East Coast inshore campaigner Lively Lady (Derek Martin) left Dublin Bay racing behind yesterday for ISORA's offshore race to Rockaill and won. The Royal Irish boat, a Beneteau First 44.7, topped a 13-boat fleet over the 50 mile course to Rockabill. It was the second ISORA race of the 2011 calendar.

Second overall was another Beneteau, Walter Mitty, Stephen Mullaney's First 375 from Howth Yacht Club. Third was Jedi, Andrew Sarratt's J109 from Dun Laoghaire.

Yesterday's race was a much more pleasant start to the season compared to the previous weekend's pasting taken during the slog across the Irish Sea to Holyhead. Perhaps that was the reason for the drop off in entries from 21 to 13?  Next Saturday's ISORA fixture features another cross Irish Sea venture, this time to Pwhelli.

Race two results are available for download below. Latest ISORA news here.

ISORA Commodore Peter Ryan adds: 

It had been hoped that there would be a bumper fleet out for this popular day race run in conjunction with the Royal Alfred Yacht Club and the Lee Overlay Offshore Series but despite 25 entries, only 15 came to the start line. The heavy offshore race to Holyhead and delivery back the previous weekend and the strong winds all the week since then, had taken its toll with damage to boats and crew and boats not being to get to Dun Laoghaire.

The weather forecast for the day was for wind force 3-5 south east going east. The original course was to go south to North Arklow buoy. However, with the strong spring tides going north at the start and the light winds forecast, the Sailing Committee decided that going north to Rockabill would ensure a finish would be achieved to all boats. The course was: Start – North Burford(P) – Lambay (P) – Rockabill (S) – Lambay (S) – Kish Light (S) – Finish at Dun Laoghaire Harbour (45 miles).

Paul McCarthy of the RAYC provided the start at 10.00 and the fleet set off on a white sail reach towards North Burford. The wind was as forecast, south east force 3-4. Rounding that mark, spinnakers were raised and the fleet sped north with the tide. Shorthy after 12.00 “Lively Lady” rounded Rockabill followed by “English Mick”, “Orna” and directly behind her “Tsunami”.

The leg back to Kish was a beat keeping Lambay to starboard. The wind fluctuated with the stronger wind being out to sea. Most boats tacked behind Lambay to get the benefit of some lack tides in the lee of the island.

The wind was holding as the fleet neared Kish. First round was “Lively Lady” followed by “English Mick”, “Tsunami”, “Orna” and “Jedi”. As forecast the wind backed to east and dropped. What was looking like a charge to the finish turned out to be a crawl. Many of the boats at the back of the fleet gained by a temporary filling of the wind from behind as they caught up with the leading pack. However, “Lively Lady” and “English Mick” held their positions and crossed the line first and second. “Jedi” and “Orna” crept past “Tsunami” to cross the finish.

“Lively Lady” took line honours, 1st in Class and 1st Overall. “Jedi” took 1st in Class 2 while “Walter Mitty” won Class 3.

Sandra Moore of the NYC provided the finish. The usual après sail took place in the NYC after the race.

The next race is the Day Race in Pwllheli on the 14th May. It is hoped that the day race there will attract some new entrants from the Welsh side.

 

Rank	Fleet	Boat	SailNo	Type	Rating	Start	Finish	Elapsed	Corrected	Points
1	Class 1	Lively Lady	IRL 1644	First 44.7	1.109	10.00.00	16:21:00	6.21.00	7.02.32	98.6
2	Class 3	Walter Mitty	IRL 7963	First 375	0.947	10.00.00	17:36:38	7.36.38	7.12.26	92.8
3	Class 2	Jedi	IRL 8088	J109	1.029	10.00.00	17:05:15	7.05.15	7.17.35	87.0
4	Class 1	Orna	IRL 532		1.047	10.00.00	17:13:18	7.13.18	7.33.40	81.2
5	Class 2	Lula Belle	IRL 3607	First 36.7	1.019	10.00.00	17:28:55	7.28.55	7.37.27	75.4
6	Class 3	Windshift	IRL 37737	SF37	0.992	10.00.00	17:41:59	7.41.59	7.38.17	69.6
7	Class 2	First of September	IRL 8581	First 43.5	1.017	10.00.00	17:32:41	7.32.41	7.40.23	63.9
8	Class 1	Tsunami	IRL 4007	First 40.7	1.061	10.00.00	17:15:00	7.15.00	7.41.32	58.1
9	Class 1	English Mick	GBR4771R	Beneteau 47.7	1.130	10.00.00	16:50:07	6.50.07	7.43.26	52.3
10	Class 2	Miss Scarlett	IRL 4763	Sunfast 40.3	1.025	10.00.00	17:33:06	7.33.06	7.44.26	46.5
11	Class 3	Yahtzee	IRL 1068	Oceanis 411	0.983	10.00.00	17:57:51	7.57.51	7.49.44	40.7
12	Class 1	Sailing West Intuition	GBR 9383	Reflex 38	1.060	10.00.00	17:28:33	7.28.33	7.55.28	34.9
13	Class 1	Rebellion	IRL 6001	Nicholson 58	1.054	10.00.00	17:39:22	7.39.22	8.04.10	29.1
14	Class 1	African Challenge	IRL 2649	Fast 42	1.077	10.00.00	17:33:11	7.33.11	8.08.05	23.4
15	Class 3	Obsession	IRL4513	Sigma 33	0.905			DNF		10.0