ISORA News Items all in date order.
The IRC Championships in August at the Welsh National Sailing Academy and Event Centre in Pwllheli has received another boost with coverage in the Irish Times on Friday 22nd November - see here.
Bob Lowe, Chairman of the Events team at the Academy said "the Academy and National Event Centre is determined to make this a truly spectacular event and the news of support from Ireland compliments the support already received from Sailing Clubs in the UK including The Royal Dee Yacht Club, Liverpool Yacht Club and also
The prize giving dinner took place in the National Yacht Club yesterday evening. The dining room was packed with 165 people. The pre-dinner reception took place in the JB room. The classical trio “The Trident Trio” provided the background music while the guests mingled and chatted. A superb meal prepared by the NYC head Chef Cormac Healy, was served. See attached menu.
Chairman, Peter Ryan acted as MC for the night. The traditional toasts were made by Mr James Cannon, Director of KONA, Mr. Paul Barrington, Commodore NYC, Mr. Barry MacNeaney, Commodore Royal Alfred Yacht Club and Mr. Derek mathews, Commodore of the Royal Dee Yacht Club. Anne-Marie Ryan presented the many prizes to the winners. The prizes included unique personalised “KONA” jackets for race winners and Series Class Winners.
Apres dinner entertainment was provided in the Main Bar where festivities continued into the early morning.
Photographs were taken by gpfoto. See Gallery by clicking HERE. A short video of the event was also prepared by gpfoto. To view this click HERE
Chairman’s Report to ISORA AGM.
16th November 2013
This season has been unique in that for the first time we have had the support of our generous sponsor Mr. Michael Martyn, lynx metmAsts for the complete series. His support has facilitate us promote ISORA by having a feature item in the Afloat annual at the beginning of the year, our pre-season briefing evening in the NYC, our complimentary crew bus for races that start in Pwllheli and the provision of special personalised jackets to our overall race winners.
Michael also kindly donated an additional trophy for the winner the race from Pwllheli to Wicklow in June. The winner of this race was “Ruth” and the trophy was presented to Liam Shanahan. Recently lynx metmAsts have rebranded as KONA. I hope that our relationship with KONA and Michael Martyn will continue in 2014.
The ISORA series in 2013 consisted of 11 races in total - 7 offshore races including the Lyver Race and 4 day races. Three day races took place from Dun Laoghaire while one day races took place from Pwllheli. The races included the usual ports ofDun Laoghaire, Holyhead, Pwllheli, Wicklow and Howth. ISORA worked with the National Yacht Club, Royal Alfred Yacht Club, Royal Dee Yacht Club, Liverpool Yacht Club, Pwllheli Sailing Club, Holyhead Sailing Club, Howth Yacht Club, Wicklow Sailing Club and Douglas Bay Yacht Club. I would like to thank all these clubs for the facilities they freely provide to ISORA, without them, we would have no racing or social life.
Guys,
I attach the proposed Agenda for our AGM to take place in the NYC next Saturday 16th November at 15.00 – the same day as our dinner.
I also attach a race schedule for discussion and agreement. I think I have taken on board the comments I received about the schedule. There are a few interesting races and events – the inclusion of the Midnight Race from Liverpool to Douglas IOM on a Friday afternoon with a race from Douglas to Dun Laoghaire on the Sunday morning. This promises to be a great offshore sailing weekend. This race also feeds to the ICRA Nationals hosted by the Royal Irish YC in Dun Laoghaire. You will have plenty of time to amass your “brownie points” and take part in this weekend.
The Conwy race can act as the qualifier for any boats doing the Round Ireland as it will be 100 miles.
There is a new event in Pwllheli / Abersoch on the 1st-3rd August – Welsh IRC Nationals. We are proposing a feeder race to this exciting event. The Royal Dee YC have presented a trophy – “The Tidal Cup” for this race as well as the usual ISORA trophy. I hope we can all have a great weekend in Pwllheli / Abersoch for that event.
Last but not least, the Round Ireland Race is on this year and it is hoped that many ISORA boats will enter and complete this great race. There are some developments relating to the race that I am sure WSC will inform all about in due course.
I hope to see a large turnout at the AGM as it is important to have your views aired. If there is anything you would like to be added to the Agenda, please contact me.
