Matt Davis was at the helm of the Sigma 400 'Raging Bull' that successfully defended the ISORA Title in September. Here the Skerries Sailor describes how he and his crew parepared for the defence of the coveted Wolf's Head Trophy

To retain our title as ISORA champions I knew there was going to be a lot of work involved as some of the ISORA fleet would be upgrading their boats over the winter months. I held a crew meeting early in 2011 to discuss with the crew what steps we would take and how we would go about defending our title. The meeting proved useful and we even got new crew members! The 2011 ISORA Series was to include the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle race – with the new scoring and this race being rated the highest it was important to plan to do well in this race. The season started off eventful with the craning-in in Skerries - we broke one of the lower spreaders and this was one week before the first race. So within a week we had the spreader replaced and were on the start line for the first race in the ISORA calendar.

The first race was the Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead race, which was to take in the M2 buoy. The wind was east to south-east, there was a lumpy sea with light winds in Dublin Bay and at times it was difficult to keep the boat going. The crew kept a watchful eye on sail trim and we worked our way out of the bay into a more-steady breeze. The wind kept building and top out in the 30 plus knots true. For an opening race it was tough going but the Sigma 400 liked the conditions. We tacked about five miles north of the M2 buoy and held that tack all the way to the finish at Holyhead. We started the season with a win, but in the back of my mind I knew that the weather had a lot to play in our victory and it was only matter of time when Stephen Tudor would get his new J109 up to speed.

We missed the second race, to the North Arklow buoy due to a faulty starter motor. Pwllheli to Wicklow was the next race that we got to the starting line. Dave Jackson and some of the crew delivered to boat to Pwllheli. On the week leading up to the race I had been tracking the weather and Peter Ryan was promising his famous 'weather window'. On the morning of the race the wind was whistling through the rigging and I knew it was going to be tough going to Bardsley. We got a good start and were one of the first boats off the line. About 20mins into the race we noticed the fleet were all rounding a mark way inshore of us, we had to bare off and reach for the mark, we lost a good 10mins to the leading boats. As we reached the halfway point we had climbed back up the leaderboard. English Mick was charging out in front and Tsunami was in second place on the water followed by Aztec, Jedi and Sgrech. One by one we passed Sgrech, Jedi and Aztec but there was no catching English Mick or Tsunami. We finished 3rd on the water and later found out we won overall on corrected time. We were delighted as it was such a close race.

Dun Laoghaire to Dingle was the next race. There were a lot of points going for this race and we had to do well. For most of the race I knew I wouldn't know where the competition was so I had to be sure of my tactics. Dave Jackson had been looking at weather and tides while Paul Ruigrok was getting the boat through its safety check. The D2D was a cold tough race. We got second over all but won the ISORA division. This now put us in good contention to retain the series.

A good result in the Lyver race would see us cement our position on the ISORA series. It was a tough race with the wind very light not getting above 5 knots. It was too light for the Sigma to pull away from the J109 of Stephen Tudor. Stephen won the Lyver race and we had to settle for second.

The night race to North India was another light race, which saw us hugging the shoreline with depths recorded under the keel of less than a meter, to try and stay out of the stronger tides. Once again we were not successful in getting a good result; our decision to go inshore did not pay off and when we rounded the buoy we found ourselves way down the fleet trying to work our way back into the race. The next day race was around Rockabill, again another poor result, this time not the weather gods but the crew gods did not help us, as we were a few people short. It was a great race with Lively Lady winning and only 3 min between the first 5 boats!

So the last race of the season - Pwllheli to Howth, this race was shortened due to bad weather and the race was to finish in Dun Laoghaire. We got a great start and were lying in second place until about halfway when we blew out our headsail. We lost a lot of time and had to sail in the wrong direction to help get the sail down. We were now fourth on the water and chasing Tsunami, Sgrech and Jedi. We fought hard to finish second on the water and were very happy to finish 3rd on corrected time. We had successfully defended our ISORA title! To win the ISORA Wolfs Head Trophy once is great but to do it again is something very special and I am delighted to thank the hard working crew of Raging Bull for all there support: Dave Jackson, Ross McMahon, Tracey Carey, David Boyle, Paul Ruigrok, Clodagh Whelan, Ben Malone, Paddy Dillon, Derek Fitzpatrick, Gavin Laverty, Donal Ryan and Emma Wilson.

