News
ISORA News Items all in date order.
The Revised 2021 MUSTO - ISORA Schedule of Races is published - this amends the version in the Notice of Race (2.1)
The 2022 MUSTO - ISORA Schedule of Races is published
The Notice of Race and entry form are now published for the classic Lyver Trophy Race 2021
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The Lyver Trophy race was first introduced as a bi-annual race by Gordon Dewar from Liverpool Yacht Club, as a joint initiative with the Royal Dee Yacht Club. The aim is to provide a R.O.R.C. Fastnet qualifying race for boats based in ports around the North West, including Liverpool, Blackpool, Fleetwood, Pwllheli, Holyhead and the Irish ports.
Requiring a minimum distance of 75 nautical miles, the first race in 1997 started in Liverpool and ended in Pwllheli. Since then the start of the race moved to Holyhead to maintain the growing reputation of the event and to attract yachts from Ireland and South Wales. The start of the event returned to Liverpool in recent years following the devastation of Holyhead marina during storm Emma in 2018.
The race is independently organised and managed by LYC forming a committee every 2 years for the purpose of providing a testing course and a qualifying race for the world famous Fastnet race and is funded jointly by members of LYC and Royal Dee Yacht Club.
Entries are welcome from all handicapped yachts and all issues regarding the running of such an event are strictly observed.
The Race Committee are determined that the Lyver Cup will take place on the 2nd July 2021 subject the UK Covid restrictions. This will allow competing boats to qualify for the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race.
The ultimate finishing location will be dictated by any restrictions that may be in force in the Republic of Ireland due to Covid. The intention remains to sail to Dun Loaghaire if possible.
The entry form is below:
Some of you may remember Simon Byrne who wrote “alternative” blogs for ISORA for many years. He is now in the process of self publishing a book of his crazy stories - some ISORA, some rugby and some holiday blogs. A smorgasbord of his eclectic musings over the years gathered together in a book. 25 stories, 56k. words, 190 pages. A steal at a mere €20.
This is NOT a novel. His weird take on life and events may not be for everyone - marmite perhaps? Peter Ryan did, however, award him the Spirit of ISORA Penmaen Plate in 2016 for his efforts with the quip “there’s a book in this Simon.” And here we are.
If anyone is interested he can be contacted on Whatsapp, Messenger or by text at + 353 86 225 9208. Hurry though, the book is with printers for final proofing and there’s not many left.
The ISORA: Back to Boating Protocol is now published.
The document is a live working document and the intention of the Race Management team is to update it as and when restrictions are relaxed/changed in the various territorial waters relevant to each race.
The objective is to get us back racing at the earliest possible opportunity but only if we can do so safely and within all relevant guidelines and regulations.
updated 13th May 2021
There is a very useful section on the ISORA web page on 'Safety Considerations and Supporting Documents' - please check it out and become familiar with the requirements for offshore racing.
Have you looked at the World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations 2020-21 (OSR)?
Did you know that you must carry sufficient fuel to meet charging requirements for the duration of the race and to motor at the above minimum speed for at least 5 hours? See OSR 3.28.3b
Also:
3.29.13 an AIS Transponder which either:
a) shares the masthead VHF antenna via a low loss AIS antenna splitter; or
b) has a dedicated AIS antenna not less than 38 cm (15”) in length mounted with
its base not less than 3 m (10’) above the Waterline and co-axial feeder cable
with not more than 40% power loss
Effective 1 January 2021: Structural Inspection -
- 3.02.2 Consult the owner’s manual for any instructions for keel bolt checking and re-tightening. The following inspection to be conducted by a qualified person externally with the boat out of the water. Check that there are no visible stress cracks particularly around the keel, hull/keel attachment, hull appendages and other stress points, inside the hull, backing plates, bolting arrangements and keel floors. (See Appendix L – Model Keel and Rudder Inspection Procedure)
- Effective 1 January 2021: Evidence of a structural inspection in accordance with 3.02.2 within 24 months before the start of the race or after a grounding whichever is the later
- 3.02.4 Effective 1 January 2021: Inspection after Grounding – an appropriately qualified person shall conduct an internal and external inspection after each unintentional grounding
Check out the rest of the requirements here or please
updated 18th October 2020
The ISORA 2020 AGM was held on Saturday 7th November 2020. This was a Virtual Meeting by Zoom (provided by Pwllheli Sailing Club).
