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Pundits are predicting some of the fastest ever times for Saturday’s opening ISORA Irish Sea crossing from Dún Laoghaire to Holyhead, with strong northerly winds set to produce a high-speed reach across the channel.

ISORA Chairman Peter Ryan believes the front-running boats could complete the 55-mile passage in close to five hours if the forecast holds.

“The big boats will be across in five hours. Easily,” Ryan predicted ahead of Saturday (May 9th) morning’s 08:00 start on Dublin Bay.

Forecasts indicate northerly winds of up to 17 knots, conditions that favour fast reaching angles for the offshore fleet once clear of the Bay.

Among the expected pace setters are the Welsh Lombard 46 Pata Negra, skippered by Sam Hall and the NMD 43 Cristina sailed by John Treanor.

Others predicted to fare well are the JPK 10.30s, with wide bottoms and twin rudders optimised for fast downwind racing.

It may also mean a same-day return for some of the Irish fleet.

With limited berthing and shoreside facilities currently available in Holyhead — particularly if choppy harbour conditions develop — several crews are expected to turn around shortly after finishing.

“The big boats could be back on their berths by 7 pm,” Ryan suggested, pointing to the prospect of another fast reaching leg back across the Irish Sea to Dublin Bay.

Justin Burke's Request a JPK10.30 at speed during the 2026 DBSC Spring Chicken Series Photo: Afloat

However, if conditions remain favourable, Holyhead Sailing Club plans to host a post-race gathering ‘if the race finishes at a reasonable time’, according to the official sailing instructions

As Afloat reported earlier, 18 boats are entered for the first offshore race of the 2026 ISORA season, with a strong Irish turnout led by clubs from Dún Laoghaire, Howth and Greystones.

The Royal Irish Yacht Club fields five entries, including Cristina, the Sunfast 3300 Razorbill, Sigma 38 State O’Chassis and Elan 333 White Lotus.

The defending 2024 ISORA champion Ruth also lines up after recent coastal race success, alongside Indian and Aurelia, which arrives after an April coastal race victory.

In IRC terms, Cristina remains the highest-rated entry at 1.206, ahead of El Syd at 1.164 and Pata Negra at 1.154, pointing to a likely battle for line honours if the forecast breeze materialises.

While early-season ISORA coastal races have already produced close corrected-time racing on both sides of the Irish Sea, Saturday’s offshore opener introduces longer tactical decisions around tides, routing and endurance.

With fast conditions forecast and flat-water reaching expected for much of the crossing, crews will be watching closely to see whether the opening race of the season can challenge some of the race’s benchmark elapsed times.

The sailing instructions also remind competitors to monitor ferry traffic approaching Holyhead Harbour, with any yacht found to have interfered with commercial ferry movements facing disqualification.

ISORA Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead offshore race entries (May 9th)