It's a credit to the crew that have fought hard to help me retain the title and to anyone out there looking to try their hand in ISORA next season all I can say is please join the fun and come sailing! It's very competitive with a real family feel to it. Barry Hurley is trying hard to get the two-handed division going so ISORA has something for everyone. I'd like to say a huge thank you to Peter Ryan for reviving ISORA and bring it back to its former glory.

Although not winning the last race in the ISORA series, "Raging Bull", Matt Davis successfully defended his ISORA Champion title for the second year in succession. "Sgrech", Stephen Tudor took second place in the series while "Tsunami", Vincent Farrell took third.

The weather affected what is normally the most popular race of the series, the James Eadie race from Pwllheli to Howth. The severe weather forecast put many boats off travelling to Pwllheli. Some even turned back during the delivery to Pwllheli.

Only nine boats from an entry list of 25 came to the start line for the race. Due to the severe weather forecast it was decided that it would be prudent to shorten the race as much as possible and to change the course to go directly to Dun Laoghaire instead. This gave a course of 74 miles. In view of the overfalls off Bardsey Island, it was decided to remove Bardsey as a mark on the course.

The start was provided by Richard Tudor of the PSC. The wind at that time was southerly and was a steady 25knots. The first leg to St Tudwals was a tight fetch. The fleet encountered the first of the bad overfalls exiting through St. Tudwals sound. The next leg to Bardsey Sound was a tight reach. With the island blanketing the wind, conditions in the Sound were surprisingly tame. "Tsunami" was the first boat through the Sound and they cracked off to a beam reach to Dun Laoghaire.

The wind was building all the time during the race. The winds, on the reach to Dun Laoghaire, were a steady 30+ knots with gusts up to 40 knots. While the race was not a tactical challenge, steering the boat through the rogue waves kept the helms on their toes. With the exception of one boat who ventured a spinnaker, all the boats knuckled down and rode out the weather using white sails.

"Tsunami" led the fleet for most of the race taking line honours. They finished race in approximately eight and a half hours. The remainder of the fleet all finished within 75 minutes. "Tsunami" was pipped for first place by one minute by "Sgrech" and had to settle for 2nd Overall. "Raging Bull" took third place overall, 30 seconds behind "Tsunami". Class 3 was won by "Mojito" who also took 4th Place Overall.

"Raging Bull" and Matt Davis are the ISORA Overall Champions and the winners of the coveted Wolf's Head Trophy. They retained their ISORA Champion title for the second year in succession.

The finish was provided by Ronan Kieran of the NYC.

The prizes for the series will be presented at the ISORA Annual Prize Giving Dinner to be held in the NYC on the 19th November.

Taking a lead from this year's Lyver offshore sailing race, when Liverpool Yacht Club used a "virtual" waypoint as a mark on the course, ISORA may include this type of mark in future races, that's according to Commodore Peter Ryan. His comments come in a plea to members for feedback before the 2012 ISORA calendar is set at the ISORA agm on November 19th. Virtual marks would be a means to ensure that the offshore fleet get true upwind legs and still have reasonable length races.

It would, says Ryan of Dun Laoghaire's National Yacht Club,  also facilitate the shortening of the day races.  'We have been around Rockabill so often over the last few years that the bird life there think we are residents!' he adds.

An exotic weekend in Dun Laoghaire with the start of an Olympic class keelboat event plus the arrival of a Volvo 70 into the harbour but Irish weather meant all did not go to plan. Click our links for a round up of the weekend's sailing events from around the country: Mansfield Wins 1720 Euros in Baltimore, Squall Puts Paid to First Race of Star Europeans in Dun Laoghaire, West Kirby Teams Top ISAF Worlds in Schull, Johnston's Beneteau 31.7 is Good Prospect, Killyleagh Pair Scoop Flying Fifteen East Coast Cup, Lively Lady Sails to Victory in Fickle ISORA Race to Rockabill, SB3 Team Sanya Welcome Scuppered by Strong Winds. We'll have more reports later this morning from the J24 Easterns in Howth, the National 18 season in Cork and J80 Match racing.

