In a bid to address declining participation in coastal and offshore races, ISORA (Irish Sea Offshore Racing Association) is set to undertake a comprehensive review of its race schedule and management practices.
"The organisation is actively seeking feedback from both current participants and former members to shape its future through 2025", says the association's Peter Ryan.
ISORA's original mission was to organise five to six cross-channel offshore races. However, boat entries plummeted to alarming levels around 2004. To combat this, ISORA introduced coastal races on Irish and Welsh shores, which initially helped bolster fleet numbers.
By 2019, participation peaked with around 70 boats involved, but recent statistics show a significant decline, with only 44 boats participating in 2024, according to Ryan.
In 2024, ISORA staged seven offshore races (including the K2Q race), five Irish coastal races, and four Welsh coastal races – 16 races in total.
Notably, while entry numbers remain steady, many registered boats are opting not to race.
Key Factors Impacting Participation
Several factors have been identified as contributors to the decline in boat entries:
- The loss of Holyhead Marina, a vital hub for 50-mile races that attracted new entrants.
- Shifts in work and family dynamics due to COVID, resulting in less time available for long races and deliveries.
- A congested racing calendar filled with new events, leading to diluted participation across various competitions.
- A shortage of crew, exacerbated by a lack of sail training programmes aimed at encouraging younger sailors to transition to larger vessels.
Future Considerations
As ISORA prepares for the future, options for change include:
- Maintaining the current race schedule for 2024.
- Restricting the number of long offshore races to 5-6.
- Adjusting the balance between offshore and coastal races, either increasing or decreasing their frequency.
- Exploring entirely new race formats and concepts.
ISORA is asking all members for their input, hoping that collective feedback will invigorate participation and usher in a new era for the organisation.
