#isora – It's a busy weekend for offshore sailors with both British and Irish crews heading on separate key races counting towards overall series points in the RORC and ISORA programmes but as well as the forthcoming fixtures the most pressing matter for offshore sailors this week is the hope of finding four fellow racing sailors alive in the Atlantic Ocean. As Afloat reported last night, renewed calls have been made for authorities to resume a search for a Brtitish crew from a 40–yacht returning from racing in the Caribbean.

On the UK South coast, a fleet of 40 yachts from five nations will compete in RORC's Myth of Malham Race while on the Irish east coast up to 20 are expected on ISORA's 100–mile race from Dún Laoghaire to Holyhead sailed under the burgee of the National Yacht Club.

One boat that will miss the start is Isle of Man regular, Polished Manx, a Sigma 33 that was dismasted and rescued a fortnight ago in a punishing race off Holyhead. It had been hoped that the yacht would be back on the startline on Friday but instead the aim now is to be ready for the Liverpool race on May 28th. Still not a bad turnaround!

The exact Irish Sea course to be sailed on Saturday will not  will be published until the eve of the race, next Friday evening, and may include one of ISORA's innovative new virtual marks. 

The race, which is also one of the qualifying races for next month's Round Ireland Race from Wicklow, will start in Scotsman's Bay in Dublin Bay between the DBSC 'Pier' mark and an adjacent committee boat flying a NYC burgee.

According to the Sailing Instructions, (downloadable below as a pdf file) the finish line off the Welsh coast shall be between the end of the Holyhead breakwater and the Clippera Buoy – 0.6 miles off pier head, bearing 067(T).

#isora – A former steel hulled BT Global Challenge yacht was the winner of a 'punishing' second ISORA offshore race from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire on Saturday morning. The 15–boat fleet faced a fetch into 30 plus knots of wind that veered to produce a beat at the end of the 60–miler as the boats apporached the Dublin coastline. See results for download below as a jpeg file.

Conor Fogarty's entry SY 2041' made the best of the Irish Sea's harsh conditions, another good preparation race for next month's 700–mile Round Ireland race. 

One great ISORA racer and supporter lost its mast on Friday night, just north of Holyhead when heading for the race start area. The Isle of Man based Sigma 33, Polished Manx skippered by Kuba Szymanski ended up being towed to Holyhead by the RNLI.

Holyhead's all weather Severn class RNLI lifeboat launched to the 33ft–yacht dismasted in a force seven gale at 2.20am, according to RNLI sources.

The ISORA entry had got into difficulties eight miles out when its mast broke leaving the vessel 'helpless in huge seas' off the Skerries light. The coxswain asked if the yacht crew were able to cut free the rig as weather conditions made it hazardous to pass lifeboat crew to assist in the big sea swell. This was done and the lifeboat escorted Polished Manx under her own power to Holyhead marina, a journey of some six hours. Holyhead coastguard co-orientated the callout.

Szymanski, who has raced thousands of miles including last year's D2D and Fastnet races, has made contact with ISORA commodore Peter Ryan to say he aims to be back on the startline with a new mast for the next ISORA on May 24th. 'If it can be done, he is the man to do it', says Ryan.

ISORA Race 2 (Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire) Report by Peter Ryan: 

