Today's ICRA conference at Dun Laoghaire heard from ISORA Chief Peter Ryan, who outlined his 2023 programme emphasising coastal racing.
"Coastal racing is alive and kicking, and the best of it is in ISORA", he told the cruiser-racer gathering.
ISORA has finalised its 2023 racing schedule, reducing fixtures to avoid clashes with other events.
The programme released in draft form in Afloat here last November was built around a busy racing calendar and is aimed to provide a full series of coastal races in Ireland and Wales.
"It is difficult for crews to make long-term commitments over a season, so we have devised a number of mini-series to make participation easier," he said.
The Offshore Series has been designed to provide a challenging series with a variety of ports and a complexity of courses.
Ryan says the main influencing events which helped ISORA shape the final programme are:
- IRC Welsh Nationals Championships –12th to 14th May
- D2D Race – 7th June
- RDYC Offshore Championship / Lyver Race – 1st July
- VDLR – 6th to 9th July
- Greystones Regatta – 26th to 27th August
- ICRA Nationals – Howth – 8th to 10th September
The 2023 calendar still strongly emphasises its coastal series with six races on the Irish side of the Cross Channel.
A highlight of the year for the ISORA fleet will be June's Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race which has already attracted the Volvo 70, Wizard.
Ryan says that sailors can expect coastal races as part of July's VDLR, August's Greystones Regatta and the ICRA nationals in September too.
Ryan was speaking at the Royal St. George Yacht Club hosted ICRA Cruiser-Racer Conference at Dun Laoghaire Harbour, where key regatta organisers unveiled 2023 sailing season plans.
