ISORA will double its coastal races in 2023, the offshore body heard at last Saturday's AGM in the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

The move comes after a straw poll of all skippers voted in favour of more coastal racing on both sides of the Irish Sea. 

Bringing together crews from across Ireland, Wales and the UK, the meeting was held amid a weekend of golden jubilee celebrations for ISORA.

Saturday night featured a Dinner and Prizegiving at the NYC, marking the fiftieth anniversary of the offshore racing association (1972 to 2022).

As Afloat previously reported, Welsh yachts claimed the top two places overall in the 2022 ISORA Series.

A win for Peter Dunlop and Vicky Cox's J109 Mojito in the final cross-channel race from Pwllheli to Dun Laoghaire in September saw the crew also seize overall ISORA honours and lift the Wolf Head's Trophy. 

ISORA Golden Jubilee Dinner and Prizegiving photo gallery by GP Photo

23 races for 2023

Seven offshore and eight coastal races will be held in Dun Laoghaire and Pwllheli next year, where only four were held at each port in 2022.

This gives a total of 23 races for 2023 in a draft programme (see below), with the best five races of a yacht's series counting for points for the overall Wolf's Head Trophy.

60% of 48 skippers polled favoured more coastal races. The poll also saw 30% happy with the status quo and 10% favouring more offshore races. 

The fact crews had to take an extra day off work for the delivery of boats for offshore races was not favoured, the poll confirmed.

It is proposed the season will start on April 15th with a 35-mile coastal race, a fixture that will be repeated weekly until May 6th, when the first of seven offshore will race from Dun Laoghaire - Pwllheli and then a cross-channel return race on May 20th.

Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race

A season highlight is the Volvo Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race (D2D) on June 7th, leading into the Royal Dee Offshore Championships as part of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta on July 9th, where four VDLR coastal races and July 1st's Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire Lyver race from will comprise the championship.

Another initiative of the 2023 ISORA calendar is a move that will see the fleet head North in a tie-in with Belfast Lough's Royal Ulster Yacht Club on August 5th. 

'Talk is cheap...'

ISORA Chief Peter Ryan cautions, however,  that while the plan looks good on paper, the reality on the water can often be different with some of 2022's fixtures bedevilled by some low turnouts, especially later in the season.

"Talk is cheap. Getting the boats to the start line is difficult. This season most races had 20-plus entries, but it is difficult getting more than 12 to the line", Ryan told Afloat.

Bearing in mind that 2022 was a big year for offshore racing that featured Grand Prix events like the Round Ireland Race in June and July's inaugural K2Q Dun Laoghaire to Cobh Race, there was always going to be pressure on crews. 

"Poor offshore race conditions did not help. There was crew exhaustion before the end of the season", Ryan says in response to the turnouts.  

Ryan reports that some key boats running for the overall Wolfs Head Trophy could not field a team for the season's last race.

Ryan is also worried some regular boats may be going up for sale or have been sold, which could be a further setback to ISORA numbers.

The ISORA Committee believe there was 'excellent momentum gained at the AGM' and has issued a draft 2023 Race Schedule below and wait for further feedback.

ISORA draft 2023 Race Schedule

In this its Golden Jubilee Season, the Irish Sea Offshore Racing Association lived up to its reputation of the points championship being contested right up to the final race. It was the immaculately-prepared J/109 Mojito (Vicky Cox & Peter Dunlop) from Pwllheli which came in from offstage in the concluding and historic James C Eadie Cup, snatching the 2022 Championship and the Wolf’s head Trophy with it.

For the enthsiastically and skillfully raced Mojito, it was another significant prize in a good season – she won her class in Cork Week 2022 in July.

Welsh yachts have claimed the top two places overall in the 2022 ISORA Series that came to a dramatic close off Dun Laoghaire Harbour on Saturday evening.

A win for Peter Dunlop and Vicky Cox's J109 Mojito in the final cross-channel race from Pwllheli to Dun Laoghaire saw the crew also seize overall ISORA honours and lift the Wolf Head's Trophy. 

As Afloat reported previously, the results of Saturday's final race of the Musto ISORA Series determined the 2022 overall champion for offshore racing's prestigious Wolf's Head Trophy.

Andrew Hall's J125 Jackknife from Pwhelli was in pole position after 14 races, with her best scores amounting to 510.9.

But in Saturday's final 11-boat James Eadie Trophy Race from Pwllheli in North Wales across the Irish Sea to Dun Laoghaire Harbour, a distance of 80 miles, it was Hall's Pwllheli clubmates in Mojito that won in a time of 13 hours, 35 minutes and 57 seconds to be first in IRC overall even though the larger Jackknife was the line honours winner in a time of 12 hours and 52 minutes.

