#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.