frustrating conditions off the south Dublin coast.
The J109 Ruth, sailed by the Shanahan family crew, took second overall and was the only Class One finisher.
The First 50 Checkmate XX, skippered by Nigel Biggs from Howth Photo: Afloat
In third overall was the line honours winner and biggest boat in the fleet, the First 50 Checkmate XX, skippered by Nigel Biggs from Howth Yacht Club.
There were no Class Two finishers.
JIII Ghost Raider appears
It was a tale of two ends at the start for Classes Zero and One, with the Committee Boat end populated by the J109s Ruth and Indian, the Dufour 45e Blaoga and the Irish Sea's newest cruiser-racer addition, the J111 Ghost Raider, skippered by Nobbie Reilly, showing a fine turn of speed off the line in her maiden race.
J109s Ruth and Indian, the Dufour 45e Blaoga and the Irish Sea's newest addition, the J111 Ghost Raider, start at the boat with Rockabill VI, John Gorman's Sunfast 3600 Hot Cookie and Nigel Biggs in Checkmate XX chose the pin end and are just visible bottom left of picture Photo: Afloat
The J111 Ghost Raider, skippered by Nobbie Reilly (left) makes her appearance off the line below Indian and Baloga in the second race of the Viking Marine Coastal Series at Dun Laoghaire Harbour Photo: Afloat
In contrast, Rockabill VI, John Gorman's Sunfast 3600 Hot Cookie and Nigel Biggs in Checkmate XX chose the pin end at the back of Dun Laoghaire's West Pier to escape the strong flood tide running on Dublin Bay.
John Gorman's Sunfast 3600 Hot Cookie Photo: Afloat
Emmet Sheridan's Dufour 45e Blaoga from Howth Yacht Club Photo: Afloat
Michelle Farrell's First 40.7 Tsunami skippered by Michelle Farrell Photo: Afloat
Prior to the start, organisers reduced the course from its original 35 miles to 22, and over nine hours, the fleet raced first from Dun Laoghaire to an ISORA virtual mark, then to North Kish to East Kish, and a finish back at Dun Laoghaire a distance of 27 miles sailed by the winner Rockabill, the longest of the three finishers.
Parked - Rockabill VI (closest to camera) and the larger Checkmate XX creep along the Scotsman's Bay shoreline in the closing stages of the second race of the Viking Marine ISORA Coastal at 6.30 pm on Saturday evening Photo: Afloat
The prizegiving was held at 8.30 pm in the National Yacht Club.
ISORA Chairman Peter Ryan (left) with Rockabill VI crew Ian O'Meara at the Race Two prizegiving in the National Yacht Club for the Viking Marine ISORA Coastal Race Series
ISORA Chairman Peter Ryan (left) with J109 Ruth crew at the Race Two prizegiving in the National Yacht Club for the Viking Marine ISORA Coastal Race Series
Next Saturday's (29th April) third race will start at 8 am to facilitate match goers to the European Cup rugby semi-final being shown live at the National Yacht Club at 3 pm.
