Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard FD July August September 2023

Second ISORA 2023 Welsh Coastal Race at Pwllheli Sailing Club

by Victoria Cox 24 Apr 2023 00:24 PDT 22-23 April 2023
previous next
  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
  14. 14
  15. 15
  16. 16

The second ISORA coastal race in Pwllheli was a race with two halves. The course had been a difficult one to decide on with forecasts of little wind for the weekend.

Too short and there would be disappointment for the faster boats looking for more than a quick bay race but too long could see some of the slower boats locked out by tide till the late evening. In the end, a 17nm course was set from the Pwllheli start line, west for a mile along the beach to Pwllheli Sailing club's mark number 2, before heading east to the Porthmadog fairway buoy and back to the Plas Heli finish via mark number 10, off Penychain.

By the morning Porthmadog was looking ambitious. With staggered starts every 30 minutes, Class 2's Jac-y-do and Zigzag got off first and were only just approaching mark number 2 by the time class 1 were on the start line. Mojito got a well timed start in the katabatic wind from the north with Darling xx and Panache behind but as they approached mark 2 they approached a transition zone and the 3-4kts started to drop. Mojito rounded and hoisted their kite but Darling and Panache barely filled theirs before the wind died to virtually nothing. Mojito, with momentum, just about managed to keep their kite filled to edge closer and closer to the darker water and gradient wind further offshore.

At one point both Jac-y-do and Zigzag had kites on port while Mojito, on the same heading, had theirs on starboard till they reached the new wind. When they got to the new wind it switched a complete 180degrees and started to build rapidly to 12-13kts. It then backed, producing tighter wind angles for all the kites. 2 handed Jac-y-do were seen heading rapidly towards the beach trying to get theirs kite down while Mojito peeled to code zero passing all of class 0 sat at the start in a wind hole.

The wind continued to build as the leaders progressed east, with Mojito seeing gusts of 17kts before passing Jac-y-do and Zigzag who were already on their return legs. Mojito rounded the fairway buoy 15 minutes behind the leader, Jac-y-do and sister Sunfast Zigzag, all with a significant lead ahead of the remaining boats. By the time they passed the class 0 boats on their outward leg they were already close to rounding mark 10 before heading to the finish.

Line honours were taken by 2-handed Jac-y-do, giving them 1st in class and 2nd overall, followed just 40seconds behind by Zigzag in 3rd place overall and 2nd in class. Mojito finished 21 minutes later, taking 1st overall and in class 1. Jackknife then came to the finish at significant speed to take 1st in class 0.

Sunday's two round the cans races saw Mojito out again, this time competing against the two new J70s, out training. A quick reach along the beach before heading downwind offshore to mark 9 then 5 followed by an upwind leg back to the start. The second lap was direct to number 9 and 5, before returning back upwind to the finish. Mojito won both races, Sgrech Bach 2nd in both with the short handed Mojito Back taking 3rd in each race.

Next Saturday (29th April) sees the third of the Pwllheli coastal races, again with staggered starts commencing with class 2 at 0800. More information on the ISORA website at www.ISORA.Org and www.PwllheliSailingClub.co.uk

Related Articles

Vaikobi V-DRY-X Team Kit
We speak to Pat Langley and Bart Milczarczyk V-DRY-X is a major launch for the Australian technical clothing brand Vaikobi, launching into the yacht racing team market with high performance outer layer clothing specifically designed to be customised with the branding and colours of that team. Posted today at 12:59 pm
Admiral's Cup Tom Hicks Thursday Photo Gallery
He is always ready to capture Solent action Tom Hicks is always ready to capture Solent action, and the Admiral's Cup naturally delivered. These shots are from Thursday 24th July 2025. Posted today at 9:27 am
WASZP Games 2025 Day 4 Photo Gallery
A snapshot of the day by Mark Jardine It was a case of grabbing the wind and sunshine while it lasted on Day 4 of the 2025 WASZP Games, and each of the fleets got a bit of racing in before the rain started to fall and the breeze died away. Posted today at 6:35 am
Admiral's Cup Inshore Racing Day 3
Youth, grit and glory define inshore battle The final day of inshore racing at the 2025 Admiral's Cup delivered high drama, high stakes and no shortage of action, especially at race starts. Three intense races pushed crews to the limit and completed the six-race inshore series. Posted today at 4:58 am
WASZP Games 2025 Day 4
The Weymouth weather continued to keep the fleet guessing The Weymouth weather continued to keep the fleet guessing, with the northerly breeze hanging in the early forecast before giving way to a westerly build. Posted today at 4:38 am
Admiral's Cup Paul Wyeth Thursday Photo Gallery
The battle points ahead of the Fastnet race intense The six-race inshore series has now been completed with an unstable northerly, swinging to the west later. The starts were particularly intense as the teams battled for points ahead of the Fastnet, and Paul Wyeth was on hand to capture the action. Posted today at 4:18 am
Catalyst 45: Project Render delivery voyage
Catalyst 45 proved its versatility, and seaworthiness completing a 1,100nm Pacific Ocean voyage. While better known as an America's Cup tender, the Catalyst 45 proved the versatility, and seaworthiness of the design completing a 1,290nm Pacific Ocean delivery voyage to Fiji. Here's the story... Posted on 24 Jul
O'pen Skiff World Championship in Japan
Team USA delivers a solid performance Five US sailors traveled to Nishinomiya, Japan for six days of challenging conditions, hot temperatures, and world class sailing. USA sailor Lucas Doran was in third place in the U17 fleet before the final day of racing. Posted on 24 Jul
Admirals Cup: Day 4 - All hanging on the Fastnet.
The end of the beginning of the 2025 Admirals' Cup. Rán runs aground - claims redress. Today marked the End of the Beginning of the 2025 Admirals' Cup with the conclusion of Inshore racing on what is known as the "Central Solent". The Baltic teams' TP52 Rán hit a sandbank and has claimed redress. Posted on 24 Jul
Less than 48 hours to Rolex Fastnet Race
Battle lines are being drawn up Battle lines are being drawn up for the RORC's centenary Rolex Fastnet Race. As the final day of Admiral's Cup inshore racing took place in the Solent, so several yachts due to take part in Saturday's main event were out training. Posted on 24 Jul
PredictWind - GO! exec 728x90 BOTTOMMackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOMC-Tech 2021 America's Cup 728x90 BOTTOM