From an entry list of 22 boats 19 boats came the start line on Saturday in Dun Laoghaire for the first day race of the ISORA lynx metmAsts Offshore Series 2013 run in conjunction with the Royal Alfred Yacht Club's Offshore Series wites Peter Ryan.

As well as the "regular" ISORA boats there were many new faces and some faces we had not see for some time. Our double ISORA Offshore Champion Matt Davis with his reformed "Raging Bull" now called "Team Kingspan" was there after a whole season missing from the fleet. A new comer to the ISORA J109 family but by no means a new comer to ISORA is Liam Shanahan Jnr and his J109 "Ruth". Liam sailed in ISORA for many years with his father Liam on "Emircedes", "Lightning" and "Emer Herr". It is great to have him back.

"Mojito", Peter Dunlop's J109 from Pwllheli was there. Peter, although a regular ISORA sailor had changed "Midnight Mojito" for a J109. "Lady Rownea", David Bolger's Sadler 34 was there for the first time and I hope will race again.

The original course was the head south to round North Arklow. However, taking into account the recent strong northerly winds and exceptionally strong spring tides that could combine to produce "unpleasant" conditions over the banks, the Sailing Committee agreed to head north to Rockabill.

The course was from the start to round Rockabill and back to the finish. Lambay Island was not a mark on the course. The weather forecast was for the winds
to be 24k northerly at the start and drop to 3k in the afternoon!! North Arklow was never going to happen.

Commodore of the Royal Alfred YC, Barry MacNeaney sent the large fleet beating north with the strong tide towards Rockabill. The wind at the start was slightly less than forecast. The fleet split leaving the bay but the J109's remained close to each other inshore. The leader was hard to call as there were many boats on the leading line heading north. A further split came just north of Howth when "Tsunami" tacked to go inside Lambay Island and get out of the lumpy seas. At that stage the winds were starting to slacken and before long boats were changing to the No1's.

The fleet converged on Rochabill from both sides. "Team Kinspan" lead the attack from the east while "Tsunami" manoeuvred from the west. At this stage it became apparent that the tide had changed early and the fleet were punching into a strong tide with ever decreasing winds. "Team Kinspan" was the first to round Rockabill followed closely by "Mojito". A procession of boats then rounded the rock and set sail for a very tight reach back to Dun Laoghaire. Fortunately the winds held long enough to get the fleet finished.

The leg from Rockabill, although with the tide, required constant trimming of sails to keep the boats going as fast as possible. As the winds decreased the J109's came into their own but not sufficient to catch the Sigma 400 "Team Kingspan". Matt Davis took line honours, and won the overall and class 1. Then three of the J109's crossed the line in close procession "Jedi", Andrew Sarratt was the first J109 over the line to take 2nd place Overall and Class 1. Next over with only 4 seconds between them were "Ruth" and "Mojito". However, the ratings favoured "Mojito" who took 3rd place Overall and Class 1.

Peter Hall's "Adelie" won Class 2 with Jerry Whiston's "First of September" taking 2nd in Class 2 and two-handed "Lula Belle", Liam Coyne and Brian Flahive, taking 3rd Class 2.

In the Silver Fleet Ronan O'Siochru's "Desert Star" won overall while Dirk Van Breda's "African Challenge" took 2nd with new comer David Bolger's "Lady Rowena" taking 3rd place.

The après sail took place as usual in the National Yacht Club where many of the crews met and exchanged "pleasantries" while imbibing a glass of sherry!!!

It was encouraging to have such a fleet out so early in the season after such a poor winter where many boats had not the opportunity to get prepared.

The next race takes place from Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead and is a traditional offshore. It is hoped that the numbers of boats taking part will remain strong as they prepare for the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race and the Fastnet race.

#isora – Irish offshore sailing chief Peter Ryan from Dun Laoghaire is calling for a strong turnout of cruisers for the first day race of the 2013 ISORA lynx metmAsts Offshore Racing Series series this Saturday (April 27th) (Notice of Race downloadable below).

The first race of a nine race series (that includes June's Dun Laoghaire to Dingle race) starts at 0955 from Dun Laoghaire over a course to Arklow and back,  distance of some 50 miles. A briefing is planned in Dun Laoghaire Marina prior to the race start.

Saturday's ISORA race will be run with the Royal Alfred Yacht Club 2013 Coastal Series race using the same start, course and finish line.

The start line shall 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. A boat shall not start later than 15 minutes after her Starting signal.

Prior to the start of each race boats are requested to obtain acknowledgement from the Race Committee.

The course will be confirmed at a briefing at 08.45 at the Marina offices and afloat to the competitors on channel 72 before the start.

