Thirteen of a 15-boat ISORA fleet had a tricky 26 nautical mile coastal race off the County Dublin and Wicklow coasts today but offshore supremo Paul O'Higgins in the JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI navigated a stylish race to win overall a second weekend running in the 2022 ISORA Series.
April 30th's race was, however, in contrast to the stiff conditions that prevailed for the first race as today's race saw winds below five knots for most of its almost five-hour duration that even saw line honours winner Samatom of Howth resorting to the anchor shortly before the Dun Laoghaire Harbour finish line.
This race was the third race in the Musto ISORA 2022 Series and the second race of the ISORA “Viking Marine Coastal Series” at Dun Laoghaire.
The six smaller class two boats started first at 09.55, broad-reaching across Scotsman’s Bay. Conditions were northwesterly winds of less than five knots with flat seas.
On the water, the two-handed First 34.7 Black Velvet of Leslie Parnell led by five boat lengths in the early stages from the fully crewed sister ship Magic Touch (Steve Hayes of Greystones) with the two Sigma 33s Razzmatazz and Elandra, skippered by David Townsend and Joe Conway respectively, in pursuit. Alan Turner’s First 260 Krypton brought up the rear with a late spinnaker hoist.
Robert Rendell's Samatom (black and white kite) leads the ISORA Zero and One fleets past Dun Laoghaire Harbour at the start of the 30 mile ISORA coastal race. The race winner Rockabill VI is furthest offshore with the blue and yellow spinnaker Photo: Afloat
At 10.25, The red spinnaker of the J/109 Indian (Simon Knowles) appearing early indicated an excellent start off the West Pier for the Howth Yacht Club boat. Still, there was no surprise to see clubmate Robert Rendell of Samatom, the big Grand Soleil 44, sail through the bunch by the time the Zero and One fleets reached the harbour mouth.
By the time they were halfway across Scotsman’s bay, the bulk had followed Samatom onto port gybe and headed out to sea in search of a stronger breeze before gybing back onto starboard off the forty-foot at Sandycove.
But as the fleet headed towards Bullock Harbour at Dalkey, a new southerly breeze arrived with rain turning the run into a beat. Hence, it was spinnakers down as the fleet approached the southernmost tip of Dublin bay and the first mark of the course, leaving the Muglins to starboard.
The Yellowbrick track of the 26 nautical mile ISORA race along the County Dublin and Wicklow coasts
From there, the fleet sailed to Moulditch Buoy (S), Bray Outfall (S), Killiney Outfall (S), Muglins (P), and a usual Dun Laoghaire Finish between the pier heads.
ISORA Race 3 Results (provisional via YB tracker)
Line Honours
- Samatom Grand Soleil 44 Robert Rendell
- Rockabill VI JPK10.80 Paul O'Higgins
- Black Magic First 44.7 Barry O'Donovan
IRC Overall (15 boats entered)
- Rockabill VI JPK10.80 Paul O'Higgins
- Indian J109 Simon Knowles
- YoYo Sunfast 3600 Brendan Coghlan
IRC Zero (3 boats)
- Rockabill VI JPK10.80 Paul O'Higgins
- Black Magic First 44.7 Barry O'Donovan
IRC One (5 boats)
- Indian J109 Simon Knowles
- YoYo Sunfast 3600 Brendan Coghlan
- Hot Cookie Sunfast 3600 John O'Gorman
IRC Two (7 boats)
- Black Velvet First 34.7 Leslie Parnell
- Magic Touch First 34.7 Steve Hayes
- Razzmatazz Sigma 33 David Townsend