As with Race 1, the weather was not kind to ISORA competitors. Strong and gusty conditions all the previous week with DBSC cancelling their Thursday racing did not encourage those skippers who were considering taking part in the race from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire. Although a window of opportunity arose for boats delivering on Friday only 15 boats came to the line at 08.30 on Saturday 10th May. The usual start time was delayed due to shipping movements.
As the boats left Holyhead marina and made their way in the strong and gusty southerly winds to the start line between the pier head an Clipera bouy, they were met by the ominous sight of one of our fellow competitor Kuba Szymanski's "Polished Manx", with no rig, being escorted by Holyhead lifeboat towards the marina. Thankfully all were safe aboard.
There was concern about the weather forecast for the race when the Sailing Committee met on Friday evening at the pre-race soiree in Holyhead sailing Club. After the usual consideration and consultation there was unanimous agreement to make the race as short as possible – from the start direct to the finish.
The forecast for the race was for Force 6-7 south west veering west later and decreasing towards the Irish coast. Some parts of that forecast were incorrect – the wind only moderated for a time and it touched at Gale 8 several times. The race started with a southerly Force 7 and soon most boats had reefed down for the weather. Holyhead boat "Pipedreamer" did not start as they tore their mainsail while putting it up.
Things did not appear too bad as the fleet left the line and headed west towards Dun Loaghaire. Anyway, not until they reached the overfalls and out of the lee of the North Stack!!! Luckily the wind was from the south and allowed most boats to avoid most waves as they broke around them.
Quickly into the lead were the "big boats" "2041" the Challenge 67, "Mermaid IV" Beneteau First 50 and Andrew Hall's J125, "Jackknife". It was the Past ISORA Chairman's first race since retiring from offshore several years ago. Very soon the fleet split into three groups – the "big boats", the three J109's and Adelie and the rest.
Many boats took a southerly course to prepare for the veering wind. However the wind, that varied in strength from 18 to 34 knots, did not appear to have read the forecast. When the boats were only 20 miles off Dun Laoghaire there was no sign of the westerly wind. Most boats then took a more northerly course toward the finish.
Then as the leaders approached the Kish bank, the squalls appeared and with them driving rain and veering winds, resulting in a beat for the last 15 miles to the finish for most boats.
There was close racing is all the groups. At the front, "Jackknife" just squeezed over the finish line for line honours with only 90 seconds separating them from "2041". The J109's had a close match all during the race with positions being changed between them several times. The three J109's "Ruth", "Mojito" and "Sgrech" were never more than a few hundred metres apart at any time. When they were forced to beat towards the end of the race, there was separation. "Ruth" managed to nose 60 seconds ahead of her level rated opponent "Sgrech" as they crossed the finish line. "Mojito" finished 90 seconds behind "Sgrech"
"2041" took the Overall and Class1 win while "Adelie" took Class 2. "Yahtzee" took the Silver Class.
The tired, wet and battered crew made their way back to the National Yacht Club for the usual "après sail" and the regular discussion about "Why in God's name do we race offshore???"
Those crew off boats who did not compete, followed the race using the AIS trackers. Facebook commentary on the progress of the race was provided by, past two handed and currently one-handed offshore sailor, Liam "Lula Belle" Coyne and also by Andrew "Jedi" Sarratt. The commentary demonstrated the potential effect of the tracking for the general public interest in the offshore racing. Only four boats managed to successfully use the "Predictwind" tracker. As the tracking is becoming a huge part of the offshore racing scene. A big push will be made to get more boats "activated" for the next race.
The next race takes place on the 24th May and acts as a feeder to get boats some of the way towards Liverpool for the Liverpool – IOM – Dun Laoghaire weekend on the first weekend in June.

#isora – The arrival of three Howth Yacht Club boats onto the ISORA scene this season has produced immediate results with HYC entry Dux, an X302 yacht skippered by Anthony Gore-Grimes winning the first ISORA race from Dún Laoghaire to Arklow on Saturday. 

Although the strong winds and big seas cancelled most of the local inshore racing for Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC), the 15–offshore yachts came to the line off Dun Laoghaire's East pier in what was some of the strongest breezes of the day. Dux followed by top performing J109 Ruth (Liam Shanahan of the National Yacht Club) made the best of the 40 – knot southerly winds that saw a number of retirals on the upwind leg along the Dublin and Wicklow coasts. Conditions dictated a shortened course to the Wicklow outfall buoy instead of North Arklow, a reduced distance of some 38 miles instead of 50 that produced an early (and welcome) high speed reaching leg back to Dublin Bay.

The provisional results for Race 1a - the Dún Laoghaire day race (incorporating the first Royal Alfred Yacht Club Coastal Series) is available to download below as a jpeg file.

In a move that has drawn the international support of ISAF's offshore working party, the ISORA crews are experimenting with iphone navigation during the race and 'virtual marks' to adjust the courses. 

In deploying the new mobile technology ISORA has teamed up with app developer 'Predict Wind Tracker'. 

Unfortunately on Saturday, ISORA did not get to use them to full effect. The weather was so awful that the basis of the course was to keep as close to land as possible but away from banks and headlands.

