Saturday's weather forecast of 16-18 knots with gusts of 28, has led ISORA to choose a shortened course for its first Dun Laoghaire Coastal Race of the 2022 season, the golden anniversary year of the Irish Sea offshore body.
An expected fleet of 13 made up of some of the country's top offshore campaigners will have a staggered start: 10.00 BST start for Class 2. 10.30 BST start for Class 0 & 1. with an aim to bunch the boats at the finish.
In class zero, ISORA Champion Rockabill VI is in the lineup along with Howth's Samatom, the winner of the coastal division of last year's Sovereign's Cup at Kinsale.
Three Sunfast 3600s, Searcher, Yoyo and Hot Cookie will compete in a four-boat class one battle. Five will compete in class two including two Sigma 33s and two First 34.7s
The 30-mile course is expected to take the fleet out to the Kish Bank at the entrance to Dublin Bay and then into Wicklow waters to leave the Bray Outfall buoy to port.
The full course is:
- Usual Dun Laoghaire start at Dun Laoghaire Outfall Buoy 53 18.404N 6 8.348W
- Muglins (P) 53 16.515N 6 4.550W
- Bray Outfall (P) 53 13.254N 6 4.485W
- North Kish (S) 53 18.560N 5 56.423W
- East Kish (S) 53 14.343N 5 53.595W
- Bray Outfall (S) 53 13.254N 6 4.485W
- Muglins (P) 53 16.515N 6 4.550W
- Usual Dun Laoghaire Finish between the pier heads. 53 18.145N 6 7.619W
The race is part of the ISORA Viking Marine Coastal Series 2022. Jack Ryan Whiskey is the race sponsor. There will be a Jack Ryan Whiskey prizegiving at the apres sail in the National Yacht Club after the race.
Pwllheli Coastal Race
On Saturday, there is also a coastal race from Pwllheli. Eight boats will be taking part from the Welsh Port.
The course is:
- Start (PSC line - ODM to Starboard)
- Pwllheli Fairway 52 53.000N 004 23.000W (S)
- Madog Fairway 52 52.70N 004 11.200W (S)
- Eurwyn 52 47.00N 004 22.000W (S)
- St Tudwals Island (both E and W including Carreg Y Trai buoy) (S)
- Finish (Plas Heli line - Pwllheli Fairway to Starboard)
The Sailing Instructions for both races are downloadable below