Well done to Liam Coyne and Brian Flahive of 2- handed "Lula Belle" for making a clean sweep of all the trophies including the new lynx metmAsts Perpetual Offshore Trophy.
On the Friday evening, in the blistering sunshine in Pwllheli Sailing Club, the lynx metmAsts Pre-Race Reception was well attended. The three new lynx metmAsts trophies were on display – the Perpetual Offshore Trophy, the winners trophy to keep and the trophy for the photographic competition. In attendance and making short speeches was the Commodore of PSC, Phil Ranner and Director of lynx metmAsts, John Rutter. The party continued into the night!!
The forecast for the race was for light to little winds at the start building to moderate NE winds going SE by late Saturday / early Sunday. In view of the forecast the course set by the Sailing Committee was :
Start from PSC Bridge
South Arklow (S)
metmAsts and Turbines on Arklow bank (s)
South India (P)
Finish in Wicklow (in a notherly direction)
Well, the forecast was correct for the 08.00 start. A strong westerly tide pushed fours boats over the start line at the gun. These boats were unable to re-cross the line due to the light winds and strong tide for some time. The remainder of the fleet headed towards St. Tudwal’s Islands in the tide and tide generated wind. At Tudwal’s, the fleet began to bunch again when whatever winds were around at the start dropped – possible due to the turning of the tide. Two boats went out between the islands, "Aquleina" and "Joker 2". This appeared to pay off.
Punching against the tide towards Bardsey, the fleet again got dispersed, however "Aguelina" and "Joker 2" appeared to hold their advantage. It was not until after 16.00 that the wind started to fill in from a NE direction and built steadly to 18 knots by the time the fleet was approaching South Arklow at approximately 21.00. By the time the first boats had rounded the wind backed to a northerly direction and increase to 20-24 knots.
The leg to South India was a full beat against the now strong south going tide requiring most of the fleet to “rock hop” in the dark along the Arklow coast. At approximately around midnight there was sudden veer in the wind back to NE that sent the beating boats fetching for South India in the increasing winds.
Rounding South India was no “piece of cake” as the N/NE winds had whipped up the seas. The first boat, "NUI Galway", rounded approximately 02.00 and headed for the finish at Wicklow. Conditions in Wicklow were bad with a big swell at the harbour mouth. The main light house was not operating and the outer finish mark was unlit. These with the large swell did not make the run through the finish easy.
First over the finish line for line honours was “NUI Galway” with “Aquelina” close behind. "English Mick" was third over the line . “Lula Belle” was fourth over the line taking Overall, Class 2 and the lynx metmAsts Trophy. “NUI Galway” took 2nd Overall and 1st in Class 1.“Joker 2” took 3rd Overall and 2nd Class 1.
The track of "Sgrech" can be seen below.
We are awaiting the outcome of the lynx metmAsts Photographic Competition. Photographs of the before, during and after the race are acceptable and should be emailed to Koyelia Sirkar this week (
I would like to thank our sponsors lynx metmAsts for their generous help in providing the Crew Bus, Reception in Pwllheli and the great trophies. I would like to thank PSC for the great hospitality on Friday night and Richard Tudor for providing the start. Wicklow Sailing Club had laid on food and were awaiting our arrival. However the light winds wrecked those arrangements. I would like to thank Sadie Phelan all her help and Wicklow sailing Club for the arrangements – let’s hope we get there next year.
Photographer Andy Green from Pwllheli took a great series of photographs at the start of the race. You can view these by following the link: http://greensea.zenfolio.com/p489436754
The next high point in the Offshore Calendar is the Round Ireland. While not in our race schedule, we will be awarding a trophy for the best performance of an ISORA boat to be presented in our Prize-Giving Dinner on the 17th November in the NYC.
The next ISORA race is the Pwllheli Day Race on the 14th July followed by the popular ISORA / RAYC Night Race on the 27th July.
Peter Ryan
Chairman ISORA
Race4Overall
Race4Class1&2
Race4SilverClass1&2
SeriesTableAfter4Races
SilverClass1&2After4Races
