It seems that the Irish Sea Offshore Racing Association has moved in on the current wave of Caribbean offshore competition in a big way. After winning their class and taking third overall in January's east-west RORC Transatlantic Race, the Hall family's father-and-son team of Andrew and Sam from Pwllheli SC has moved up a notch or two. Campaigning with their veteran J/125 Jackknife, they won last week's Nelson's Cup series around Antigua. Admittedly, it was by an ultra-narrow margin, but it was of multiple value as the racing pace was ferocious.
Now the Jackknife team, and clubmates Peter Dunlop and Vicky Cox with the J/122 Mojito, are in the thick of it again, racing the deceptively sunny RORC Caribbean 600. We say "deceptively sunny" because it certainly looks like dream sailing, yet those Nor'east Trade Winds can pack a real punch, while the long nights can seem raw enough.
But who was the Race Officer who sent them off on this particular marathon? Nigel Biggs, no less, one of the pillars of both the Irish Cruiser Racing Association and ISORA, and a leading offshore campaigner with the First 50 Checkmate XX, while also being the current Champion Owner in the Puppeteer 22 OD Class in Howth. These ISORA people, they certainly get about.