This, says Peter Ryan of ISORA, is a cost effective method of recording any offshore race that can be viewed live and also replayed after the event. ISAF's David Brunskill has offered to judge any issues surrounding the use of the virtual marks.

First race winner Dux sailed by seasoned campaigner Anthony Gore-Grimes'  Photo: Robert Bateman

Ryan adds that if the innovative approach to setting courses is successful, 'it will radically change offshore racing to the betterment of all', a sentiment supported by the world sailing body.

The next race is the Holyhead to Dún Laoghaire qualifying race on 10th May. This is followed by the return race from Dún Laoghaire to Holyhead on 24th May. One of the highlights of the ISORA series this year is the Midnight Race from Liverpool to Douglas on 6th June.

#iphone – Navigating with the iphone is on the cards for Saturday's first ISORA race of the season with courseoptions for crews on both sides of the Irish Sea. Dublin offshore sailors will race from Dun Laoghaire to North Arklow buoy and back while Welsh counterparts are to race a similar distance along the Welsh coast.

In deploying the new mobile technology ISORA has teamed up with 'Predict Wind Tracker' to track the boats in both races. This, says ISORA, is a cost effective method of recording the race that can be viewed live and also viewed after the event.

This feature can only work at present on the iPhone and Android.

Depending on the wind direction ISORA may include "waypoint marks" as part of the course. ISORA Commodore Peter Ryan has issued a reminder to the offshore fleet emphasising it is essential that crews are familiar with how the phones are used and what and when you must record the rounding.

Ryan adds that if the innovative approach to setting courses is successful, 'it will radically change offshore racing to the betterment of all'. 

#isora – As the leading Irish offshore series gets ready for a coastal race in a fortnights time, ISORA series sponsor, Kona, marked its third year of sponsorship with a new trophy presentation for the Dun Laoghaire to Pwllheli ISORA Race. This race will be the seventh race in the 2014 ISORA series and is scheduled for Saturday 26th July. The race is also the feeder race to the IRC Welsh Championships in Pwllheli in North Wales. 

Michael Martyn KONA's Chief Executive Officer said that he was delighted with the great relationship that has been established with ISORA on the Irish Sea. 

#ISORA – The main contractor for the new £8.3m National Sailing Academy and Event Centre has been appointed in Pwllheli, North Wales. The substantial dredging works has already started and the new dedicated visitor and event pontoons will be completed by June and be available for the IRC Welsh Championships in August just after the Dun Laoghaire to Pwllheli ISORA feeder race.

The organisers, including ISORA Champion, Stephen Tudor, is keen to attract as many boats across the Irish Sea as possible.

The IRC National Championship is an open event and will use the facilities of the Welsh National Sailing Academy and Event Centre and will draw on the skill and experience of the Academy's event team who regularly run World and European Championships.

This work says Tudor will enhance and extend the events capacity in Pwllheli and will improve access to the world renowned sailing waters of Cardigan Bay with the provision of new dedicated visitor and events berths with cranes located adjacent to the marina.

#ISORA – Offshore sailors are preparing for the 2014 season with the first ISORA race now only five weeks away. The first race is a coastal day race in Ireland - the Dun Laoghaire - North Arklow buoy – Dun Laoghaire coastal race. At the same time there is also a day bay race from Pwllheli in North Wales. It is hoped, says Commodore Peter Ryan of the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire, that this 'easy race' will coax a big turnout and particularly those boats starting to train for June's Round Ireland race.

The first offshore race is the Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire Race on Saturday 10th May. Download the full 2014 ISORA Calendar of races here. 

This season 'waypoint' marks will be used to ensure that full beats and runs will be provided in races. At least one crew member requires an iPhone and to have downloaded the Predict Wind Tracker app. Every race will be set up on the Predict Wind website and will be live on the website and replayable afterwards. This will be a particularly useful tool in monitoring boats rounding the new 'waypoint' marks.

The main offshore event this season is the Offshore Racing Weekend in June that starts with the Midnight Race from Liverpool to the Isle of Man on a Friday night and finishes with a return race from the Isle of Man to Dun Laoghaire, starting on the Sunday morning.  The race is a feeder for the ICRA Nationals in Dun Laoghaire.

#ISORA – All boats entering the ISORA series in 2014 will have the option of taking part in a Team Series, Saturday's AGM at the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire was told.