The dinner is booked out and promises to be a super night. The reception will start at 19.00 and dinner will be served at 20.00 sharp. I will try and streamline the speeches and presentations to ensure that we have time to enjoy music in the bar after the dinner.
Peter
The annual ISORA AGM will be held in the NYC at 15.00 on Saturday 16th November, same day as the dinner.
One of the main items on the agenda that will be circulated alter is the race schedule for 2014. To try and keep the meeting focussed and as short as possible I would welcome any suggestions for races in 2014. Next year is the Round Ireland race. While it is not proposed to include this race in the ISORA schedule (subject to AGM), it brings renewed interest in offshore racing every two years.
Conwy are keen to host a race start on the 10th May. The response to the IOM race last year was huge. Arklow is also a keen location. Greystones is also a new venue. In Dublin Bay there are four week of regatta races. Pwllheli / Abersoch will be hosting an IRC event in August? Skerries have expressed and interest. Our normal venues are Dun Laoghaire, Howth, Wicklow, Holyhead and Pwllheli.
I would also welcome some suggestions on the marks we use. The virtual marks have not been utilised fully but with the Predict Wind tracker app used properly we could nominate a waypoint on the day for rounding?
I would welcome any suggestions for race starts and finishes. Based on the response I will produce a draft schedule for discussion at the AGM.
I look forward to receiving your feedback ASAP.
I look forward to seeing a good attendance at the AGM.
Our generous sponsors for 2013, “lynx metmAsts” have rebranded themselves as “KONA”. KONA press release here: Click Here
Peter Ryan
Chairman
Results of the Royal Alfred yacht Club Offshore Series 2013 after three races.
One more to go with one discard - All open!!!
ISORA have successfully tested the use of the Predict Wind tracker during their recent Night Race. Nine boats of the sixteen starters had taken part in the test. The tracker is based on the GPS facilities within any iPhone or smart phone that has an inbuilt GPS.
The track for the race can be viewed on the downloaded app for the iPhone or smart phone. It can also be viewed by following this LINK
It is proposed to carry out another test on the next race from Dun Laoghaire to Pwllheli where is use in mid channel will be assessed. All boats entering that race are asked to download the Predict Wind Tracker app from the relevant source.
ISORA Chairman, Peter Ryan, has commented that the use of this form of tracker will revelutionise offshore racing in ISORA and will be a great took in the promotion and exposure of offshore racing.
Michael Martyn, Managing Director of lynx metmAsts, announced their sponsorship of the the 2013 ISORA Offshore Racing Series at the Irish Wind Energy Association's conference in the Fours Seasons Hotel, Dublin, on the 28th March.
ISORA Chairman, Peter Ryan, was present for the announcement and stated that the sponsorship with lynx metmAsts was very exciting and will allow ISORA and offshore racing to develop even further in the Irish Sea.
The lynx metmAsts perpetual trophy for the Pwllheli to Wicklow race was on display.
Over 120 people turned out for the ISORA lynx metmAst Pre-Season talk held in the National Yacht Club on the 27th March.
The first speaker was Capt Mick Liddy who gave a talk on “Offshore Navigation & Tactics"
Capt. “Mick” Liddy is an Air Corp Helicopter pilot / flight instructor with extensive Search & Rescue experience. Mick has recently spent time flying the Garda Air Support Helicopter and served with the UN in Liberia and Sierra Leone. He has also flown politicians and heads of state as part of his government service duties.
On the water, Mick has received even more plaudits. As one of Ireland’s most accomplished amateur offshore yachtsmen, he has held two World Sailing Records, including the record for the fastest solo sailing time around Ireland, and won the Double-handed Round Britain and Ireland race in 2006. He added a win in the Maxi World Championships in 2009, one of his many successful appearances for Ireland on the international yachting stage.
In 2010 he completed the Round Ireland Race with, visually impaired sailor, Mark Pollock.
The second speaker was Maurice “Prof” O’Connell,, North Sails Ireland who covered the topic of "Offshore Trim". Maurice has competed successfully in the Sydney Hobart, Fastnet and Round Ireland offshore races, has won numerous one-design national and international titles, was a member of the coaching team at the Athens Olympics in 2004 and campaigned for selection for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. He skippered “Legally Brunette” to victory in the 2009 Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race. He currently assists teams from dinghies to big boats in maximising their performance on the water and also represents North Sails in Ireland. Prof is a member of the RCYC and RStGYC.
