The ISORA Champion, the J109 Mojito (Peter Dunlop and Vicky Cox), leads Class One into the final day of racing at the 23-boat IRC Welsh National Championships on Sunday (May 14).

After three races sailed at Plas Heli, the Welsh National Sailing Academy and Events Centre, the Pwllheli crew are four points clear of Wilhelmus Batist's Only Magic on nine. Third in the nine-boat fleet is Mike Crompton's Xpletive on ten points.

As regular Afloat readers will recall, Mojito won Saturday's 90-mile cross-channel ISORA race from Dun Laoghaire to Pwllheli on May 6th. 

In the eight-boat Class 2 fleet, Adam Kyffin's Eazitiger leads after four sailed from Ian McMillan's Checkmate. Third is Gary Ward's Altima.

Class three, sailing on NHS handicap four, sailed Suspicious Minds, skippered by Gavin Nicholas, leads the six-boat fleet.

Class One competitor J109 'Mojito' (Peter Dunlop & Victoria Cox, Pwllheli Sailing Club) won Saturday's 90-mile cross-channel ISORA race from Dun Laoghaire to Pwllheli. 

This first win of 2023 for the Welsh is a continuation of last year's strong form, which saw the Mojito crew take the ISORA 2022 title as well as other key 2022 coastal and offshore victories, as Afloat reported previously here.

Saturday's 20-hour race over 90 miles attracted 11 starters, with six Welsh boats making the journey to Dublin Bay to join the local fleet for the first of the Musto offshore series.

Royal Irish yacht Rockabill VI (on starboard tack) heads out of Dublin Bay against a strong flood tide and on course for Pwllheli in North Wales, in the first cross-channel race of the ISORA 2023 season.  Howth yacht Samatom (on port) was one of the first boats out of the bay but later retired from the light air 90-mile race Photo: Afloat

It turned out to be a productive journey for the Welsh, who took the top six places on IRC overall except for second place, which was won by the on form Royal Irish JPK 10.8 Rockabill VI, skippered by Paul O'Higgins.

Line honours winner Andrew Hall's J125 Jackknife, from Pwllheli, was third.

Line honours winner Andrew Hall's J125 Jackknife, from Pwllheli, was third on IRC overall in the first ISORA cross channel race of the year

Racing in light winds easterly winds, five of the fleet retired.

Howth's First 50 Checkmate XX (left) and Dun Laoghaire's Sunfast 3600 Searcher at the start of the ISORA Dun Laoghaire to Pwllheli Race. Both boats retired from the 90-mile race Photo: Afloat

Yesterday's top three overall, and several others too, are all entered into next month's season highlight, the 40-boat Volvo Dun Laoghaire to Dingle 260-miler on June 7th.

ISORA say results below are provisional pending declarations

After three coastal races and a total of 80 miles sailed in April, a 12-boat ISORA fleet embarks on its first offshore race of the season on the first weekend of May. 

Included in the lineup is the Viking Marine April Coastal Series winner Paul O'Higgins in the JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI from the Royal Irish. Also coming to Dun Laoghaire is ISORA's 2022 overall champion, the Peter Cox and Vicky Dunlop J109 Mojito from north Wales.

The first cross-channel offshore race starts from Dun Laoghaire and goes approximately 90 miles to the Plas Heli line at Pwllheli Sailing Club in North Wales.

Southerly winds are expected at ten knots and probably significantly stronger.

Download the sailing instructions below

A 12-boat ISORA fleet embarks on its first offshore race of the season on Saturday morning

The good news for offshore enthusiasts is that ISORA's latest innovation of an early-season mini-series at Dun Laoghaire reflected the buoyant entry in three buoyant turnouts.

The Viking Marine series consisted of three coastal races, all sailing in April, with day racing ranging in length from 35 to 19 miles and attracting a good mix of designs, including a brand new J111, a First 50, a Grand Soleil 44, two First 34.7s, two Sunfast 3600s and two J109s.

Five competed in Class Zero, six in Class One and six in Class Two.

