The ISO class has made its intentions clear with regards its future. The class has a new sail plan and manufacturer, also a new hull manufacturer. RWO Marine Equipment Ltd still see the future of the class as a bright one and continue to sponsor the Pro-Am series for 2008.
Rutland Sailing Club hosted the 2008 ISO Inland Championship on 13th and 14th September with nine ISOs competing. There was no wind on Saturday but a fresher breeze on Sunday allowed the race officer to fit in 4 races.
Read more: ISO Inlands - Rutland Water SC (13th & 14th September)
Sponsored by Cousin Trestec & RWO
This year the ISO National Championships were held as part of BMW Torbay Week. The sailing was run by Paignton Sailing Club. 16 ISOs shared the race area with the Tasers and Buzzes.
There were three races scheduled for Saturday and a reasonable forecast predicting the conditions to deteriorate as the day went on. Luckily the 33mph winds expected late on never arrived.
This year's ISO Eurocup was held at Lake Maggiore, located in North Italy on the Swiss border. The host club was Unione Velica Maccagno, who made all the competitors very welcome.
To join the 11 Italian ISOs were 9 from the UK, 1 from the Netherlands, 1 from Greece and 1 from Germany, which set the scene for an interesting and competitive Eurocup. The majority of competitors arrived in good time to make final tweaks to their boats and test the lake.
Read more: ISO Europeans - Lake Maggiore, Italy (2nd - 5th August)
No Report, but the event did happen.
Thanks to Josh Preater, Bob Ladell & Pete Lindley for organising and running the event. Also thanks to King George SC for hosting the boats.
The weather forecast was for light winds and 50% cloud cover for the weekend of the WPNSA regatta. How wrong they were! Saturday morning came with a building breeze and loads of sun. The boat yard was a hub of activity with loads of wizzy boats rigging. It was the first time I had seen more boats rigging with hydrofoils than without. When it was finally the ISOs turn to launch, the wind was blowing a steady 16knts plus.
Read more: ISO Gala - Weymouth & Portland SA (7th & 8th June)
Seven ISOs trekked across to the North East point of Kent to the open meeting held by Broadstairs Sailing Club over the 10th and 11th May. The competitors got their boats ready for the midday start and launched into a relatively light north easterly wind, the first race started cleanly and Neil Ashby and Nick Lett (1195) were first off the line with Team RWO helmed by Pete Lindley and crewed by Josh Preater (1013) just behind, this remained the order until near the end of the three lap race when 2007 National Champion Lloyd Walker crewed by Katie Keam-George (1185) just overtook RWO to take second place in a drag race to the finish.
Over the weekend of the 27/28th April the Isle of Sheppy Sailing club hosted the second Cousin Trestec sponsored event of the year. The forecast was for fair weather and sunshine at least on Saturday. Unfortunately this was not enough to tempt some of the usual culprits to the Isle of Sheppy! Those who stayed at home missed a thoroughly enjoyable event.
The first race started in a southerly force four and conditions were glorious. Neil Ashby and Nick Lett got off to a good start in 1195 closely followed by Lloyd Walker and Katie Keam-George in 1185 Superspars. Jonny Wells and Bulsy were slow off the line in Neil Pryde 1184 but made a good recovery by the windward mark. Lloyd and Katie were not going well with several problems including a rudder that was not fixed down so decided to retire in order to sort themselves out meanwhile Bob and Luke were going well in Cousin Trestec and finally finished second behind Neil Pryde.
Race two and the wind was now starting to pick up to a more exciting strength. With the wind coming off shore there were some tricky gusts and shifts. Pete Lindley in 1013 RWO sailing with local, Lee Marriott, took a port end flyer and caught the whole fleet out. They were away with a huge lead but fate had another idea when they trawled the kite.
Superspars were having a night mare and retired again; this time heading to the shore for more repairs. 1195 showed their speed in the stronger conditions and took first with Cousin Trestec second again.
Race three saw Superspars arrive back late for the start but they carried on and eventually caught up with some of the others. Neil Pryde was back at the front with RWO giving away a good lead by capsizing. This is quite unusual for Mr. Lindley who is something of a heavy weather maestro usually.
Sunday dawned and light airs looked to be the order of the day.
In the first race Rob and Barry in Concept Sails got off to the best start at the pin but were soon overhauled by Lloyd and Katie who went on to win from Jonny and Bulsy.
Race two of the day saw the same pattern with same two boats one and two.
The last race started in a fair light wind and was going well until the boats turned into the now strengthening tide. Superspars was leading and pulling away until the wind stopped all together and then went round in circles for a bit leaving Superspars last now. Fortunately the race officer abandoned the race and everyone headed for home. Needless to say as we were all being towed in the wind sprang up- as per normal!!
Many thanks to Isle of Sheppy Sailing Club, Cousin Trestec, and RWO.
The fleet moves on to Broadstairs in two weeks time where a good time is guaranteed even if we can't sail!
In like a Lion. ISOs at Datchet
March winds welcomed the ISOs and Laser 4000s to Datchet for the first event of the 2008 season.
First start saw Cousin Trestec smartly off the 18 strong line in a building F4 hotly pursued by the rest of the fleet. Should it be up the bank or out to the middle? Dry & Calm opted for the middle, Cousin Trestec, RWO and newcomers Neil and Nick in 1195 opted to go right. The top mark saw Dry & Calm and Cousin Trestec just in the lead. Little difference going left or right. There was going to be no margin for error.
