Despite placing fourth and a strong final challenge from Welsh yachts in Saturday's end-of-season ISORA cross-channel race, Paul O'Higgins's Rockabill VI of Dun Laoghaire maintained her overall advantage and was crowned 2023 ISORA champion by a 3.1 points difference.
In the 20-hour James Eadie Cup race light air climax, Pwllheli sailors were to the fore and saw Andrew & Sam Hall's J125 Jackknife from Pwllheli Sailing Club (PSC) take the gun. Clubmate Cris Miles in the J111 Jezebel GBR was second, with the defending champions Peter Dunlop & Victoria Cox, also from PSC, third in their J109 Mojito.
After a 19-race Musto-sponsored offshore season where her best five scores counted, O'Higgins's JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI is back on top of the Irish offshore scene, and her Dun Laoghaire Harbour crew will lift the Wolf's Head Trophy at ISORA's annual prizegiving in November.
Finishing second overall is Class One winner Mojito, with Jackknife third.
Mark and Jo Thompson's Sunfast 3200i Jac Y Do Sunfast 3200i, also of PSC, was the class Two winner.
The RIYC champion returns to inshore waters next Friday for the ICRA National Championships at Howth, where Rockabill VI competes in Class Zero according to class bands just released by organisers.