Thirteen boats from an entry list of 24 came to the start line for the M2 Buoy day race, the tenth race in the 2011 ISORA Offshore series. Due to the forecast of light winds on the day it was decided to change the course and to go to Rockabill instead.
The course was from the start to round Rockabill to starboard and back to the finish at the mouth of Dun Laoghaire Harbour – 38 miles. The length of the original course to the M2 was 54 miles. To make the race more tactical, Ireland's Eye and Lambay were not marks on the course.
The start was provided by Larry Power of the NYC at the DBSC Pier mark. The wind at that time was south west and was gusting up to 25knots. This sent the fleet, most with spinnakers, charging towards the Bailey. It was not long before the wind decreased to 10-12 knots and veered to west.
"Tsunami" led the charge off the line but it was not long before "Lively Lady" took up poll position which she held for the remainder of the race. The fleet split as it approached Lambay. Those boats that chose to go inside the island went onto white sails while the boats that stayed outside could hold their spinnakers. There did not appear to be an advantage to either side of the island.
The fleet stayed well bunched at it approach Rockabill with "Lively Lady" rounding first followed by "English Mick" and "Jedi". On the return leg the wind decreased further to 8-10 knots from the west. Again the decision was whether to hold the spinnaker for the tight reach and what side of Lambay to go. "Lively Lady" who was leading the fleet again went inside while most of the fleet remained outside the island. This time however, there appeared to be an advantage as "Lively Lady" pulled further in front.
Passing Howth Head and approaching the finish, the wind got even more fickle. As the lead boats entered Dublin Bay the wind backed the south west giving abeat to the finish. However, there was no stopping "Lively Lady" who took line honours and first in Class 1 and Overall. "Tsunami" took 2nd place in Class 1 while "African Challenge" took 3rd in Class 1. "Jedi" took 1st place in Class 2 and 2nd Overall. "Adelie" took 1st in Class 3 and 3rd overall.
The finish was provided by Martin Lawless on the NYC.
The next race is on the 10th September, the "James Eadie Race" from Pwllheli to Howth.

If you missed our e-news bulletin yesterday (sign up) here's a chance to catch up with all the Irish sail racing news from the weekend. Diane II Races to Ruffian Success on Dublin Bay. McKee and Smyth Lead Irish hopes at Flying Fifteen Worlds. Largest Ever Fleet of National 18s Assemble at RCYC. Latest pics here. Optimist Sailor Hyland Wins Howth Dinghy Regatta. Butler and Andreasson 16th at 470 Youth Worlds. Lula Belle Wins ISORA Night Race. McGrotty is the Ulster Fireball Champ from a fleet of 19. The World beat Ireland in Match Racing. Pics here.

Shifting winds for the ISORA Lee Overlay night race with a course from Dun Laoghaire to North India Buoy on the Irish Sea at the weekend provided the fleet with a beat out and a beat back to Dun Laoghaire. The First 36.7 Lula Belle won her class 2 and overall according to provisional results issued by ISORA.

Following very closely after the Dingle Race, ICRA Nationals in Crosshaven and the Sovereign's Cup in Kinsale, it was understandable that the numbers of ISORA boats taking part in the Lyver Race was small. The "grim" forecast of no wind did not encourage any boats to take part either. Never the less, five ISORA boats joined the 10 other boats and came to the start shortly after 19.00 on Friday the 1st July.

In view of the forecast the Sailing Committee shortened the race to the minimum requirements of RORC to qualify for the Fastnet Race – 75 miles. The time limit for the race was 24 hours after the start. With little wind at the start, and a north going tide just starting, they chose a "waypoint" just south of the Isle of Man as the turning mark and then to Howth.

This decision turned out to be inspired. The little wind there was there at the start was from the north-west so the first leg was a beat to the waypoint. Those boats who took the north leg from the start shot away in the tide while the others appeared to remain static in
Holyhead Bay. The forecast was for the wind to veer around to the south later. All through the night the winds were very fickle and boats had the chase constantly fluctuating breezes. Despite the little wind, it held for most of the night. At day break the wind started to pick up from the forecasted South and boats popped their kites and headed for the waypoint. There was a great gathering of boats at the waypoint with 12 boats visible around the waypoint.

The next leg to Howth was a white sail reach. This turned out to be an intensive chase with the J111 "Arabella" taking the lead followed by two Prima 38's, Stephen Tudor's "Sgrech" and Matt Davis's " Raging Bull". The wind from the south increased in strength as the fleet approached Howth.

While "Arabella" took line honours, it only managed to take 2nd place overall. "Sgrech" took 1st place and "Raging Bull" took 3rd place. All the boats that had not retired, managed to complete the course within the time limit.

The boats taking part in the race were fitted with trackers. The progress of the race can be followed by clicking the following link: http://live.adventuretracking.com/lyver2011

The prize-giving took place in Howth Yacht Club on Saturday evening.

Raging Bull charged back to the top of the ISORA fleet in a race across the Irish Sea. The offshore focus now is on the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle race. Adam Hyland won the Oppy Leinsters and visiting Kinsale sailors took the Dragon Easterns, both events were held on Dublin Bay. Dick Dastardly won Class 2 at the same venue in DBSC's Saturday race. Abroad Irish Olympic hopes were making the headlines at the Delta Lloyd Regatta in Holland but no medals just yet.

