Eighteen boats are entered for the opening ISORA offshore race of the season from Dún Laoghaire to Holyhead on Saturday May 9th.
The 55-mile crossing is scheduled to start at 08:00, with online entries remaining open.
The channel fleet shows a strong Irish turnout, with 12 entries from Irish clubs and six from Wales and the UK.
The Royal Irish Yacht Club leads club representation with five entries, followed by the National Yacht Club in Dún Laoghaire with four. Despite the strong RIYC turnout, there is no update so far on the return of former champion Rockabill VI after an early season rig issue.
Pwllheli Sailing Club fields two entries, while Holyhead Sailing Club also has two boats on the start line.
Among the Irish contenders, 2024 ISORA champion, the J109 Ruth (Shanahan Family, National YC) lines up, after a second coastal race win, alongside recent coastal race performers including J109 Indian (Simon Knowles, Howth YC) and First 40.7 Tsunami (Peter Ryan, National YC).
Greystones SC’s Sydney 43 El Syd (Frank Whelan) continues its early-season programme, while Royal St George YC’s J122 Aurelia (Chris and Patanne Power Smith) arrives after a win in April’s coastal race opener.
Royal Irish YC entries include the NMD43 Cristina (John Treanor), the Sunfast 3300 Razorbill (Ulric Kenny), Sigma 38 State O’Chassis (Michael Murphy), Elan 333 White Lotus (Stuart Trotter) and two-handed Elan 31 entry Katanca (Barry O’Connor).
The Welsh challenge is led by Darling xx (Nigel Ingram, Holyhead SC), Lightning (Paul Sutton, Holyhead SC), and Pwllheli SC entries Finally (Paul and Sam Kitteringham) and Pata Negra (Sam Hall).
Other notable entries include Excession (Robert Temple/Matthew Harrison), Hijacker (Grzegorz Kalinecki), and double-handed No Xcuse (Patrick Hogan, National YC).
In IRC terms, the highest-rated boat is Cristina (1.206), ahead of El Syd (1.164) and Pata Negra (1.154), suggesting a competitive battle for line honours.
As Afloat reported previously, early-season ISORA coastal races on both sides of the Irish Sea have already highlighted close racing, with boats such as Ruth, Aurelia and Loinnir showing consistent form.
The offshore opener now shifts the focus to endurance, navigation and tidal strategy across the Irish Sea, with conditions likely to play a decisive role.
