Race 10 – Pwllheli to Howth – James Eadie Sailing Race 11th September 2010. From an entry list of 31 boats, 13 boats came to the line in Pwllheli for the last race in the 2010 ISORA Offshore series writes Peter Ryan. It was the James Eadie Trophy race. While in the past this race was one of the most popular, the bad weather on Thursday night and Friday put off many boats from delivering to Pwllheli. Those boats that braved the weather were reward with another great race. The race was started by Richard Tudor of Pwllheli sailing Club.

Due to the extraordinary strong spring tides it was decided to omit Bardsey Sound from the course and to take Bardsey Island to starboard. From there the course was direct to Howth – 75 miles. The start was at 09.00.

The forecast for the race was for south-west winds 10-15 knots to veer west then continue and increase north west. The forecast was correct at the start with a beat to Bardsey and the wind increasing to 20 knots. The strong tides produced some spectacular overfalls at Bardsey Island. First around Bardsey was "Tsunami", Vincent Farrell followed closely by "Raging Bull", Matt Davis and "Team Windmill", Andrew Sarratt. The overfalls appeared to take toll on the fleet with the remainder of the fleet having difficulty in rounding Bardsey. This caused a split in the fleet with the first three boats taking advantage of the last of the north going tide.

The course to Howth first seemed like a simple reach but this changed regularly and often with the wind oscillating and fluctuating continuously. The front-runners appeared to escape the holes that formed and held the bulk of the fleet back. What started as a reach ended in a beat into Howth into a 20 knot north westerly.

The first into Howth was "Tsunami", crossing the line at 23:19 followed closely by "Raging Bull" at 23:27 and "Team Windmill" at 23:54. "Lula Belle", Liam Coyne and "Dinah" Barry Hurley were separated by only 2 seconds on the line at 00:51. Four boats crossed the finish around 01:40 while the last boat "Sarnia", Michael Creeedon, crossed the line at 08.35. John Doran of Howth Yacht Club stood the long watch and recorded the boats finishing.

"Raging Bull" took 1st in Class 1 and Overall while "Tsunami" took 2nd in Class 1 and Overall and "Team Windmill" took 3rd Class 1 and Overall. "Just Enough" took 1st Class 2 with "Dinah" taking 2nd Class 2 and "Lula Belle" taking 3rd Class 2.

The Overall ISORA Champion of 2010 is Matt Davis and "Raging Bull" from Skerries Sailing Club. "Just Enough", Stephen Tudor from Pwllheli Sailing Club took 2nd place while "Tsunami", Vincent Farrell from the National Yacht Club took 3rd. The prize giving dinner will be in the National Yacht Club on the 6th November.

In an exciting sailing climax for a buoyant ISORA series September's race will determine the overall winner. “Raging Bull”, “Just Enough” and the reigning Champion, “Tsunami” can all take the Wolf’s Head Trophy. Peter Ryan reports on this and news from last weekend's race 8, the M2 buoy race. 

The series table is available to download below.

From an entry list of 30 boats, 17 boats came to the line in Dun Laoghaire for the 8th ISORA race. We had one new boat taking part in this race, “Oystercatcher”. The course for the night was: Start – M2 Weather Buoy (P) –Finish.

The forecast for the race looked perfect – 10-12 kts South west. It was expected that the fleet would complete the 54-mile course with no problem. However, as usual, this is not what happened!!! While all boats completed the course, the winds were far from perfect.

The race was started by Peter Beamish, Commodore of the Royal Alfred Yacht Club and Paul McCarthy. The wind at the start was 16kts – south west. This gave a dead run to the M2. The fleet started off the line with spinnakers. As the course was a dead run, the fleet broke into two gybes. Twelve boats heading north towards Howth head while five boats heading out towards Kish. All of a sudden a big hole appeared around the five boats and sat closely by for over a hour while the north fleet headed over the horizon. It was not until the north fleet was a dot on the horizon did the wind fill in and the five boats headed off towards M2. The wind had backed making the leg a broad reach. The wind also increased to 23 knots as the fleet approached M2.

“Roller Coaster” was the first to round M2 with the remainder of the fleet following in procession. It seemed like the return leg would be a simple fetch back to Dun Loaghaire. However, the wind was having none of this. There were several massive wind shifts and wind speed variations all through the leg. Shifts in the order of 60 degrees were experienced as the fleet got into Dublin Bay.

“Roller Coaster” took line honours, 1st Overall and 1st in Class 1. “Team Windmill” took 2nd Overall and 2nd Class1. “Raging Bull” took 3rd Class 1. “Big Hillie Style” took 1st Class 2 and 3rd Overall. Newcomer “Oystercatcher” took 2nd in Class 2 while “Just Enough” took 3rd Class 2.

The next race is on the 11th September, the James Eadie Race from Pwllheli to Howth. The Overall ISORA Championship will be determined by the outcome of this race. “Raging Bull”, “Just Enough” and the reigning Champion, “Tsunami” can all take the Wolf’s Head Trophy.

There was a great turnout, but not 28 boat as earlier reported, and despite the flukey conditions experienced by some yesterday, the M2 buoy race from Dun Laoghaire was a highlight of the ISORA series. It was a second win for Rollercoaster this season, she also won in July (HERE).  Results attached.

25 sailing boats are entered for this Saturday's  Dun Laoghaire – ODAS M2 Buoy – Dun Laoghaire race starting at 10 am. This is the eighth race of the ISORA series and it is organised in conjunction with the Royal Alfred Yacht Club. The start line will be located in Scotsman's Bay in the vicinity of DBSC 'Pier' mark between the mast of a committee boat flying the RAYC burgee and a start mark at the port end.  An entry list and sailing instructions are attached.

