#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.
