Latest ISORA e-newsletter

Below is a copy of the e-newsletter distributed to all ISORA subscribers - it can be read as a e-newsletter format here

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This is the time of year that you are all usually rushing around with final touches to your boats and kit. New sailing boots being tested, dusting down the fenders and mooring lines. Bottoms clean and polished (boats bottom that is) and all boat checks completed. Visits to the chandlery for the hundred and one tweaks that you had planned at the end of last year and only now completing! Crew planning complete and race schedules set in everyone's diaries. You are ready!

At this time of year we have the admin side of ISORA sorted with race schedule published, Sailing Instructions ( SIs) and Supplemental Sailing Instructions (SSIs) published, new diary of events published, entry form published, competitor list published, Race results system published and this new e-mail newsletter system completed. ISORA is ready!

Last year we were wondering if BREXIT would disrupt our cross channel sailing and worrying about the amount of racing in a crowded calendar - and the comments in the club houses on both sides of the Irish sea '....how can we possibly do all those races, regattas and championships!

Not in anyone's wildest nightmares would our risk register include disruption to sailing because of a virus!

Yet, here we are 'locked-down' or 'locked-in' Isolated but hopefully not lonely. Distracted from real sailing and bored with virtual sailing. Fed up of TV, Netflix and Sky but amused by the new entertainment offering on WhatsApp, text and e-mail (keep the jokes coming!).

What we can and must do is continue to hope for the best and plan for the worst. So, in best seaman manner batten down the hatches and weather the storm, survive and return to the homeward downwind run under blue skies!

We, of course, respect the advice given by Governments and our Governing Bodies (RYA and IS), the resulting decisions taken to cancel or postpone sailing and other events. We understand the need to keep everyone safe and want to play our part to minimize the spread of this virus.

It is therefore with regret that ISORA has announced the postponements of the first 2 races

• Race 1 - Welsh Coastal Race - Postponed
• Race 2 - Irish Coastal Race - Postponed

We will contact you again shortly about the first and second cross channel races (races 3 & 4). To cancel these will have an impact on our Sailing Instructions in respect of the number of qualifying races. Postponements require planning of alternative dates and venues. The ISORA Race management Team is now considering options for the Sailing Committee to consider.

For now, please keep safe and we hope that we can see you racing later in the year.

Hwyl - Kind regards

Stephen

Stephen Tudor
HON. Secretary ISORA

Race 1 and 2 Postponed

ISORA have postponed the first two races in the 2020 series.

These two races are the coastal races scheduled for 18th April in Wales and 25th April in Ireland

This follows the advice of our Governing bodies, RYA and IS and ISORA understands the need to keep everyone safe.

The e-newsletter circulated on Sunday 29th March can be seen here

The Race Management Committee is looking at opportunities, with our partners, for rescheduling postponed races and considering the consequences of cancelled races. 

Suggestions and ideas from Skippers and crew welcomed. These can be sent by return e-mail to: ISORA Hon. Sec This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Race 1 - Pwllheli ISORA Coastal Race 2020 - POSTPONED

THIS RACE IS POSTPONED 

Race 1 - 18th April 2020 

The Course will be published here:

Start (PSC Bridge as defined in the SIs)
to be confirmed
Finish (Plas Heli line as defined in the SIs)

The Notice of Race and Supplemental Instructions are published here and below – the course will be announced on Thursday 16th April 2020.

This race is Race No. 1 in the ISORA 2020 series, the first race of the ISORA “Welsh Coastal Series” and is also a CHPSC Coastal Race”. So many races within the same race.

We recommend that anyone interested in this race should subscribe to the ISORA and CHPSC newsletters (priority racing) so that you will receive the latest racing information.

If you need help with anything whatsoever please reply to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Race 2 - Dun Laoghaire Coastal Race - POSTPONED

THIS RACE IS POSTPONED

Race 1 - 25th April 2020

The Course for Race 1, Viking Marine Coastal Race, in Dun Laoghaire will be published here shortly

Start at DBSC Pier mark (as defined)
To be decided
Finish - at Pier Heads (as defined)

40 miles to be decided

The Supplemental Sailing Instructions is published                   

The course will be announced on Thursday 23rd April 2020.

This race is the second Race in the ISORA 2020 series and the first race of the ISORA “Viking Marine Coastal Series”

ISORA 2020

Carrying on the success of past years ISORA will be bringing in new and innovative ways to ensure that all people taking part in their series, both racers and cruisers, enjoy their experience.

The series this year includes 13 races, six of which are traditional cross-channel offshore races. As a change to normal racing it is proposed to organise a cruising rally associated with each of the traditional offshore races, where cruising boats may take part in the race or to follow the fleet and then take part in the post-race social events. This year there will be a strong emphasis on the social side of each race and there will be a social get-together at the end of each race, irrespective of the finish time.

As usual all boats taking part in the ISORA race will be fitted with the Yellow Brick Trackers, where the progress of every boat can be seen by all on land.

The ISORA season starts this year with a coastal race on 18th April starting and finishing in Pwllheli in Wales. The following week the first coastal race on the Irish side takes place from Dun Laoghaire.

The highlight of the offshore calendar in Ireland this season is the Round Ireland Race in June from Wicklow. In preparation for future participants of this very challenging race, and to celebrate the anniversaries of two great clubs, the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire and the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven, a race is been run that starts in Dun Laoghaire and finishes in Cobh, Cork. The race is being orgnaised by the National Yach Club. This race marks the 150th anniversary of the National Yacht Club and the 300th anniversary of the Royal Cork Yacht Club. This race, The Kingstown to Queenstown Race, first run in1860, was the first offshore race held in Irish waters. It is proposed that this race would be run on a biannual basis, and in alternative years to the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle race.

It is hoped that this new race being approximately 160 miles long will encourage people to take part in offshore racing and will prepare them for the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle race and eventually give them the experience to tackle the Round Ireland Race.

ISORA are looking for volunteers to help with all their races this season. Volunteers are needed at the start of each race in ensuring that they raised starts on time and trackers are distributed to the relevant boats. At the end of each race, volunteers would be required to collect and disarm all trackers and return them to ISORA. Ideally, volunteers would not be taking part in the race and would suit anyone interested in offshore racing but not interested in taking part in that race. Any interested volunteers can contact me by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We would like to acknowledge our 2019 ISORA Offshore Champion, Paul O'Higgins and Rockabill VI, who have just won the ICRA Irish Cruiser Racing Association boat of the year.

Details of ISORA and all its races and online entry can be found on the ISORA website www.isora.org.

Peter Ryan
Chairman