#rdirl – A father and son duo from Listowel in County Kerry are taking on the double-handed challenge in this year's Round Ireland Yacht Race. The pair Derek Dillon and son Conor, a 19–year–old Univesity of Limerick student, will race the family Dehler 34 'Big Deal' that is based on the Shannon Estuary.

The Foynes Yacht Club pairing have been racing together inshore for over  ten years, and have competed at numerous ICRA's, Cork Weeks and Calves Weeks. The pair are sponsored by leading marine supplier, Union Chandlery.

They recently made the move into offshore racing, enjoying recent success in multiple ISORA Qualifying races. 

'We look forward to the competitive adventure associated with doing such an endurance race, double- handed', father Derek told Afloat.ie

The pair also plan to compete in the Volvo Cork Week double-handed and compete fully-crewed in Cork Dry Gin Calves Week, in which they have finished first in class in the past two consecutive years.

#ISORA – The Offshore Racing Weekend, a higlhight of the 2014 ISORA calendar, started with a fast and furious 'midnight' race from Liverpool to Douglas with a fantastic spinnaker leg for the entire 75 mile voyage.  Results are available to download below. The first boat in was Jackknife who finished approximately 0200hrs on Saturday morning followed rapidly by the rest of the fleet and the last boat finishing approximately 0630hrs.

Bada Bing (Andy Napper, Andy and Annie Farrell) were overall winners again this year. Baba Bing, a Humphreys 30, was previously known as Men Behaving Badly, and subsequently Hot Rats and was built at Firmhelm in Pwllheli.

#isora – ISORA sailors are in bullish form after a strong turnout last night for the 97th race from  Liverpool to Douglas in the Isle of Man. Organisers of the Offshore Racing Weekend are hoping hoping that the 25–boat fleet for the first race to Douglas will increase for the Douglas to Dún Laoghaire race tomorrow, Sunday.

The 75–mile race started last night at 18.30 and is sailed under the burgees of Tranmere Sailing Club and Liverpool Yacht Club.

The second offshore race starts on Sunday morning at 0900hrs from Douglas to Dun Lagohaire, a distance of approximately 80 miles. 

The offshore weekend is a new Irish Sea initiative bringing together boats from across Northern Ireland,  the Isle of Man, England, Wales and Ireland. The venture has  won the support of Hudson Wight who are providing prizes for the weekend offshore series.

This race is also a feeder race for the ICRA championships in Dun Lagohaire next weekend.

#isora – Utilising its virtual waypoint rule for the grey and windy conditions that existed at the time of yesterday's start, a 20–boat ISORA fleet headed out of Dublin Bay on a long port hand windward leg bound for Holyhead. The course to eb sailed was 1. Start 2. Virtual Mark - N 052 54.000 W 005 15.000 and 3. Finish at Holyhead

Potent J109 entry Mojito from Pwllheli Sailing Club in North Wales made the most of the harsh north easterly even as the fleet exited the Irish coast on the 50–mile voyage.

It is the second tough race for the hardy ISORA men and women who faced similar conditions in the race to Dun Laoghaire a fortnight ago.  As Afloat.ie reported previously, the weekend fixture doubled as an important Round Ireland race qualifier. Ireland's big offshore race from Wicklow starts on June 28th next. 22 boats are entered to date.

Although two J sisterships Ruth (Liam Shanahan) and Sgrech (Stephen Tudor) finished third and fourth respectively, second overall was taken by Shannon estuary yacht, Big Deal, a class 2 entry from Foynes Yacht Club. The Dehler 34 – sponsored by Union Chandlery – has relocated to the east coast to participate in ISORA and the next month's ICRA National Championships in Dun Laoghaire. 

Full ISORA Race 3 results available to download below as a jpeg file.

A group of ISORA boats, inlcuding the winner Mojito, are now on passage from Holyhead to Liverpool in order to position for a summer highlight of the ISORA season.

Report on Race 3 – Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead by Peter Ryan

