ISORA has introduced a new offshore finish for Saturday's Dún Laoghaire Coastal Race, replacing the traditional harbour entrance finish as competitors prepare for the fourth race of the 2026 Viking Marine Coastal Series.
The revised sailing instructions move the finish to a line between the East Pier lighthouse and a virtual mark approximately 0.3 nautical miles offshore, with finishing times recorded automatically by the fleet's YB tracking system rather than by a finish boat.
The change follows discussion among competitors about the challenges of bringing offshore yachts into the busy harbour entrance under racing conditions. While ISORA has not formally attributed the revision to those discussions, the amended sailing instructions were issued ahead of Saturday's race.
Following discussion among competitors, ISORA chairman Peter Ryan confirmed the revised arrangement, telling entrants: "We will try this for Saturday as a finish line. Line will be east pier light and a virtual mark approx 0.3nm at 36 degrees."
While virtual marks have become increasingly common around offshore turning points, using one to define the finish line off Dún Laoghaire represents an operational change designed to keep the fleet clear of the busiest waters inside the harbour entrance.
Organised by the National Yacht Club, the Dún Laoghaire–Dún Laoghaire race is the fourth of five races in the Viking Marine Coastal Series and is sailed for the Vincent Farrell Trophy. The warning signal for all classes is scheduled for 10.55am, with the start at 11.00am from the Dún Laoghaire Outfall Buoy.
ISORA expects the coastal course to take between three and four hours. The final course will be published on Friday before being confirmed to competitors on VHF Channel 17 before the start.
The event has also been affected by a fixture clash with Calves Week in Schull, where a number of regular ISORA competitors are racing this week.
Safety Shift — ISORA will trial an offshore finish for Saturday's Dún Laoghaire Coastal Race using a line between the East Pier lighthouse and a virtual mark approximately 0.3 nautical miles offshore after competitors raised concerns about congestion at the harbour entrance.
Among the notable absentees is Rockabill VI, which only recently returned to competition after an extended absence and immediately returned to winning form in DBSC's IRC Zero fleet before heading to West Cork.
Also missing from Saturday's race are El Syd, Cristina, State O'Chassis and Razor Bill, reducing the strength of the fleet for one of the season's principal coastal races.
Despite those absences, early declarations indicate a competitive turnout. Aurelia, Hijacker, Paradox, ReQuest, Indian, Loinnir and Pillaban have all declared their intention to race, with Hijacker, Paradox and Loinnir entered in the growing double-handed division.
All competing yachts will carry YB trackers, with competitors also required to submit their finish declarations through the ISORA CrewManager app.