The course will be text to all entrants immediately after the briefing.

The course may include "Virtual" marks. These are coordinates of a position that each yacht must round. Evidence of rounding the "virtual" mark must be taken and may be requested by the Race Officer.

This evidence may include: Photographic (iPhone or similar) evidence of the yacht's GPS showing its position at the mark. Yacht's chart plotter track showing the yacht rounding the "virtual" mark.

The onus of proof of having rounded the "virtual" mark will be with each yacht.

THE COURSE
The course may be as follows:
1. STARTING LINE
2. Muglins to starboard
3. Arklow North to Port
4. Muglins to port
5. FINISH LINE

The rekindled offshore racing fleet of more than 20 boats with interest  on both sides of the Irish Sea  is enjoying an active programme of offshore racing each summer. ISORA organise offshore races that include cross channel, coastal and overnight races for a mix of skills.

#isora – Preparing for the offshore racing season and especially the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle race and Fastnet Race is the subject of Wednesday's pre-season ISORA talk at the National Yacht Club on Wednesday at 7pm. 'Prof' O'Connell of North Sails Ireland will talk about "Offshore Trim and Speed" and Mick Liddy will talk about "Offshore Tactics and Navigation".
There will be a wine reception afterwards.

#isora – The 2010 and 2011 ISORA champion Matt Davis has vowed to return to the circuit and regain ISORA's famous Wolf's Head trophy in 2013. Davis's chances were scuppered in 2012 when his championship winning yacht Raging Bull broke her moorings and came ashore in gales off Skerries in North Dublin at the start of the season.

The return of the Sigma 400 marks the start of a tough battle for Irish Sea honours next year against the dominant force of the 2012 champion Sgrech, a J109 from North Wales skippered by Stephen Tudor.

The announcement that Lynx metmAsts will sponsor the ISORA Offshore Series for 2013 is a further boost for the growing offshore scene that  follows a successful agm where an Irish Sea offhore cohort are expecting to boost numbers on both sides of the Irish sea next season with a number of new initiatives.

Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta from July 11 will for the first time feature a coastal series next July for those boats that prefer longer races. It will be a series with four races similar to ISORA's normal day races and ISORA commodore Peter Ryan is strongly encouraging all ISORA boats to compete in this event.

The ICRA Nationals, (June 14-15) hosted by Fenit are also proposing a Costal Series as part of their event.

This series occurs directly after the NYC's Dingle Skellig Hotel Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race on June 8.

The 2013 race schedule for 2013 will involve 11 races and include the Isle of Man as a new venue. The details of the 2013 races can be downloaded here.

#isora – ISORA saluted its annual prizewinners at a black tie dinner at the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire on Saturday night. The full prizewinners list is available to download as an excel file below. Scroll down for more photos. The ISORA agm agreed the 2013 race programme that will be sponsored by Lynx Metmasts.

Saturday's agm was followed by the annual Prize Giving where some of the most elegant sailing trophies including the overall Wolf's Head Trophy were presented. Having being runner up for the past two seasons the 2012 ISORA Championship Sgrech (Stephen Tudor) was saluted. His hardened offshore racing team from Pwlhelli in North Wales have many years experience of Irish offshore campaigns.

#isora – ISORA has issued its 2012 AGM Agenda plus its 2013 draft Race Schedule for the Irish Sea next year. Both are available for download below as pdf documents.

The race programme will be approved on November 17th at the National Yacht Club. Unfortunately the date clashes with the one day Irish Cruiser Racer Conference (ICRA) in Kilkenny where offshore supremo Damian Foxall will give a presentation.

The ISORA agm is followed by the Annual ISORA Prize Giving Dinner at the NYC where some of the most elegant sailing trophies including the Wolf's Head Trophy will be presented.

#isora – Having being runner up for the past two seasons the weekend winner of the 2012 ISORA Championship Sgrech is no stranger to the Irish Sea, her skipper Stephen Tudor and crew are a hardened offshore racing team from Pwlhelli in North Wales who have many years experience of Irish offshore campaigns for over 40 years.

Sgrech is a 2003 version J109. She was purchased in November 2010 by Hugh Williams, Philip Yapp and Tudor and replaced the team's J92 in which they achieved a very wet second overall in the 2010 ISORA series.

The team also achieved a second overall in Sgrech in 2011 again being beaten by Skerries Raging Bull.

Skipper Stephen Tudor has not yet been successful in persuading his brother, Richard, to join the crew. Richard skippered two circumnavigations in the Chay Blyth's Global Challenges and has provided considerable assistance in particular with Sgrech's preparation.

The 2012 Sgrech crew this year included the three co-owners and Stephen's son Thomas, one of many third generation ISORA competitors.