After the last two gruelling races the weather was not looking kind for the Race 3 from Dun Loaghaire to Holyhead. Northerly gales for the previous two days whipped up the sea to such a state that berthing for the visiting competing boats at the NYC prior to the race was impossible.
The weather forecast for the race was not much better. Northerly possibly going north easterly later force 4-6 was predicted. The Sailing Committee discussed the options for the course and decided to use a "Virtual Mark" for the first time in an ISORA race.
The course was set to go from the start at Pier mark direct to the virtual mark located at N 052 54.000 W 005 15.000 – east of Wicklow and approximately mid way across the Irish Sea. Boats rounding the virtual mark would then go direct to Holyhead.
The tide was ebbing south at the start of the race. However, technical issues with the starters RIB caused the race to be postponed for approximately 50 minutes.
20 boats came to the start area for NYC Commodore, Larry Power, to send them on their way. The first leg was a tight reach which kept much of the fleet bunched. The weather forecast, while the direction was as predicted, the wind strength only varies from 8 to 14 knots. With the tight reach and the ebbing tide, the fleet sailed directly for the virtual mark.
There was a 90 degree rounding at the mark and it would appear that all boats were meticulous in the care taken to round the mark. The leg to Holyhead was a beat. As the first boat "Jackknife" rounded the mark followed by the J109's "Ruth", "Mojito" and "Sgrech" closely bunched and "Axiom" and "First of September" all round together. At that stage the tide was still flowing strongly south as the leaders beat towards Holyhead against the tide.
At this stage the fleet split and the new flooding tide helped the fleet towards Holyhead. "Jackknife" lead the fleet towards Holyhead with the three J109s bunched together behind.
Strange things happen at the "Stacks" on the approach to Holyhead. As the leaders approached the Stacks in 18 knots of wind, it was hoped that the last of the flooding tide would shoot the leaders up to the finish line. This did not happen. Serious back eddies at the Stacks slowed the fleet down and caused mayhem between the battling J109s. "Jackknife" held pole position. "Ruth" who was ahead of "Mojito" and "Sgrech" lost their lead after a huge header forced them to tack. None of the nearby pursuant boats experienced the change in wind direction and "Ruth" slipped behind "Mojito" and back towards "Sgrech". It was "Mojito"s turn to experience the affects of the Stacks when they sailed into a hole and practically stopped. Just for a short moment things were looking good for "Sgrech" as "Ruth" powered up with their huge Code 0 was being forced under the Stacks and into the same hole. This was not to be, as the hole disappeared just a quickly as it appeared and the two J's roared towards the finish under their Code 0. "Sgrech" with no Code 0, was unable to match their speed.
"Jackknife" crossed the finish against the strong tide getting line honours followed 20 minutes after by "Mojito" pursued by "Ruth" three minutes behind and "Sgrech" just over one minute behind them. At this stage the weather had deteriorated and all boats finished in lashing rain and strengthening winds. The following boats had to deal with the higher winds and poor visibility. However, the wind for the last boats to finish had disappeared causing them even more difficulties in trying to plug the strong south going tides. The last boat finished at 01.47.
"Mojito" took overall and Class 1. ISORA new comer "Big Deal" a two handed boat from Foynes Yacht Club took 2nd place overall and 1st in Class 2. "Yahtzee" took the Sliver Class.
The Predict Wind Tracker was used with 18 of the boats registering. The result was relatively successful but with some snags to be sorted out. The race can be followed at this link: http://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/race/ISORA
Early the next morning many of the fleet headed off the Liverpool for the Offshore Weekend that starts with the "Midnight Race on Friday the 6th June from Liverpool to Douglas in the IOM. This race is followed by a race on the Sunday 8th June from Douglas to Dun Laoghaire. It is hoped that these two races will be well supported and will give more good night racing experience to those taking part in the Round Ireland race.

#isora – It's a busy weekend for offshore sailors with both British and Irish crews heading on separate key races counting towards overall series points in the RORC and ISORA programmes but as well as the forthcoming fixtures the most pressing matter for offshore sailors this week is the hope of finding four fellow racing sailors alive in the Atlantic Ocean. As Afloat reported last night, renewed calls have been made for authorities to resume a search for a Brtitish crew from a 40–yacht returning from racing in the Caribbean.

On the UK South coast, a fleet of 40 yachts from five nations will compete in RORC's Myth of Malham Race while on the Irish east coast up to 20 are expected on ISORA's 100–mile race from Dún Laoghaire to Holyhead sailed under the burgee of the National Yacht Club.

One boat that will miss the start is Isle of Man regular, Polished Manx, a Sigma 33 that was dismasted and rescued a fortnight ago in a punishing race off Holyhead. It had been hoped that the yacht would be back on the startline on Friday but instead the aim now is to be ready for the Liverpool race on May 28th. Still not a bad turnaround!

The exact Irish Sea course to be sailed on Saturday will not  will be published until the eve of the race, next Friday evening, and may include one of ISORA's innovative new virtual marks. 

The race, which is also one of the qualifying races for next month's Round Ireland Race from Wicklow, will start in Scotsman's Bay in Dublin Bay between the DBSC 'Pier' mark and an adjacent committee boat flying a NYC burgee.

According to the Sailing Instructions, (downloadable below as a pdf file) the finish line off the Welsh coast shall be between the end of the Holyhead breakwater and the Clippera Buoy – 0.6 miles off pier head, bearing 067(T).

#isora – A former steel hulled BT Global Challenge yacht was the winner of a 'punishing' second ISORA offshore race from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire on Saturday morning. The 15–boat fleet faced a fetch into 30 plus knots of wind that veered to produce a beat at the end of the 60–miler as the boats apporached the Dublin coastline. See results for download below as a jpeg file.