Of 17 entries received, only one boat did not compete at all, and that's because of Alan Hannon's New JPK. 10.80 Coquine was already on Royal Ulster race duty on Belfast Lough, as Afloat reported here. Eight boats competed in all three races. 

The early-season ISORA mini-series at Dun Laoghaire reflected the buoyant entry in three buoyant turnouts Photo: Afloat

Even though the weather did not play ball off the Dublin and Wicklow coast, and the fleet was confronted with three separate light wind races on April 15, 22 and 29th, turnouts remained encouragingly in double figures. 

Volvo Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race beckons

It wasn't just about numbers either; the quality of the boats involved bodes well for the season ahead as crews train for the Dun Laoghaire-Dingle Race (D2D) starting in under 40 days.

A JPK10.80 took the mini-series honours, but Paul O'Higgins' all-beating JPK10.80, Rockabill VI from the Royal Irish Yacht Club did not have it all her way though, with Howth's Colm Buckley and Simon Knowles on the J109 Indian taking the last race win in arguably the trickiest conditions of the series which saw five boats retired.

Second overall was the Shanahan family's J109 Ruth, with Buckley and Knowles in third, just two of five J109s entered in the D2D.

The full results of the April mini-series are below.

There are still some boats to arrive on Irish waters, including the much-rumoured entry of two canting keelers, Opal and Wild Joe, which could make the next few ISORA fixtures in May an exciting prospect.

While the 2023 D2D trophy winner will only be known on June 9th at the earliest, what is known right now is that the 240-miler is living up to its billing as the Irish offshore sailing highlight of the year.

And with three coastal races already under their belt (and the same number on the Welsh side), who'd bet against the winner coming from ISORA's ranks?

Simon Knowles and Colm Buckley's J109 Indian appeared out of the Dublin Bay mist to win ISORA's Race Five of the Viking Marine Coastal Series on Dublin Bay today. 

The Howth crew wrestled the lead from Paul O'Higgins in the JPK10.80 Rockabill VI, who finished second overall. Third place overall was taken by John O 'Gorman's Sunfast 3600, Hot Cookie. 

 Of the 12 starters, five boats retired from the 19-mile course. Conditions were light for most of the race, with some freshening of the 3-5 knots from N/NE breeze near rain showers. 

The ISORA fleet looks for signs of wind as they cross Scotsman's Bay shortly after the start of the 0800 hrs start of Race Five of the Viking Marine Coastal Series in Dublin Photo: Afloat

Crews opted for an early start in order to cheer on Leinster's victory at the Aviva stadium, so the first gun was at 0755hrs for Class 2 and 0825 hrs for Class 0 & 1.

The fleet sailed from Dun Laoghaire to an ISORA virtual mark, to the Muglins, to the Shanganagh (Killiney) Outfall buoy, to North Kish, to an ISORA  virtual mark, and back to finish at Dun Laoghaire.

Pete Smyth's Sunfast 3600 Searcher on starboard and Robert Rendell's Grand Soleil 44 Samatom (left) and ISORA April mini-Series winner, Rockabill VI (Paul O'Higgins) in today's light air ISORA Race Five Photo: Afloat

With two wins from two starts, Rockabill VI was the on-form boat to complete three from three in the April mini-series, but even though O'Higgins took the new series overall, the Knowles crew spoiled the perfect scoresheet by taking today's overall IRC win, the Class One win and third place in line honours.

ISORA's coastal course five will be a 19-miler for what looks like another light air fixture for the third and final race of the Viking Marine April Mini-Series.

With the European Cup rugby semi-final being shown live at the National Yacht Club at 3 pm, the crews have opted for an early start, and there will be a first gun at 0755hrs for Class 2 and at 0825 hrs for Class 0 & 1.

The wind is forecast to be 3-5 knots from N/NE, freshening up slightly during the day. The tide will be ebbing for most of the race.

With two wins from two starts, Rockabill VI is the on-form boat and will be joined in Class Zero for the first time in 2023 by Robert Rendell's Grand Soleil 44, Samatom, for the race as far south as the Shanganagh (Killiney) Outfall buoy. See the full entry list of 12 boats below.