ISORA Chairman Peter Ryan who was on board Sgrech for the RORC Lyver Trophy race win in 2011 from Holyhead to Howth has also been on board this year to campaign for the ISORA series and June's Round Ireland Race.

Other crew members include RNLI member and veteran Round Ireland sailor Arfon Jones, Australian Andrew Rosewarne and Sarah Pemberton who sailed extensively with Andrew Hall.

The Tudor association with ISORA goes back to the 1970's when we raced with their father (Huw Tudor) on a Golden Shamrock, Gwobr Aur, at a time before DECCA or other navigation aids.

At that time there were regular ISORA fleets of about 40 which I think peaked at about 70. Stephen's first race was to Dun Laoghaire in 1976 (aged 16).

The Tudor's then campaigned a Contention 33, Panache and after that Greased Lightning. Richard and Huw went on to sail Corwynt Cymru III (Winner Class1 Cork Week 1992).

Corwynt Cymru was later renamed and is now known as Raging Bull, the 2011 champion that was wrecked in gales last May.

#isora – A bad weather forecast that prevented Dun Laoghaire boats making the start line meant overall leader "Sgrech" had the championship won before the start of the last race from Pwlhelli to Dun Laoghaire on Saturday writes ISORA Commodore Peter Ryan.

In particular second overall John Maybury's Joker 2 from the Royal Irish YC could not travel. From the list of 22 entries only 12 starters came to the North Wales line at 08.00.

Despite the bad weather on Thursday night and Friday, the weather forecast for Saturday was for light fickle winds, westerly going south westerly but increasing slightly on Saturday evening.

With this forecast in mind the Racing Committee set the course directly to the finish in Dun Laoghaire with Bardsey not being a mark on the course.

Expecting a "mill pond" on the start line boats left the marina to be greeted by 8-10 knots south westerly. The first leg to Tudwal's Island was a beat with "Sgrech" leading the charge. From Tudwal's to Bardsey, the winds veered westerly giving another beat. With the tidal gate closing at mid-day most of the fleet led by "Sgrech" got through with only three boats remaining when the gate closed. However, there was sufficient wind for them to eventually battle through.

The fleet that made the gate were well bunched as they headed towards Dun Laoghaire on a white sail reach in winds of up to 22 knots. The three J boats, "Sgrech", "Jedi" and "Jetstream" led the bunch. For most of this leg no places changed until the winds became fickle again approaching the Irish coast. Spinnakers appeared with 10 miles to go until Dublin Bay threw in its usual "wobbler" with the winds verring westerly. "Jedi" just inched past "Sgrech" during this stage of the race. The last five miles of the race to the harbour mouth was a beat.

The finish provided by Peter Rowley of the NYC was suitably exciting with "Sgrech" on the transom of "Jedi" as she crossed the line. They were soon followed by "Midnight Mojito" and "Jetstream". "Jedi" won the race overall and Class 1 while the new ISORA Champion "Sgrech" took 2nd place overall and 2nd in Class 1. "Yahtzee", a long ISORA campaigner, had it best race result by taking 3rd Overall, winning Class 2 and also Silver Class.

At the end of what was a very successful and enjoyable season the ISORA Offshore Champion for 2012 is Stephen Tudor and "Sgrech". Peter Hall's " Adelie" managed to hold off the two handed, Liam Coyne and Brian Flahive's "Lula Belle" to take Class 2. Neil Eathough's "Lancastrian" did not need to start in this race to win the Silver Class overall. Richard Mossop's "Yahtzee" won Silver Class 2.

All prizes and trophies will be presented at the ISORA Dinner in the NYC on the 17th November. We are honoured that Derek Mathews, Commodore of the Royal Dee Yacht Club will be there to present their "Wolf's Head" trophy to the new ISORA Champion, Stephen Tudor and "Sgrech".

The ISORA AGM will be held at 15.00 on the 17th November in the NYC – the day of the ISORA dinner.

#isora – There was a great turn out for Saturday's ISORA's day race to the M2 buoy run in conjunction with the Royal Alfred Yacht Club writes ISORA Commodore Peter Ryan.

18 boats came to the start line where RAYC Commodore, Barry McNeaney, sent the fleet off towards the M2 Buoy.

The forecast for the day was south westerlies, 15-20 knots. With the forecast the course direct to M2 and back would ideal giving a dead run out and a beat back. However, the wind backed more southerly turning the run to

a tight reach and the beat into a long leg short leg affair. The tides were also ideal with north going tide at the start for three hours helping progress toward the M2.

