The Irish Sea Offshore Racing Association (ISORA) has agreed new crew limits, compulsory race declarations and increased entry fees for 2027, but its next offshore racing calendar remains to be finalised following Saturday's annual general meeting at the National Yacht Club in Dún Laoghaire.
The AGM on 14 November attracted 28 attendees and followed discussion of competing proposals for next season's Irish Sea racing programme. ISORA honorary secretary Stephen Tudor confirmed that the race schedule was not decided at the meeting and would be developed over the following days.
Changes to Crew Limits and Declarations
For Category 3 offshore racing in 2027, the maximum number of crew will be the figure stated on a yacht's IRC certificate, or its liferaft capacity where that is lower. The change replaces the additional crew allowances used in 2026.
Crew Limits: ISORA has approved new crew limits for 2027, restricting Category 3 offshore entries to the IRC certificate allowance or liferaft capacity, whichever is lower, while Category 4 coastal races will permit two additional crew. Photo: Afloat
For Category 4 coastal racing, the new maximum will be the IRC certificate crew number plus two. The association also agreed that pre- and post-race declarations will be mandatory, with no result allocated to a boat that fails to submit them.
ISORA will continue to use race risk assessments, YB tracking and its CrewManager application as part of its safety and race management arrangements. Offshore and night races are to operate under Category 3 with liferaft requirements, while coastal races will be Category 4.
Irish Sea Programme Still to Be Settled
The meeting considered draft ideas for the 2027 calendar, including how to reduce delivery passages and make the programme more attractive to owners and crews on both sides of the Irish Sea. No final schedule was approved.
Among the agreed planning guidelines is an aim to establish six races in ISORA's traditional Irish Sea area, with five races counting towards the overall Wolf's Head championship. The association also agreed not to run a race at the same time as the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race.
Dingle Departure: The fleet starts the 2025 Dún Laoghaire to Dingle Race. ISORA has agreed that its 2027 programme will avoid a scheduling clash with the biennial offshore classic. Photo: Afloat
Suggestions involving Liverpool Yacht Club's fleet and the timing of coastal races will be considered as the programme is developed. The association hopes to publish the calendar shortly, with a Notice of Race and a revised entry form targeted for early December or sooner.
Elsewhere in the programme, John Malone and Emmet Sheridan's Loinnir won the Dún Laoghaire–Pwllheli race overall and in the two-handed division, while Simon Knowles' Indian claimed the Viking Marine Irish Coastal Series. The association's inaugural Under-25 competition attracted 35 young sailors across eight boats, with Sam Hall taking the award.
The season's results provide context for the participation debate. Andrew and Sam Hall's Pata Negra had secured the Wolf's Head Trophy before the planned September finale. The James Eadie Race was subsequently cancelled in strong-wind forecasts, leaving ReQuest second overall.
Higher Entry Fees and Participation Challenge
ISORA approved an increase in its block-entry fee from €550 to €650, alongside a new €1,500 sponsorship category of entry.
Chairman Peter Ryan reported that 38 boats took part in the 2026 season, comprising 19 races: nine offshore, five Irish coastal and five Welsh coastal events. Although the overall entry figure was reasonable, participation in individual races was disappointing. ISORA hopes a revised programme and further sponsorship will help strengthen turnout in 2027. The official 2026 results matrices record the offshore and coastal series.
Officers Confirmed and Pata Negra Honoured
Peter Ryan continues as chairman, with Peter Dunlop as vice-chairman, Stephen Tudor as secretary and webmaster, Gráinne Ryan as treasurer and Victoria Cox as social media secretary.
The AGM was followed by the annual prizegiving dinner at the National Yacht Club. Andrew and Sam Hall's Pata Negra received the prestigious Wolf's Head Trophy as ISORA's overall offshore champion for 2026, while Sam Hall was recognised as Young Sailor of the Year.
The association's published AGM report includes further information about the meeting and links to its redacted minutes.
