This Saturday's (September 6th) James Eadie Race – with a weighting of 1.3 – will decide the Irish Sea Offshore Racing Association (ISORA) overall Champion for 2025 and the Wolf’s Head Trophy.
Among the 11-boat fleet line-up for the weekend's nail-biting conclusion are the top three boats overall, with breezy conditions expected to add extra spice to the 80-miler across the Irish Sea from Pwllheli in North Wales to Dun Laoghaire on Dublin Bay.
After 15 races sailed, with the scoring system allowing only five to count, the leaderboard has tightened into a likely thrilling three-way contest between Pata Negra, Aurelia, and Mojito.
ISORA's 2025 James Eadie Race line up with four Irish and seven Welsh entries
Currently leading the overall standings is the Lombard 46 Pata Negra (Pwllheli Sailing Club), campaigned by Andrew and Sam Hall. With a powerful rating of 1.151 and a string of big points finishes — including 116.1 and 115.4 in recent outings — the Halls’ campaign has shown both speed and consistency. Their current total of 531.4 points gives them the edge heading into the finale, especially with Pata Negra's close reaching capabilities in the forecast 30-knot south easterly.
But while Pata Negra holds the upper hand, the pressure is very real. A handful of discards (including several early-season DNS scores) means there is no margin for error if conditions turn unpredictable.
Just a few points adrift sits Aurelia, the J122 sailed by Chris and Patanne Power Smith of the Royal St George Yacht Club. The Irish boat has been the most consistent campaigner across the fleet, and held the overall lead until very July racking up solid scores — 116.1, 107.0, and 95.9 among them — while discarding weaker results and early-season non-starters.
Lying second overall, Aurelia, the J122, sailed by Chris and Patanne Power Smith of the Royal St George Yacht Club. Photo: Afloat
With 528.6 points, Aurelia is effectively level-pegged with Pata Negra. The final race will be crucial: a win for the Irish team could overturn the deficit and deliver the overall title back across the Irish Sea.
In third place sits another Pwllheli entry, the J122 Mojito, sailed by Peter Dunlop and Victoria Cox. With 510.6 points, they are slightly behind the leading pair but far from out of contention. A strong performance in the finale could still propel them into the title fight, particularly if either Pata Negra or Aurelia falters.
Lying third, the J122 Mojito, sailed by Peter Dunlop and Victoria Cox Photo: Afloat
Mojito has built momentum through the season, with results like 108.7, 102.1, and 97.8 proving their ability to challenge at the sharp end of the fleet. As seasoned ISORA campaigners, Dunlop and Cox know exactly how to deliver when the stakes are highest.
With just 21 points separating first and third, the ISORA 2025 title remains wide open. The high-points CHIPS 3 scoring system and race weighting add further intrigue, ensuring that nothing is guaranteed until the final leg is sailed.
What is certain, however, is that this year’s Musto Offshore championship will end with a dramatic showdown between two clubs, two countries, and three exceptional boats.