Andrew Hall's J125 Jackknife from Pwhelli Photo: Afloat

Overall, the class one yacht Mojito ended the season on  520.6 points from Hall's Class zero entry on 510.9. Third was Howth Grand Soleil 44, Samatom on 501.4.

There had been doubt as to whether the race would sail from Pwhelli on Saturday due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth. As a mark of respect, competitors flew a black flag above the class flag on the backstay.

It completes a stand-out season for the Mojito team. They won July's inaugural 260-mile K2Q Dun Laoghaire to Cork via Fastnet Race, followed by an overall win of the IRC Coastal Division of Volvo Cork Week. 

More on the Mojito 2022 campaign here

The Irish Sea Offshore Racing Association (ISORA) final race will proceed on Saturday, and competing yachts will fly a black flag following Queen Elizabeth's death.

ISORA says it is 'not possible' to set another date for the 80-mile race from Pwhelli in North Wales to Dun Laoghaire on Dublin Bay.

The race results will determine the 2022 overall champion for offshore racing's prestigious Wolf's Head Trophy.

ISORA expressed its condolences to the Royal family in a statement:

"ISORA learnt with great sadness of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II earlier today and pass our sincere condolences to the Royal Family.

The Organising Authority has received requests for guidance from competitors on the status of the concluding race of the ISORA 2022 Series, the James Eadie Race, scheduled for Saturday, 10th September.

The Organising Authority had to take into consideration that competitors will travel from great distances to take part in this race, and delivery times for competing yachts can be more than 15 hours.

It is not possible to set another date for this race, so a postponement would necessitate the cancellation of the race.

The Organising Authority have listened to guidance and advice and has decided that it is in the best interest of the sport for the scheduled race from Pwllheli to Dun Laoghaire to continue.

As a mark of respect, competitors will fly a black flag above the class flag on the backstay."

As Afloat reported earlier, Andrew Hall's J125 Jackknife from Pwhelli is in pole position after 14 races, with her best scores amounting to 510.9. 

RYANI

In Northern Ireland,  the RYANI Youth Championships, due to take place this weekend, have been cancelled as a mark of respect. 

The results of Saturday's final race of the Musto ISORA Series will determine the 2022 overall champion for offshore racing's prestigious Wolf’s Head Trophy.

Andrew Hall’s J125 Jackknife from Pwhelli is in pole position after 14 races, with her best scores amounting to 510.9.

The final race is the James Eadie Trophy Race from Pwllheli in North Wales across the Irish Sea to Dun Laoghaire Harbour, a distance of 80 miles.

Jackknife is closely followed by Robert Rendell’s Grand Soleil 44, Samatom with 501.4, Vicky Cox and Peter Dunlop's J109 Mojito with 489.4, then 2021 Champion JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI (Paul O'Higgins) with 482.1.

ISORA's Wolf's Head Trophy

The best five scores of the season are to count.

Robert Rendell’s Grand Soleil 44, Samatom Photo: Afloat

Vicky Cox and Peter Dunlop's J109 Mojito Photo: Afloat

JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI (Paul O'Higgins) Photo: Afloat

Class results on Saturday will also be concluded on Saturday night for Class 0, Class 1 and Class 2 at an end-of-season pow-wow at the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Champion JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI skippered by Paul O'Higgins completed Friday night's ISORA points-weighted night race off Dun Laoghaire Harbour in a time of four hours and ten minutes. 

Light airs on Dublin Bay frustrated a number of competitors who retired, according to the race tracker. 

Provisional results show the Royal Irish's Rockabill VI with the gun in line honours, IRC Zero and IRC overall.

The race tracker shows Robert Rendell's Grand Soleil 44 Samatom second in line honours and IRC Zero.

As reported earlier by Afloat, an ISORA Welsh night race will be held this evening.

This weekend's two night races on either side of the Irish Sea at Dun Laoghaire and Pwhelli have produced a good combined offshore turnout for the last race of ISORA's Viking Marine coastal series 2022. 

From a Dublin entry of 16 for tonight's 24-mile race,(sponsored by Jack Ryan Whiskey), ISORA Chairman Peter Ryan admits, however, the final nine boat turnout is 'disappointing' from an Irish point of view.

While numbers may be down, the quality at Dun Laoghaire remains high with key contenders for the overall ISORA Wolfs Head Trophy all coming to the startline for tonight's staggered start from 2000hrs. (Class 2 - 20.00 and Class 1& 0 - 20.30)

As previously reported by Afloat, after winning the 24-miler a fortnight ago, Bob Rendell's Grand Soleil 44 Samatom now leads the Coastal Series with just tonight's higher-scoring night race to go.

