The second leg of this weekend's ISORA Isle of Man double-header has been cancelled following a recommendation from the race safety team.
Race Nine, scheduled to take the fleet from Douglas to Dún Laoghaire on Sunday, was called off after safety officers completed a risk assessment of the forecast conditions and expected sea state.
In a statement to competitors, ISORA Chairman Peter Ryan said the decision had been made with the safety of crews and boats in mind.
"The safety officers have prepared a race risk assessment for submission to our Race Officers. Unfortunately, due to the forecast for tomorrow and the sustained sea state we can only recommend that the race is cancelled," Ryan said.
"This decision is not taken lightly. Safety of crew and boats is our priority."
He added that a weather window existed on Saturday for competitors planning their return passage from the Isle of Man.
The cancellation follows Friday's Liverpool Yacht Club Midnight Race from Liverpool to Douglas, which served as Race Eight of the MUSTO ISORA Offshore Series and a qualifier for this month's Round Ireland Race.
Safety considerations are a central part of offshore race management. The event risk assessment highlights high winds and heavy seas among the principal hazards facing competitors and notes that races may be postponed, abandoned or cancelled when conditions become unsuitable.
The assessment also states that race officers would generally avoid starting races when Force 8 conditions are forecast or when winds above 25 knots are expected for a prolonged period within the race area.
With the Douglas to Dún Laoghaire leg now abandoned, crews will turn their attention to returning home independently and preparing for the next major challenge of the offshore season, the Round Ireland Race, which starts later this month from Wicklow.