In addition to the usual AGM business the Officers and Committee members for 2021 were elected - see here
A draft 2020 race schedule was proposed by the Technical Committee and it was agreed that this would form the basis of the time table for 2021.
The schedule was split into three elements , the Offshore Series for the Wolf's Head Trophy, three Coastal Series in Ireland and a Coastal series in Wales.
The latest version of the schedule will be published here shortly .......
ISORA is proud to support the Round Ireland Record attempt - 13th October 2020
Good luck to the team
ISORA Coastal Sponsor, Viking Marine, has launched a new Web Site
Please take a look at the latest news from Viking Marine here
“Rockabill VI” is ISORA Irish Offshore Champion while “Mojito” is the ISORA UK / Welsh Offshore Champion.
In these strange times and in the absence of the Overall Championship, The Wolf’s Head, we have two offshore champions. As government regulations prevented any traditional cross channel offshore races, two separate series were run on each side of the Irish Sea. A total of 16 races were run, 8 on each side. As there was no mixing of the fleet, the Wolf’s Head trophy for the overall ISORA champion was withdrawn.
On the Irish side the currant offshore champion for 2019, Paul O’Higgins and “Rockabill VI” beat off competition from Andrew Algeo’s “Juggerknot 2” and Chris Power-Smith’s “Aurelia” to take the ISORA Irish Championship 2020. On the UK side, Peter Dunlop’s “Mojito” took the ISORA UK / Welsh Offshore Championship 2020.
Each side also had a coastal series consisting of four races. On the Irish side the Viking Marine Coastal Series was won by “Rockabill VI”. On the UK /Welsh side “Mojito” also took the Global Display Coastal Series.
Silver Class was won by.
Class 1 was won by Andrew Algeo’s “Juggerknot2” and Class 2 was won by Grzegorz Kalinecki’s “More Mischief”.
In normal times, the prizegiving is part of the famous ISORA AGM & Dinner that takes place in the National Yacht Club in November. At this stage , it is unlikely that the Covid regulations will allow this gathering to take place. An alternative event, equally enjoyable, will be planned!!!
There is an article and great photos on Afloat.ie here
The results up to and including the night race in Ireland on 14th August are published including overall and silver class series results here
The rport on the Night Race can be read on the Afloat.ie web site here
The next race in the ISORA 2020 re-boot series is the first scheduled qualifying offshore race.
The Race Management Committee has been working hard with the Governing Bodies and other agencies in Ireland and Wales to see how this race could be run in compliance with all current regulations and, of course, in accordance with our own 'back to racing protocol'.
Differences between the regulations on either side of the Irish Sea with differences in crew number limitations, port access and difficulties with overnight stays onboard have all conspired to make it impossible to run a qualifying race which is equitable and equally available to all competitors.
The Race Management Committee has therefore decided that there will be two offshore qualifying races on Saturday 1st August: one in Ireland and one in Wales.
The remaining races will follow the same schedule of races previously published, however, the format and date of the race scheduled for Monday 17th August will be reviewed and details will be published next week.
Our racing will only take place if conditions allow for a safe competition for all and that we are not placing any risk on others.
ISORA racing in these difficult times is possible because of our investment in technologies which allow remote desk-top race management. The course for both races will be issued before 1200hrs on Friday 31st July and both races can be viewed on the ISORA YB Tracker.
INSS is running a Special Pre-Round Ireland Sea Survival Course on Sunday 26th July - more details here
Including overall series tables for IRC
2025 Class bands are anticipated as follows:
Class 0 = 1.070 or greater
Class 1 = 1.010 to 1.069
Class 2 = 1.009 or less
2025 bands will be published before the first Race.
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