Two Dun Laoghaire yachts, Brendan Coghlan's Sunfast 3600 YoYo and Paul O'Higgin's JPK 10.80 Rockabill remain in the hunt for the coastal prize.

Dun Laoghaire Coastal Night Race

Ryan is setting an intercept line at East Kish and due south, in case he has to shorten the Dun Laoghaire race.

The Dun Laoghaire course of 24 miles approx

The usual full finish YB intercept will be set at the finish.

The Course will be:

• Usual Dun Laoghaire start at Dun Laoghaire Outfall Buoy 53 18.404N 6 8.348W
• ISORA Dublin ISORA Virtual (P) N53 17.110 W6 00.100
• North Kish (S) 53 18.560N 5 56.423W
• East Kish (S) 53 14.343N 5 53.595W
• Muglins (P) 53 16.515N 6 4.550W
• Usual Dun Laoghaire Finish between the pier heads. 53 18.145N 6 7.619W

The night race in Pwllheli is tomorrow and the entries are below. Download the supplementary Sailing Instructions below. 

ICRA Coastal Class champion Samatom (Robert Rendell) was the winner of yesterday's ISORA Coastal Race off Dun Laoghaire.

Three potent Jeanneau Sunfast 3600s were among the nine-boat fleet that contested Saturday's 24-mile ISORA coastal race along the Dublin and Wicklow coastline, but none could beat the Grand Soleil 44. 

The race was the 11th Race in the Musto ISORA 2022 series and also the third race of the Viking Marine Coastal Series.

For the second time this season, a technical glitch in the YB Tracker set-up showed the winner being other than the Howth Grand Soleil. Organisers told Afloat the matter is being investigated. 

After winning the 24-miler, Rendell now leads the Coastal Series with one race to go; a higher-scoring night race.

Top Welsh J109 Mojto is in chasing Samatom for the Viking Marine ISORA Coastal top prize Photo: Afloat

Two Dun Laoghaire yachts, Brendan Coghlan's Sunfast 3600 YoYo and Paul O'Higgin's JPK 10.80 Rockabill remain in the hunt for the coastal prize.

Andrew Hall's J/125 Jackknife from Wales tops the ISORA leaderboard Photo: Afloat

The 2022 ISORA overall table (below) now shows Andrew Hall's J/125 Jackknife leading and being chased by Samaton, the J109 Mojito and Rockabill.

Three Jeanneau Sunfast 3600s are among the nine-boat fleet that will contest Saturday's 24-mile ISORA coastal race along the Dublin and Wicklow coastline.

With an eye on current light wind forecasts, race organisers have stated the course may be shortened off Bray in County Wicklow.

This race is the 11th Race in the Musto ISORA 2022 series and also the third race of the Viking Marine Coastal Series.

John O'Gorman's 3600 Hot Cookie and Pete Smyth's Searcher, both from the National Yacht Club, will be joined by Royal St. George Yacht Club's Yoyo (Brendan Coghlan).

Also racing is Howth Yacht Club ICRA coastal champion 2022, Robert Rendell's Grand Soleil 44, Samatom. 

The forecast is for northerly winds of six knots at 0955 start time with the hope of a sea breeze later

Entries for the 11th race in the Musto ISORA 2022 series and also the third race of the Viking Marine Coastal Series

The course will be at ISORA's usual Dun Laoghaire start line at Dun Laoghaire Outfall Buoy and then to: 

• ISORA Dublin Virtual (P) N53 17.110 W6 00.100
• North Kish (S) 53 18.560N 5 56.423W
• East Kish (S) 53 14.343N 5 53.595W
• Bray Outfall (S) 53 13.254N 6 4.485W
• Muglins (P) 53 16.515N 6 4.550W
• Usual Dun Laoghaire Finish between the pier heads. 53 18.145N 6 7.619W

The course for the 11th race in the Musto ISORA 2022 series and also the third race of the Viking Marine Coastal Series

The time limit is 17.00

IRC Class 0 J125 entry Jackknife skippered by Andrew Hall of Pwllheli Sailing Club was the winner of ISORA's 120-mile Race Ten from Dun Laoghaire to Pwllheli on Saturday.

The race was won in an IRC corrected time of 14 hours 35 minutes and one second.

The Class Zero entry beat classmate Nigel Ingram's Farr 30 Wild Haggis for the top spot in the nine-boat fleet. 

Third was Howth Yacht Club's Robert Rendell in the Grand Soleil 44, Samatom.