On completion of the talk, all those present were invited to the after talk reception. It was a great social event and a great start to the "ISORA lynx metmAsts 2013 Offshore Series".
Copies of the presentations:
Capt. Mick Liddy - Offshore Navigation and Tactics (pdf)
"Prof" O'Connell - Offshore Racing Trim (pdf)
ISORA Pre-Season Talk- ALL WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!.
National Yacht Club.
Wednesday 27th March 2013 – JB Room – 19.00.
Introduction to the ISORA lynx metmAsts Offshore Series 2013
Peter Ryan, Chairman ISORA
Offshore Sail Trim and Boat Speed.
Maurice “Prof” O’Connell, Northsails
Offshore Navigation – Dingle & Fastnet Race.
Capt. Mick Liddy, Irish Air Corp
Q&A
Wine Reception – 21.00
RSVP – Peter Ryan
You can now enter any or all of the ISORA races in 2013 online by following this LINK
ISORA (Irish Sea Offshore Racing Association) is the Association that has been running offshore yacht racing on the Irish Sea since 1971. The Association is run in conjunction with all the leading yacht clubs on the east coast of Ireland and on the west coast of Wales and England and the Isle of Man.
We are pleased to announce that this season the ISORA Offshore Series in 2013 is being sponsored by lynx metmAsts. Information on lynx metmAsts can be obtained by clicking the HERE. The series will be known as the "ISORA lynx metmAsts Offshore Racing Series 2013". ISORA feels that this association with lynx metmAsts will help further promote its offshore racing to a wider audience and will greatly help in attracting more new boats to its offshore race series.
It will run twelve races as part of the "ISORA lynxmAsts Offshore Racing Series 2013". They will consist of traditional offshore races of distances from 50 to 270 miles and long day and night inshore races of under 50 miles. Some of the races are also run in conjunction with the Royal Alfred Yacht Club. The Dingle Skellig Hotel Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race is run in conjunction with the National Yacht Club and the Lyver Race is run in conjunction with Liverpool Yacht Club. The race schedule has been designed to tie up with other popular racing events such as the ICRA (Irish Cruiser Racing Association) Nationals in Fenit in June, the Arklow Turbine Race also in June, the Dun Laoghaire Regatta in July and and the Abersoch Keelboat Week in August.
We are pleased to announce that this year the Dun Laoghaire Regatta are providing a Coastal Series as part of the racing schedule. We are confident that this will attract those offshore boats that would otherwise not have entered. Also this year the fleet will be heading to the Isle of Man for the start of a race to Dun Laoghaire in May.
To ensure a better spread of prizes, ISORA has a Silver Fleet for those boats that may not be high specification racing machines or who take a more Corinthian approach to offshore racing. The list of boats who qualify for the fleet will be selected immediately prior to the first race.
While offshore racing can be difficult at times, it is very rewarding for all those who take part. There is great camaraderie among all the boats and crew that take part in the races, resulting in a great social scene in the host clubs before and after racing.
If you are a boat owner and are thinking of entering or you are interesting in crewing on an offshore boat, we would love to hear from you. You can contact me by using the "Forum" section of this site or directly by
To make it easier, you can now enter online application by clicking here.
For any further information on ISORA contact me directly at
We hope to see you on the start line of our "ISORA lynx metmAsts Offshore Racing Series 2013".
Peter Ryan,
Chairman
Race Schedule 2013 (pdf)
Amateur Yacht and Dinghy Racing
Where and when did our sport emerge?
Who gave the lead?
Who wrote the rules?
Hal Sisk’s richly illustrated new book describes how the worldwide sport was first popularised and formatted by the pioneering yachtsmen of Dublin Bay.
ISORA members on both sides of the water can take pride in this authoritative new yachting history drawing from contemporary sources. The remarkable initiatives of the Royal Alfred Yacht Club were copied worldwide. This Dublin club drew members from all around the Irish Sea, and it was the first club to include Offshore Racing as an annual event in its programme, and this continued for 57 years, long before the RORC was founded. The Alfred also pioneered single and double handed racing.