Royal Cork's Anthony O'Leary is racing at the Scottish Series and better weather is promised tomorrow. ICRA has arranged craneage for next month's national championships and there are less than two weeks to the first gun of the Fireball World Championships in Sligo. 58 are entrered from nine countries.

All this and much more in Monday's Afloat ebulletin. Direct to your inbox  Sign up here for free. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter too!

 Barry Hurley and Mick Liddy prepare for the ISORA start in Wales on Saturday. More photos by Cathy Mullan on our ISORA post here

 

After missing the last ISORA race the 2010 Champion Raging Bull charged back to the front of yesterday's 7-boat fleet in a blustery offshore race across the Irish Sea from Pwlhelli in Wales to Wicklow harbour on the Irish East coast. Second to Matt Davis's Sigma 400 was the Welsh J109 Sgrech and third the Royal Irish A35 entry Aztec III skippered by Peter Beamish.

The bad weather before the race and difficulties with delivery as well as a general poor forecast (and a rugby match) for the race was the
main reasons for a very disappointing turn out for what is normally a very popular race.

Some of the fleet – now moored in Wicklow harbour – are sailing in this morning's Round the Turbines race from nearby Arklow Sailing Club. Provisional ISORA results from the Pwllheli to Wicklow race are below.

ISORA interests now turn to the big offshore fixture of the season, the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race on Saturday, June 11th.

Scroll down for Race start pics by Cathy Mullan

Boat Name	Sail No.	Type	IRC Rating	IRC	Finish Time	Time elapsed	Time elapsed	Corrected	Corrected	Place	Place
			(provisional)	No Spinnaker				Time	Time	Class	O/A
English Mick	GBR4771R	Beneteau 47.7	1.127	IRC	18:43:20	37700	10:28:20	42487	11:48:07	2	7
Quite Correct	IRL 5405	DS54	1.095	IRC	DNS	-	-	-	-	-	-
African Challenge	IRL 2649	Fast 42	1.077	IRC	DNS	-	-	-	-	-	-
Tsunami	IRL 4007	First 40.7	1.061	IRC	18:54:19	38359	10:39:19	40698	11:18:18	1	5
Lancastrian	GBR 7682T	Starlight 14.5m	1.059	IRC	DNS	-	-	-	-	-	-
Rebellion	IRL 6001	Nicholson 58	1.054	IRC	DNS	-	-	-	-	-	-
Orna	IRL 532		1.042	IRC	DNS	-	-	-	-	-	-
Aztec 3	IRL29832	A35	1.034	IRC	18:59:14	38654	10:44:14	39968	11:06:08	3	3
Jedi	IRL 8088	J109	1.029	IRC	19:04:01	38941	10:49:01	40070	11:07:50	4	4
Raging Bull	IRL 9666	Sigma 400	1.027	IRC	18:57:47	38567	10:42:47	39608	11:00:08	1	1
Miss Scarlett	IRL 4763	Sunfast 40.3	1.025	IRC	DNS	-	-	-	-	-	-
Sgrech	GBR9319R	J109	1.021	IRC	19:03:00	38880	10:48:00	39696	11:01:36	2	2
Lula Belle	IRL 3607	First 36.7	1.019	IRC	19:51:46	41806	11:36:46	42600	11:50:00	5	8
First of September	IRL 8581	First 43.5	1.016	IRC	20:47:59	45179	12:32:59	45901	12:45:01	7	12
Dinah	IRL 3508	JOD 35	1.016	IRC	20:04:31	42571	11:49:31	43252	12:00:52	6	9
Windshift	IRL 37737	SF37	0.992	IRC	DNS	-	-	-	-	-	-
Adelie	FRA 9631	First 34.7	0.988	IRC	20:52:02	45422	12:37:02	44876	12:27:56	2	10
Mojito	GBR 1536L	Bravaria 39	0.988	IRC	19:52:14	41834	11:37:14	41331	11:28:51	1	6
Mistral of St Helier	K 8337	Sigma 38	0.984	IRC	21:08:39	46419	12:53:39	45676	12:41:16	3	11
Yahtzee	IRL 1068	Oceanis 411	0.983	IRC	21:35:25	48025	13:20:25	47208	13:06:48	4	13
Sarnia	IRL 2260		0.891	IRC	DNS	-	-	-	-	-	-