After the successful staging of the Inishtearaght Race from Kinsale, attention switches back to the Irish Sea this weekend as ISORA's offshore fleet prepares for a key double-header centred on the Isle of Man.
The Liverpool-Douglas and Douglas-Dún Laoghaire races represent the final major offshore fixtures before the season reaches its climax with the Round Ireland Race later this month.
Crews from Dublin Bay, Wales and northwest England are expected to contest Friday's Liverpool Yacht Club Midnight Race, a 70-nautical-mile passage from Liverpool to Douglas that also serves as a Round Ireland qualifier.
The race forms Race Eight of the MUSTO ISORA Offshore Series and carries a 1.2 weighting, adding extra significance in the battle for season honours. The fleet is scheduled to start from Liverpool at 1500 BST on Friday afternoon before crossing the Irish Sea overnight to Douglas.
Among the early confirmations are established ISORA contenders Chris Power Smith's J122 Aurelia, Andrew and Sam Hall's Lombard 46 Pata Negra, Lightning, Jezebel, ReQuest and Pillaban.
Aurelia, one of the season's form boats, has confirmed it will contest both legs of the weekend programme. Reigning ISORA champion Pata Negra is also expected on the start line as crews seek valuable offshore miles ahead of the Round Ireland challenge.
The fleet picture continues to evolve. Cristina, fresh from overall IRC line honours victory at the Inishtearaght Race, is currently expected to join the Douglas to Dún Laoghaire race only. No Xcuse, Paradox and Hijacker have also indicated plans to contest Sunday's return passage to Dublin Bay.
Meanwhile, John Malone's overall Inisteraght winner, the JPK 1030 Loinnir, State O'Chassis and Mojito have confirmed they will not start the Liverpool-Douglas leg, while several crews continue to finalise plans and logistics ahead of Friday's departure.
The Liverpool-Douglas race is organised by Liverpool Yacht Club with the assistance of Douglas Bay Yacht Club and follows a route through the Mersey channels before the crossing to the Isle of Man. Competitors are required to meet Category 3 offshore safety standards, including liferaft carriage, reflecting the race's role as an important offshore qualifier.
After a night in Douglas, attention will quickly turn to Sunday's Douglas to Dún Laoghaire race, another 1.2-weighted contest that offers one final opportunity for crews to fine-tune boats, crews and systems before the demanding circumnavigation of Ireland.
With the Round Ireland Race now just weeks away, this weekend's Isle of Man double-header is likely to provide the clearest indication yet of which crews are building momentum for one of offshore sailing's most demanding tests.