After the start the fleet split with half gybing north and the others gybing east. When the fleet converged at the M2 the northern approach appeared to have the advantage with "Lively Lady" rounding first followed by "Tsunami". Immediately behind them were "African Challenge", "Jedi", "Loose Change" and "English Mick"

The wind for the leg back to the finish was very shifty, constantly back and veering between the W, SW and S. The wind strength varied all the time from 8 knots to 22 knots and back!!!! "Lively Lady" held the front position to the finish. The beat across Dublin Bay was tricky as the winds got flukier and lighter.

"Lively Lady" held their position to cross the line first at 17.41 after nearly eight hours racing. However, not far enough ahead to prevent "Tsunami" from taking 1st Overall and 1st in Class 1. "Tsunami" managed to keep far enough ahead of "Jedi" who took 2nd Overall and 2nd in Class 1.

"Lively Lady" took 3rd Overall and 3rd in Class 1. "Lula Belle" took 1st place in Class 2 ahead on "First of September" and "Guillemot".

In the Silver Fleet "Lancastrian" continued its winning run with "Yahtzee" taking 2nd and "African Challenge" taking 3rd.

The next race is the Pwllheli Day Race next Saturday, starting and finishing in Pwllheli. The following Saturday is the last of the 2012 Series, The James Eadie Trophy race from Pwllheli to Dun Laoghaire and will determine the 2012 ISORA Offshore Champion. Can "Sgrech" hold their lead or can "Joker 2" overtake them in the final strait? This race has always been very popular and a large number of starters producing high points for the race could have a significant effect on the results of the Series. A good night is planned in Pwllheli on the Friday before the last race and, weather permitting, an "End of Series" soirée is planned in the NYC after the race.

There is a requirement for crew on some boats for the last race. Anyone interested in crewing should contact me. If there is sufficient demand, the usual "Crew Bus" will be organised for that race to bring crew travelling on the HSS from Holyhead to Pwllheli on the Friday afternoon.

#isora – After the weekend's cross channel offshore race to Pwllheli, the North Wales J109 yacht Sgrech is in a commanding position for ISORA's Wolf's Head Trophy overall but Dublin Bay's Joker 2 (John Maybury) can still steal the silver by good results in the remaining races that are usually well supported writes ISORA's Peter Ryan. RESULTS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD BELOW AS EXCEL FILE.

The light weather forced the retiral of four boats from the fleet of 12 starters. Some boats retired within sight of the finish line.

The weather forecast for the race was deadly accurate with south westerly 8-10 knots at the start rising to southerly 16-19 knots and falling again in the evening to south easterly 4- 6 knots.

The upwind start crowded many of the boats at the Committee boat end of the line where NYC Vice Commodore, Larry Power, sent the fleet of 12 boats off toward the Muglins. The course for the race was: Start – Muglins (S) – Moulditch Buoy (P) – Finish in Pwllheli. The course allowed boats to pass either side of Bardsey Island and St Tudwal's Island on route to Pwllheli.

Lula Belle got the best clear start from the pin end and raced towards the Muglins while most of the fleet at the other end of the line shadowed each other from the little wind that was there. Lula Belle's early lead soon disappeared as the fleet left Dublin Bay and sailed into a hole in Killiney Bay.

This was not the last hole to be found by the fleet. Killiney Bay caused problems for most of the boats who got trapped with no wind and a strong foul tide. Again, Lula Belle, made a spectacular break from Killiney Bay by sailing deeper into the hole and coming out the other side with a stronger different wind than the remainder of the fleet. Only four boats managed to get away early from Killiney Bay while the rest of the fleet were stranded.

The four boats proceeded towards Moulditch – Lula Belle followed by Sgrech, Joker 2 and Adelie. After Moulditch the leg to Pwllheli was a tight white sail reach. No distance was gained or lost between the four boats as they crossed the Irish Sea. Lula Belle held it lead until the wind dropped as they approach St. Tudwals. Sgrech overtook Lula Belle for the lead heading into Abersoch Bay.

The last section of race to the finish was a light air run. Sgrech managed to pull away from both Lula Belle and Joker 2 to take 1st place Overall and Class 1. Lula Bell held off Joker 2 to take 2nd Overall and 1st in Class 2.

Lancastrian took 1st place in the Silver Fleet to extend his overall lead in this division. For full results see the attached links. The finish in Pwllheli was provided by Gerry Williams, past Commodore of Pwllheli Sailing Club.

The present results puts Sgrech in a commanding position for the Wolf's Trophy overall championship. However, Joker 2 can still steal the silver by good results in the remaining races that are usually well supported.

The next race is the M2 Day Race on the 1st September with a 10.00 start.

The course will be set to ensure that all boats are back in Dun Laoghaire at 19.00 latest.