The course is: 

• Usual Dun Laoghaire start at Dun Laoghaire Outfall Buoy 53 18.404N 6 8.348W
• ISORA Dublin ISORA Virtual (P) N53 17.110 W6 00.100 - Passing Mark
• Muglins (S) 53 16.515N 6 4.550W
• Shanganagh (Killiney) Outfall (P) 53 14.899N 6 5.113W
• North Kish (P) 53 18.560N 5 56.423W
• ISORA Dublin ISORA Virtual (S) N53 17.110 W6 00.100
• Usual Dun Laoghaire Finish between the pier heads

ISORA Race 5 - Irish coastal course entries for April 29th

A long day on the water for the Dun Laoghaire ISORA fleet saw just three boats finish the second race of the Viking Marine Coastal Series that ran until after 7 pm on Saturday.

Second in line honours, Paul O'Higgins' JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI claimed her second overall IRC victory, plus a Division Zero win, after a 22-nautical mile misty, light air race.

(Above and below) Paul O'Higgins' JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI sailed closest to the shore in a bid to escep the worst of the flood tide at the start of the second Viking Marine ISORA Coastal Race from Dun Laoghaire Photo: Afloat

Of the 14 entries, 11 boats retired in frustrating conditions off the south Dublin coast. 

The J109 Ruth, sailed by the Shanahan family crew, took second overall and was the only Class One finisher.

The First 50 Checkmate XX, skippered by Nigel Biggs from Howth Photo: Afloat

In third overall was the line honours winner and biggest boat in the fleet, the First 50 Checkmate XX, skippered by Nigel Biggs from Howth Yacht Club.

There were no Class Two finishers. 

JIII Ghost Raider appears

It was a tale of two ends at the start for Classes Zero and One, with the Committee Boat end populated by the J109s Ruth and Indian, the Dufour 45e Blaoga and the Irish Sea's newest cruiser-racer addition, the J111 Ghost Raider, skippered by Nobbie Reilly, showing a fine turn of speed off the line in her maiden race.

J109s Ruth and Indian, the Dufour 45e Blaoga and the Irish Sea's newest addition, the J111 Ghost Raider, start at the boat with Rockabill VI, John Gorman's Sunfast 3600 Hot Cookie and Nigel Biggs in Checkmate XX chose the pin end and are just visible bottom left of picture Photo: Afloat

The J111 Ghost Raider, skippered by Nobbie Reilly (left) makes her appearance off the line below Indian and Baloga in the second race of the Viking Marine Coastal Series at Dun Laoghaire Harbour Photo: Afloat

In contrast, Rockabill VI, John Gorman's Sunfast 3600 Hot Cookie and Nigel Biggs in Checkmate XX chose the pin end at the back of Dun Laoghaire's West Pier to escape the strong flood tide running on Dublin Bay.

John Gorman's Sunfast 3600 Hot Cookie Photo: Afloat

Emmet Sheridan's Dufour 45e Blaoga from Howth Yacht Club Photo: Afloat

Michelle Farrell's First 40.7 Tsunami skippered by Michelle Farrell Photo: Afloat

Prior to the start, organisers reduced the course from its original 35 miles to 22, and over nine hours, the fleet raced first from Dun Laoghaire to an ISORA virtual mark, then to North Kish to East Kish, and a finish back at Dun Laoghaire a distance of 27 miles sailed by the winner Rockabill, the longest of the three finishers.

Parked - Rockabill VI (closest to camera) and the larger Checkmate XX creep along the Scotsman's Bay shoreline in the closing stages of the second race of the Viking Marine ISORA Coastal at 6.30 pm on Saturday evening Photo: Afloat

The prizegiving was held at 8.30 pm in the National Yacht Club.

ISORA Chairman Peter Ryan (left) with Rockabill VI crew Ian O'Meara at the Race Two prizegiving in the National Yacht Club for the Viking Marine ISORA Coastal Race Series

ISORA Chairman Peter Ryan (left) with J109 Ruth crew at the Race Two prizegiving in the National Yacht Club for the Viking Marine ISORA Coastal Race Series 

Next Saturday's (29th April) third race will start at 8 am to facilitate match goers to the European Cup rugby semi-final being shown live at the National Yacht Club at 3 pm.