Due to lack of interest in the proposed day sailing race from Pwllheli on the 21st August ISORA has decided to cancel the race. The day race from Dun Laoghaire to the M2 Buoy on the same day is not effected. Instructions for this race will be issued this weekend.

From an entry list of 27 boats, 13 boats came to the line in Dun Laoghaire sailing for the 7th ISORA race writes Association Commodore Peter Ryan.  

We had two new boats taking part in this race, “September Song” and “Windshift”. The course for the night was: Start – Muglins (S) – North India (P) – Muglins (P) – Finish. The whole race was going to be sailed against a foul tide.The forecast for the night looked perfect – 10kts South west and increasing during the night. It was expected that the fleet would be back in Dun Laoghaire soon after midnight. However this is not what happened!!!The race was started by Peter Beamish, Commodore of the Royal Alfred Yacht Club and Paul McCarthy.

The wind at the start was 14kts – east south east. This gave a beat to the Muglins. The wind direction was a perfect beat to North India. However, when the fleet was off Bray Head, the wind veered to a south west, favouring those boats who risked sailing under Bray Head.The fleet was well bunched as it rounded North India. “Roller Coaster” was the first to round with “Tsunami” snapping at it’s heels about 50m behind. The return leg was a tight reach with the wind decreasing.“Roller Coaster” led the fleet past Muglins and into Dublin Bay.

At this stage the fleet had become well spread out but “Tsunami” managed to keep up with “Roller Coaster”. After it rounded the Muglins it fell into the Dalkey Island “Hole” and “Tsunami” took advantage of this and passed it by sailing out into Dublin Bay.

This advantage was short lived when “Roller Coaster” again passed “Tsunami” at the back of the pier in a virtual clam before crossing the finish line at 03:23. “Tsunami” slunk across the line just over one minute behind “Roller Coaster”. The next boat to finish was “Lula Belle” over 80 minutes behind. The last boat finished at 06:01.“Roller Coaster” took line honours, 1st Overall and 1st in Class 1. “Tsunami” took 2nd Overall and 2nd Class1.

New comer “September Song” took 3rd Overall and 1st Class 2. “Rebellion” took 3rd Class 1 while “Lula Belle” took 2nd Class 2 and “Finnegan’s Wake took 3rd Class 2.The next race is on the 21st August with the ISORA / RAYC / Lee Overlay Day Race to the M2 buoy. Also, on the Welsh side, there will be a Day Race from Pwllheli on the same day.

As many as 20 sailing boats could line out for the ISORA overnight race to the India North buoy tomorrow night. The race starts at 7.30pm, leaving the Muglins to starboard as the fleet heads south to the cardinal mark India North. The forecast is for light offshore breezes, waning further as the race progresses.

The list of starters is attached below, with those marked DNF not taking part. A Notice of Race is also attached.

The race is a 75-miler, and most returning boats should be back in Dun Laoghaire by morning.

From an entry list of 27 sailing boats, 16 boats came to the line in Dun Laoghaire for the 5th ISORA race and first Sunday Race. Peter Ryan reports.  It was hoped that this format would encourage those boats that regularly compete in the Dublin Bay and Howth racing and are reluctant to take part in ISORA as they would lose points in their Series. Unfortunately, this did not happen. We did not have any new boats competing.

The day looked ideal based on the weather forecast – 14kts West veering North West. With north-going spring tides the course selected was: Lambay (P)- Rockabill (S)- Kish (P) and to the finish. The course ensured that the fleet would have the tide with them all along the course. This was the only factor that remained constant.

The fleet left Dun Laoghaire in the 14kts westerly and made good progress across the bay towards the Bailey until it fell into a huge hole at the Bailey. For 30 minutes the only movement was the 1.5kt tide going north. Most of the fleet kept close to the shore while "Galileo" and "Tsunami" stayed out in the tide. At one time the shore side boats appeared to move again only to stop again. The wind filled in giving "Galileo" and "Tsunami" the advantage. "Intuition" was the lead shore boat and it also got the early wind. The wind had veered to the north-west and it was a fetch to Rockabill.

"Galileo" was first around Roackabill followed closely by "Intuition", Tsunami" and "Rebellion". The remainder of the fleet were well bunched close behind. Most of the run to Kish was in ideal sailing weather – moderate winds, sunshine, warm etc. This came to an abrupt end when the leaders were approaching Kish. A squall came through causing a rapid dropping of kites for the last mile. The same placings occurred at Kish as it was at Rockabill.

It was a beat to the finish. The wind had again dropped back to the 15kts after the squall. This left boats wondering if changing back up to the No.1's was required. The answer was not long in coming. A very strong squall hit the fleet with winds in excess of 28kts with driving rain sending boats scattering across Dublin Bay.

The first boat to cross the finish line was "Galileo", who only managed to take 2nd Overall and 2nd in Class 1. It was followed closely by "Intuition" who took 1st in both Overall and Class 1. "Tsunami" was next over the line to take 3rd in Class1 and 4th Overall. "Mojito" sailing two-handed took 3rd Overall and 1st in Class2. Another two-handed "Dinah" took 2nd Class2 while "Lula Belle" took 3rd Class2.

I would like to thank Larry Power of the National Yacht Club for doing the start and Chris Moore for recording the finishers. An "Après Sail" took place in the NYC after where the provisional results were announced.

The next race is on the 23rd July with the ISORA / RAYC / Lee Overlay Night Race to North India.