Conor Fogarty's entry SY 2041' made the best of the Irish Sea's harsh conditions, another good preparation race for next month's 700–mile Round Ireland race. 

One great ISORA racer and supporter lost its mast on Friday night, just north of Holyhead when heading for the race start area. The Isle of Man based Sigma 33, Polished Manx skippered by Kuba Szymanski ended up being towed to Holyhead by the RNLI.

Holyhead's all weather Severn class RNLI lifeboat launched to the 33ft–yacht dismasted in a force seven gale at 2.20am, according to RNLI sources.

The ISORA entry had got into difficulties eight miles out when its mast broke leaving the vessel 'helpless in huge seas' off the Skerries light. The coxswain asked if the yacht crew were able to cut free the rig as weather conditions made it hazardous to pass lifeboat crew to assist in the big sea swell. This was done and the lifeboat escorted Polished Manx under her own power to Holyhead marina, a journey of some six hours. Holyhead coastguard co-orientated the callout.

Szymanski, who has raced thousands of miles including last year's D2D and Fastnet races, has made contact with ISORA commodore Peter Ryan to say he aims to be back on the startline with a new mast for the next ISORA on May 24th. 'If it can be done, he is the man to do it', says Ryan.

ISORA Race 2 (Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire) Report by Peter Ryan: 

As with Race 1, the weather was not kind to ISORA competitors. Strong and gusty conditions all the previous week with DBSC cancelling their Thursday racing did not encourage those skippers who were considering taking part in the race from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire. Although a window of opportunity arose for boats delivering on Friday only 15 boats came to the line at 08.30 on Saturday 10th May. The usual start time was delayed due to shipping movements.
As the boats left Holyhead marina and made their way in the strong and gusty southerly winds to the start line between the pier head an Clipera bouy, they were met by the ominous sight of one of our fellow competitor Kuba Szymanski's "Polished Manx", with no rig, being escorted by Holyhead lifeboat towards the marina. Thankfully all were safe aboard.
There was concern about the weather forecast for the race when the Sailing Committee met on Friday evening at the pre-race soiree in Holyhead sailing Club. After the usual consideration and consultation there was unanimous agreement to make the race as short as possible – from the start direct to the finish.
The forecast for the race was for Force 6-7 south west veering west later and decreasing towards the Irish coast. Some parts of that forecast were incorrect – the wind only moderated for a time and it touched at Gale 8 several times. The race started with a southerly Force 7 and soon most boats had reefed down for the weather. Holyhead boat "Pipedreamer" did not start as they tore their mainsail while putting it up.
Things did not appear too bad as the fleet left the line and headed west towards Dun Loaghaire. Anyway, not until they reached the overfalls and out of the lee of the North Stack!!! Luckily the wind was from the south and allowed most boats to avoid most waves as they broke around them.
Quickly into the lead were the "big boats" "2041" the Challenge 67, "Mermaid IV" Beneteau First 50 and Andrew Hall's J125, "Jackknife". It was the Past ISORA Chairman's first race since retiring from offshore several years ago. Very soon the fleet split into three groups – the "big boats", the three J109's and Adelie and the rest.
Many boats took a southerly course to prepare for the veering wind. However the wind, that varied in strength from 18 to 34 knots, did not appear to have read the forecast. When the boats were only 20 miles off Dun Laoghaire there was no sign of the westerly wind. Most boats then took a more northerly course toward the finish.
Then as the leaders approached the Kish bank, the squalls appeared and with them driving rain and veering winds, resulting in a beat for the last 15 miles to the finish for most boats.
There was close racing is all the groups. At the front, "Jackknife" just squeezed over the finish line for line honours with only 90 seconds separating them from "2041". The J109's had a close match all during the race with positions being changed between them several times. The three J109's "Ruth", "Mojito" and "Sgrech" were never more than a few hundred metres apart at any time. When they were forced to beat towards the end of the race, there was separation. "Ruth" managed to nose 60 seconds ahead of her level rated opponent "Sgrech" as they crossed the finish line. "Mojito" finished 90 seconds behind "Sgrech"
"2041" took the Overall and Class1 win while "Adelie" took Class 2. "Yahtzee" took the Silver Class.
The tired, wet and battered crew made their way back to the National Yacht Club for the usual "après sail" and the regular discussion about "Why in God's name do we race offshore???"
Those crew off boats who did not compete, followed the race using the AIS trackers. Facebook commentary on the progress of the race was provided by, past two handed and currently one-handed offshore sailor, Liam "Lula Belle" Coyne and also by Andrew "Jedi" Sarratt. The commentary demonstrated the potential effect of the tracking for the general public interest in the offshore racing. Only four boats managed to successfully use the "Predictwind" tracker. As the tracking is becoming a huge part of the offshore racing scene. A big push will be made to get more boats "activated" for the next race.
The next race takes place on the 24th May and acts as a feeder to get boats some of the way towards Liverpool for the Liverpool – IOM – Dun Laoghaire weekend on the first weekend in June.

