Royal Irish JPK10.80 Rockabill VI Confirmed as Winner of First ISORA Viking Marine Coastal Series Race

16th April 2023

Class Zero and One yachts negotiate a light air start to the first race of the ISORA Viking Marine Coastal Series off Dun Laoghaire Harbour Credit: Afloat

Royal Irish's Paul O'Higgins JPK10.80 Rockabill VI has been confirmed as the overall winner of the first of six races in the Viking Marine ISORA Coastal Series on Saturday.

There was a delay in processing results following the conclusion of the race on Saturday evening, with the final results confirmed by organisers early Sunday morning (See below).

Kieran Tarbett steers Paul O'Higgins' JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI (above and below) to a race one victory in the Viking Marine ISORA Coastal Series on Saturday Photo: Maurice O'Connell

Kieran Tarbett steers Paul O'Higgins' JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI

O'Higgins Rockabill VI, a past ISORA champion, beat another former Wolfs Head winner, Ben Shanahan's J109 Ruth, for the overall win. Simon Knowles and Colm Buckley's Indian J109 Crew from Howth were in third place.

Ben Shanahan's J109 crew Ruth from the National Yacht Club took second overall in the first ISORA Viking Marine Coastal Series race at Dun Laoghaire Photo: Afloat

The former ISORA champion won by just over two minutes on a corrected time of four hours 25 minutes and 21 seconds over a 28-mile course that started in an ultra-light southerly but built as the fleet headed south in a four-hour race down to the North Wicklow coast and back as Afloat reported earlier.

A strong 12-boat entry, including some of ISORA's top performers, mustered for the 10 am start for a Dun Laoghaire – Dun Laoghaire race that left the Moulditch Buoy off Greystones Harbour to port.

ISORA Viking Marine Coastal Series Results Race One (Dun Laoghaire)

With an offshore season highlight being the 240-mile Volvo Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race now just 52 days away, crews are making the most of the early season start to racing off the east coast.

First 50 Checkmate XX (Nigel Biggs) to windward of race winner Rockabill VI (Paul O'Higgins) and (right) the First 44.7 Tsunami (Michelle Farrell) Photo: Afloat

As Afloat previously reported, while the Irish coastal races are part of the overall six-race ISORA Viking Marine Coastal Series for the Vincent Farrell Trophy, the first three races – all in April – are also part of a separate mini-series.

Solo sailing Charlene Howard in AJ Wanderlust from Douglas Bay Yacht Club arrived overnight from the Isle of Man to contest the Dun Laoghaire ISORA race Photo: Afloat

Published in ISORA, J109, Royal Irish Yacht Club

Published in ISORA

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