At €15 or £12, “Dublin Bay the Cradle of Yacht Racing is a perfect Christmas present, and is available from Dún Laoghaire yacht clubs, Viking Marine, and directly from www.peggybawnpress.com
[Yachting historian Hal Sisk was Vice Chairman and co-founder with Dickie Richardson of the original ISORA, and he campaigned for many years in Sarnia, Alouette de Mer and the famous Standfast (Champion 1978).]
The annual ISORA prize giving dinner dance too place at the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire on the 17th November. The 130 members and guests that attended were rewarded with a fantastic evening.
The special guests of the evening were the Commodores and wives of the National Yacht Club, Royal Dee Yacht Club and the Royal Alfred Yacht Club. It was a unique event having the three clubs represented. between them they represent 505 years of sailing existence!!! Also present was lats year's ISORA Champion, Matt Davis.
The evening started with a sparkling wine reception in the JB Room. The dinner commenced by grace, said by Michael Horgan Jnr. After the reception the members and guests made their way to the NYC's fantastic dining room for dinner.
During the sumptuous feast that followed the various toasts were made by the special guests and myself. A copy of the menu is attached below.
The prize giving was done immediately after the dinner. This resulted in the popping of celebratory corks!!! Full details of the prize winners can be found below.
The ISORA Champion for 2012 "Sgrech" Stephen Tudor was presented with the coveted "Wolf's Head" trophy by the Commodore of the Royal Dee Yacht Club, Derek Mathews. Stephen's acceptance speech can be seen on the following LINK.
Of those who still had any energy a disco was provided in the JB Room.
The evening was recorded by Gerry O'Sullivan of GP Photo who also provided a most unusual display of photographs of the various ISORA boats. A link to Gerry's photographs is provided here: LINK I would recommend that you have a look at Gerry's most interesting and unusual ISORA Exhibition by following the LINK
The photographs may also be viewed in the gallery section of this website.
Annual Prize Dinner menu 2012 (pdf)
Prize list 2012 - Distribution at dinner (pdf)
17th November 2012.
The ISORA series in 2012 consisted of 10 races in total - 5 offshore races and 5 day races. Four day races took lace from Dun Laoghaire while two day races took place from Pwllheli. The races included the usual ports of Dun Laoghaire, Holyhead, Pwllheli, Wicklow and Howth. For the first time in some years we had a start from Conwy. ISORA worked with the NYC, Royal Alfred Yacht Club, Pwllheli Sailing Club, Holyhead Sailing Club, Conwy Sailing Club, Howth Yacht Club and Wicklow Sailing Club. I would like to thank all the these clubs for the facilities they freely provide to ISORA, without them, we would have no racing or social life.
Despite a general levelling off in numbers of entries for races, the Night Race in July had a record 22 starters on the line and all finished. There is a definite increase in interest in the long day races by the normal “Bay” racers. Some of our regular boats did not race this year due to damage. Our offshore Champion for 2011, “Raging Bull” was badly damaged soon after launching in April. I am glad to advise that “Raging Bull” will be back next season. “Quite Correct” was damaged in the last race of 2010 and only returned for the last race this year.
Most of the boats taking part are still mainly from the Irish side but the numbers of boats from Wales are increasing. Holyhead was represented by “Pipe Dreamer” this season while the Isle of Man was represented by “Polished Manx” and “Ocean Tango”. I feel that the continuing success of the Lyver Race could attract more boats from North Wales / Anglesey / Liverpool area next year. Again, we had a significant decline in the numbers of two-handed boats taking part. This was particularly disappointing as I had hoped that that type of racing was a growing strongly. I also feel that the creation of the Silver Fleet class helped attract more boats.
After many years of pushing I am pleased to advise you that the organisers of the Dun Laoghaire Regatta in July next year will be providing a Coastal Series of races – similar to our day races, as part of the main event. I feel that this will attract those boats that prefer the longer racing legs and want to fly a spinnaker. I have great hopes that this will coax even more boats to go offshore. I have been given preliminary the NoR for this event and have distributed them around today. I hope all ISORA boats will support this new event during the DL Regatta.
The series ended with the traditional “James Eadie” race from Pwllheli to Dun Loaghaire. An “end of season” late night party took place in the NYC after the race, and proved to be very successful.