#isora – The arrival of three Howth Yacht Club boats onto the ISORA scene this season has produced immediate results with HYC entry Dux, an X302 yacht skippered by Anthony Gore-Grimes winning the first ISORA race from Dún Laoghaire to Arklow on Saturday. 

Although the strong winds and big seas cancelled most of the local inshore racing for Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC), the 15–offshore yachts came to the line off Dun Laoghaire's East pier in what was some of the strongest breezes of the day. Dux followed by top performing J109 Ruth (Liam Shanahan of the National Yacht Club) made the best of the 40 – knot southerly winds that saw a number of retirals on the upwind leg along the Dublin and Wicklow coasts. Conditions dictated a shortened course to the Wicklow outfall buoy instead of North Arklow, a reduced distance of some 38 miles instead of 50 that produced an early (and welcome) high speed reaching leg back to Dublin Bay.

The provisional results for Race 1a - the Dún Laoghaire day race (incorporating the first Royal Alfred Yacht Club Coastal Series) is available to download below as a jpeg file.

In a move that has drawn the international support of ISAF's offshore working party, the ISORA crews are experimenting with iphone navigation during the race and 'virtual marks' to adjust the courses. 

In deploying the new mobile technology ISORA has teamed up with app developer 'Predict Wind Tracker'. 

Unfortunately on Saturday, ISORA did not get to use them to full effect. The weather was so awful that the basis of the course was to keep as close to land as possible but away from banks and headlands.

This, says Peter Ryan of ISORA, is a cost effective method of recording any offshore race that can be viewed live and also replayed after the event. ISAF's David Brunskill has offered to judge any issues surrounding the use of the virtual marks.

First race winner Dux sailed by seasoned campaigner Anthony Gore-Grimes'  Photo: Robert Bateman

Ryan adds that if the innovative approach to setting courses is successful, 'it will radically change offshore racing to the betterment of all', a sentiment supported by the world sailing body.

The next race is the Holyhead to Dún Laoghaire qualifying race on 10th May. This is followed by the return race from Dún Laoghaire to Holyhead on 24th May. One of the highlights of the ISORA series this year is the Midnight Race from Liverpool to Douglas on 6th June.

#iphone – Navigating with the iphone is on the cards for Saturday's first ISORA race of the season with courseoptions for crews on both sides of the Irish Sea. Dublin offshore sailors will race from Dun Laoghaire to North Arklow buoy and back while Welsh counterparts are to race a similar distance along the Welsh coast.

In deploying the new mobile technology ISORA has teamed up with 'Predict Wind Tracker' to track the boats in both races. This, says ISORA, is a cost effective method of recording the race that can be viewed live and also viewed after the event.

This feature can only work at present on the iPhone and Android.

Depending on the wind direction ISORA may include "waypoint marks" as part of the course. ISORA Commodore Peter Ryan has issued a reminder to the offshore fleet emphasising it is essential that crews are familiar with how the phones are used and what and when you must record the rounding.

Ryan adds that if the innovative approach to setting courses is successful, 'it will radically change offshore racing to the betterment of all'. 

#isora – As the leading Irish offshore series gets ready for a coastal race in a fortnights time, ISORA series sponsor, Kona, marked its third year of sponsorship with a new trophy presentation for the Dun Laoghaire to Pwllheli ISORA Race. This race will be the seventh race in the 2014 ISORA series and is scheduled for Saturday 26th July. The race is also the feeder race to the IRC Welsh Championships in Pwllheli in North Wales. 

Michael Martyn KONA's Chief Executive Officer said that he was delighted with the great relationship that has been established with ISORA on the Irish Sea. 

#ISORA – The main contractor for the new £8.3m National Sailing Academy and Event Centre has been appointed in Pwllheli, North Wales. The substantial dredging works has already started and the new dedicated visitor and event pontoons will be completed by June and be available for the IRC Welsh Championships in August just after the Dun Laoghaire to Pwllheli ISORA feeder race.

The organisers, including ISORA Champion, Stephen Tudor, is keen to attract as many boats across the Irish Sea as possible.

The IRC National Championship is an open event and will use the facilities of the Welsh National Sailing Academy and Event Centre and will draw on the skill and experience of the Academy's event team who regularly run World and European Championships.

This work says Tudor will enhance and extend the events capacity in Pwllheli and will improve access to the world renowned sailing waters of Cardigan Bay with the provision of new dedicated visitor and events berths with cranes located adjacent to the marina.