Offshore sailing body ISORA that goes from strength to strength on the Irish Sea, with 54 boats racing in 2016, is surveying competitors in an on-line questionnaire for competitors (past, present and future) to make sure it is 'providing the racing that will inspire and excite existing and future sailors' whilst keeping within the ISORA ethos.
ISORA chief Peter Ryan says this is ''particularly important now that the fleet is growing with a wide variety of types and sizes of boats'. ISORA, Ryan says, is also 'aware of the need for a forum for suggestions and opinions bearing in mind that the owners and competitors are from all corners of the Irish Sea'.
ISORA has embraced cutting edge of modern race management techniques this season with a world first for a virtual start on Dublin Bay and it is something ISORA wishes to develop 2017.
Competitor boats are located in many ports in Ireland, Wales, Isle of Man and England and consequently competitors, crew and skippers will not have many opportunities to share their thoughts and ideas for offshore and coastal racing in the Irish Sea catchment area.
In framing the survey (see link below) the race organisers are considering the different boat types and varying boat sizes competing in ISORA races with IRC numbers ranging from 1.152 to 0.831 – the equivalent of 16 minutes in an hour or almost 7 hours in a 24–hour race!
Despite this ISORA are expected to deliver fair racing where each competitor has a real chance of winning. ISORA has attempted to provide this by applying appropriate class splits and fleets not only arranged by size (IRC) but by type. 'We now need to know if the Class structure is correct and will be relevant to the competitors in 2017' says Ryan.
Take the survey here