The results in 2012 has been dominated by the “J Boats” – “Sgrech” from Pwllheli, “Joker 2” and “Jedi” from Dun Laoghaire and also by the “First Boats” – “Adelie” and two-handed “Lula Belle”. “Sgrech” is our ISORA Offshore Champion for 2012 taking the coveted “Wolf head Trophy” followed by “Joker 2” and “Jedi”. The Silver Fleet has been very successful this year. “Lancastrian” is the overall winner for this fleet.
For the first time in many years an ISORA race was sponsored. The race from Pwllheli to Wicklow in June was generously sponsored by Michael Martyn of “lynx metmAsts” who also kindly donated an additional trophy for the winner. The winner of this race was the two-handed “Lula Belle” and the trophy was presented to Liam Coyne and Brian Flahive. I am happy to announce that I have negotiated sponsorship for the entire series next season. The series will be known as the “ISORA lynx metmAsts Offshore Series 2013”. This sponsorship will provide additional funds and facilities to allow us to promote ISORA even stronger. We hope to have a feature article in the Afloat annual at Christmas.
The highlight of the year is the annual ISORA prize giving dinner in the NYC tonight. We are honoured that the Commodore of the Royal Dee Yacht Club, Mr. Derek Mathews, will be attending as guest and will present the champion boat with the “Wolf’s Head Trophy”. This trophy belongs to the Royal Dee whose emblem is the “Wolf’s Head”. Also attending with be the Commodore of the Royal Alfred Yacht Club, Barry MacNeaney and Commodore of the NYC, Paul Barrington. This is a unique event as the Royal Dee and the Royal Alfred are one of the oldest yacht clubs in these waters, possibly in the world.
The high point scoring system is proving very effective and it is intended to keep using this system for the Series. I have to thank Stephen Tudor for the huge work he puts into producing the very detailed overall and class results after each race.
Problems with boats getting crew, was a significant factor in some of the boats not taking part. My role as “Universal Crew Boss” had very limited affect this season as there were relatively few new crew applying for places and those “rookies” from last season are all hardened “salts” with permanent places on boats. I am going to experiment again using “Dropbox” to maintain a live resister of available crew next season.
Our long-standing and successful relationship with the Royal Alfred Yacht Club with whom we take part in the day races from Dun Laoghaire, continues to be a very fruitful relationship and I am anxious to continue to develop it. For next year there are already discussions taking place with Liverpool YC and the Royal Dee YC about the "Lyver Race", and the National Yacht Club about the "Dingle Skellig Hotal Dun Laoghaire to Dingle race".
I have just collected the full ISORA trophy inventory that has been refurbished and brought back to its former glory. These trophies will be on display in the dining room later. This is a unique collection of trophies and it is ISORA’s greatest asset and attraction.
The ISORA website is looking good and the content is building up. It was used as the main information source this season and I hope this will continue. I would like to thank our WebMaster, Mark Southee, who looks after the technical aspects of the site for no cost. I really appreciate his assistance and generosity. I would also like to thank Vicky Howells who looks after the ISORA Facebook page.
Next year, the main offshore events are the “Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race” and the “Fastnet Race”. These events have always helped to attract additional boats and new boats to offshore racing. I hope ISORA can again capitalise on this next season with boats seeking pre-race offshore experience.
Unfortunately this year we did not get a chance to use the “virtual” marks (GPS Coordinates) in the middle of the Irish Sea to give better courses. We managed to have a beat in every race and sail our normal course. I hope next season that we can test out this innovative approach to offshore marks.
Regarding the finances, we are maintaining our funds and are generally working on the funds provided each year by the entries that year. However, the sponsorship obtained this season from “lynx metmAsts” covered the cost of the refurbishment work to the trophies. I can assure you that ISORA is being run at no cost to the members as all work is done on a voluntary basis. All entries collected largely goes back to the members in the form of prizes.
I would like to thank the National Yacht Club for their continued support for ISORA. Their assistance over the last six years has been a critical part of the revival of ISORA.
Last but not least I would like to thank our Vice Chairman, Gerry Williams, Hon Secretary – Stephen Tudor and the Hon Treasurer – Vincent Farrell for all their assistance and advice during the last year.
Peter Ryan
Chairman ISORA
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