The teams of 3 will be randomly selected by the committee and each team will consist of a boat from Class1, 2 and Silver Class. It is hoped that this will encourage boats to take part in more races. There will be a trophy for the Team Series.

The AGM also head that ISORA is to clarify the qualifying conditions for boats entering the Wicklow SC's Round Ireland with the race organisers. This could alter the length of some of the races prior to the Round Ireland.

There will be an ISORA coastal series that will consist of results from the coastal / day races only. It is hoped that this will encourage those boats who do not do the cross channel races. There will be trophies for this series as well.

Virtual marks will be used in races to ensure, weather permitting, that there is an upwind and a dead downwind leg in each race.

The mandatory use of the PredictWind tracker was discussed. While there was unanimous agreement that the use of such a tracker was of huge benefit to ISORA, there were some technical difficulties experienced with its use last season. ISORA is to engage with PredictWind to sort these issues
out prior to next season.

The prize giving dinner took place in the National Yacht Club on Saturday evening. The dining room was packed with 165 people. The pre-dinner reception took place in the JB room. The classical trio "The Trident Trio" provided the background music while the guests mingled and chatted.

ISORA commodore Peter Ryan acted as MC for the prizegiving. Traditional toasts were made by Mr James Cannon, Director of KONA, Mr. Paul Barrington, Commodore NYC, Mr. Barry MacNeaney, Commodore Royal Alfred Yacht Club  and Mr. Derek mathews, Commodore of the Royal Dee Yacht Club. Anne-Marie Ryan presented the many prizes to the winners. The prizes included unique personalised "KONA" jackets for race winners and Series Class Winners.

#isora – 2014's proposed ISORA offshore racing programme on the Irish Sea (scroll down this page to download the proposed programme) has some innovative new races attached including a new isle of man fixture plus a brand new Welsh IRC championships.

The draft season programme promoted by ISORA commodore Peter Ryan includes the prospect of a great offshore weekend in early June with a 'Midnight Race' from Liverpool to Douglas IOM on a Friday afternoon with a race from Douglas to Dun Laoghaire on the Sunday morning. This weekend also feeds to the ICRA Nationals hosted by the Royal Irish YC in Dun Laoghaire.

Two months later there is also a new event in Pwllheli/Abersoch on the 1st-3rd August the Welsh IRC Nationals. Ryan has proposed a new feeder race for the event from Ireland and the Royal Dee YC have presented a trophy – "The Tidal Cup" for this race as well as the usual ISORA trophy.

ISORA's Conwy race will act a qualifier for any boats doing the Round Ireland as it will be 100 miles and the hope is that as many ISORA boats will enter.

Views on the programme will be aired this Saturday at ISORA's agm at the National Yacht club where the association dinner is already booked out.

#isora – The 2014 Round Ireland race brings more interest to a burgeoning Irish Sea offshore scene (ISORA) next June and while ISORA commodore Peter Ryan of the National Yacht Club (NYC) is not proposing to include this 704–mile offshore race in the ISORA schedule there are plans afoot to widen ISORA's traditional reach and move some races at least away from the traditional Dun Laoghaire – Pwllheli race axis.

Conwy in North Wales are keen to host a race start on the 10th May for the up to 30–boat fleet and the response to the Isle of Man (IOM) race last year was huge.

The first May Bank Holiday is the annual Round the IOM race completed during an extended weekend and there is a suggestion this could be accommodated within the trip to and from the Island.

On the Irish east coast Arklow is also a keen location and the new marina at Greystones is also a new venue. In Dublin Bay there are four weekends of regatta races scheduled in 2014. Skerries in North Dublin have expressed an interest and regular ISORA venues at Dun Laoghaire, Howth and Wicklow are all still keen to maintain links across the Irish Sea as are the Welsh ports of Holyhead, Pwllheli and Abersoch. An IRC event is being hosted in August for Abersoch and Pwllheli.

Discussions on featuring the new ports will be a main part of ISORA's agm this month with suggestions already being made that Carlingford in County Lough or Ardglass, Co. Down, situated just south of Strangford, and other Northern Irish Sea ports be considered too.

The annual ISORA AGM will be held in the NYC at 15.00 on Saturday 16th November, same day as the dinner.