Royal Irish's Rockabill VI Crew Take ISORA Coastal Race Victory at Dun Laoghaire (Photo Gallery)

24th April 2022

Rockabill VI (10800) makes the best start of the first ISORA Coastal Race from Dun Laoghaire

Paul O'Higgins' Rockabill VI (10800) makes the best start in the first ISORA Coastal Race from Dun Laoghaire Credit: Afloat

Irish Sea offshore supremos Rockabill VI (Paul O'Higgins) of the Royal Irish took the honours when eight boats from an expected fleet of 13 turned out for the first race of ISORA Golden Jubilee season this morning.

Easterly winds of 16-18 knots kicked up some big waves for the first Dun Laoghaire Viking Marine Coastal Race of the 2022 season which meant it was always going to be a big boat day and an important shakedown for the season's Round Ireland Race highlight in just under eight weeks time.

With a crisp start close to the West Pier, the O'Higgins JPK10.80 took an early lead on the water as the fleet passed Dun Laoghaire Harbour and headed towards the Muglins Rock in a race that saw the fleet venture as far south as the Bray Outfall buoy.

A screen shot from the Yellowbrick ISORA tracker

The full course was:

Usual Dun Laoghaire start at Dun Laoghaire Outfall Buoy 53 18.404N 6 8.348W
Muglins (P) 53 16.515N 6 4.550W
Bray Outfall (P) 53 13.254N 6 4.485W
North Kish (S) 53 18.560N 5 56.423W
East Kish (S) 53 14.343N 5 53.595W
Bray Outfall (S) 53 13.254N 6 4.485W
Muglins (P) 53 16.515N 6 4.550W
Usual Dun Laoghaire Finish between the pier heads. 53 18.145N 6 7.619W

Race winner - the JPK10.80 Rockabill VI (Paul O'Higgins) Photo: Afloat

The three boat competition in Class Zero was between Rockabill, Robert Rendell's Grand Soleil 44 Samatom from Howth and Barry O'Donovan's new First 44 Black Magic.

Rendell took line hours in an elapsed time of 3hours 46 minutes and 39 seconds but Rockabill's finish approximately eight minutes later sealed the IRC Zero and overall victory.

(Above and below) Robert Rendell's Grand Soleil 44 Samatom Photo: Afloat

Robert Rendell's Grand Soleil 44 Samatom

Third on the water and in IRC Zero was O'Donovan's Black Magic.

Barry O'Donovan's new First 44 Black Magic Photo: Afloat

In IRC One, Brendan Coghlan's well sailed Sunfast 3600 Yoyo from the Royal St. George Yacht Club took the division honours and third overall.

Brendan Coghlan's Sunfast 3600 Yoyo from the Royal St. George Yacht Club Photo: Afloat

Howth J99 Snapshot skippered by Mike Evans (and a recent entrant to June's Round Ireland race) was second in IRC one and fourth overall

Howth J99 Snapshot skippered by Mike Evans Photo: Afloat

Sailing two-handed, John O'Gorman of the National Yacht Club sailing Hot Cookie was third in IRC one and fifth overall.

John O'Gorman's Hot Cookie of the National Yacht Club Photo: Afloat

The winner of IRC Two was Joe Conway's Sigma 33 Elandra.

Joe Conway's Sigma 33 Elandra Photo: Afloat

ISORA Dun Laoghaire Viking Marine Coastal Race Photo Gallery

Published in ISORA, Royal Irish Yacht Club

Published in ISORA

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