The entered Howth Yacht Club Grand Soleil 44 Samatom will not race in Saturday's second race of the Viking Marine Coastal Series from Dun Laoghaire Harbour, skipper Robert Rendell has confirmed.

Afloat sources say that Robert Rendell's Samatom is completing pre-season work but will race in the third race on April 29th. 

Samatom of Howth was a top performer at key 2022 events such as the Round Ireland Race and Cork Week.

A second drop-out from the entry list is Barry O'Donovan's First 40, Black Magic.

Barry O'Donovan's First 40, Black Magic Photo: Afloat

Despite the two deletions, there is still a solid 14-boat entry for the 22-miler to and from Dun Laoghaire.

The basis of the proposed course for the light SE winds is Start - ISORA virtual - Nt Kish - East Kish - Finish. Approx 22 miles. 

The third race on the 29th may start earlier than advertised to facilitate viewing the European Cup rugby semi-final at the National Yacht Club.

As Afloat reported earlier, forecasts indicate another light race start on Saturday morning. 

First race winner Paul O'Higgins in his JPK 10.80 Rockabill 10.80 will be on the line at 10.30 am for the second of six races in ISORA's Viking Marine Coastal Series on Saturday. 

A strong entry of 16 boats has been received with more light winds forecast.

In a show of strength for ISORA 's early start, Howth Yacht Club boats are among the fleet, including Simon Knowles' J109 Indian and Nigel Biggs and Dave Cullen's First 50 Checkmate along with Robert Rendell's Grand Soleil 44 Samatom.

The 16-boat entry for ISORA's Viking Marine Coastal Series on Saturday from Dun Laoghaire

Organised by the National Yacht Club, the first three races in April constitute a new mini-series initiative by ISORA for 2023.

As regular Afloat readers know, the strong turnout of 12 boats for last Saturday's 30km Dun Laoghaire to Dun Laoghaire first race was confronted with very light winds for the early stage out of Dublin Bay and down the North Wicklow coast, but then conditions freshened considerably.

The race area for ISORA's second Viking Marine Coastal Series fixture on April 22nd

Race Two will be of similar length, and the early forecast says there will be light easterlies for the start at the Outfall buoy at the back of Dun Laoghaire's West Pier.

Race winning crew Conor O'Higgins from the JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI collects first prize from ISORA Chairman Peter Ryan at the National Yacht Club prizegiving held immediately after racing at Dun Laoghaire Photo: ISORA

Organisers have flagged Marine Notice No. 16 of 2023, which details the geotechnical investigation work at the Kish and Bray Banks for the Dublin Array Offshore Wind Farm from 1 April 2023 and continues through to late May 2023.

Although ISORA's YB race tracker reports Royal Irish's Paul O'Higgins made the best of a tricky course along the Dublin and Wicklow coast in his JPK10.80 Rockabill VI in the first race of the Viking Marine ISORA Coastal Series on Saturday, official confirmation of the result is awaited. 

O'Higgins Rcokabill VI (left) and Pete Smyth's Sunfast 3600 Searcher shortly after the first Dun Laoghaire ISORA start of 2023 Photo: Afloat

A strong 12-boat entry, including some of ISORA's top performers, contested a 28-mile course that started in an ultra-light southerly but built as the fleet headed south in a four-hour race down to the North Wicklow coast and back.

The fleet included Howth boats, the First 50 Checkmate XX of Dave Cullen and Nigel Biggs, plus Simon Knowles J109 Indian, but Robert Rendell's Grand Soleil 44 Samatom was a no-show.

The ISORA Class Two fleet started at 10 am under spinnaker off Dun Laoghaire Photo: Afloat

It is understood that organisers are working on resolving the results difficulties, but at the time of press, this was 'still to be resolved'.

The Dun Laoghaire – Dun Laoghaire race left the Moulditch Buoy off Greystones Harbour to port.

The ISORA Class Zero and One fleet started at 10.30 am in the lightest of winds Photo: Afloat

Update 16th April 11am: Rockabill VI confirmed as race winner