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Congatulations Mark O’Connor Mini Transat 20th Place Finish

Congatulations Mark O’Connor Mini Transat 20th Place Finish

The following is a report of Marks thrilling finish posted by the organisers. 

It is very noteworthy that Mark sailed 3260 nm which is between 100 and 150nm more than many of his closest competitors. To do so and finish so well is testament to Marks perseverance and skill in achieving his ambitions. 

All of his efforts is only made possible by the superb support received from you all so bask in the reflected glory of this fantastic achievement 

Mark O'Connor: A Rough Start, A Sharp Final

11 Nov, 2025 | 4 min read

Reciprocal Clubs Update

Reciprocal Clubs Update

Members should note that the National Yacht Club has formalised a reciprocal rights agreement with the Yacht Club of Greece https://ycg.gr/en/home-en/. This new arrangement follows a recent meeting and burgee exchange with Stratis Andreadis of YCG Committee and deepens the strong ties between our clubs, allowing members to enjoy access to each club’s facilities, participate in sporting and social events, and purchase distinctive club insignia

10 Nov, 2025 | 1 min read

ISORA AGM Documents Released Ahead of Key 2026 Season Talks

ISORA AGM Documents Released Ahead of Key 2026 Season Talks

ISORA has released key AGM documents online ahead of its annual meeting on Saturday, 8 November 2025. The meeting is set for 1500 hours in the JB Room at the National Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire.

The agenda includes proposals on race management, officer elections, and the draft 2026 Race Schedule, which remains open to updates based on member feedback.

The 2026 programme is structured around a full calendar of Coastal Races in Ireland and Wales. The Offshore Series is designed to offer a challenging variety of ports and race formats.

Key events shaping the calendar include:

  • Inishtearaght Offshore Race – 29 May
  • DMYC Regatta – 6 June
  • NYC Regatta – 13 June
  • Round Ireland – starts 20 June
  • RIYC – 27 July
  • SStGYC Regatta – 4 July
  • Cork Week – 6 July
  • Calves Week – 4–7 August
  • Abersoch Keel Boat Week – 24–28 August
  • IRC Welsh National Championship – 4–6 September

Also available online are the Chairman's 2025 Report, Hon. Secretary’s Report, a redacted version of the 2024 AGM Minutes, and a summary of WhatsApp group discussions.

Further details on www.isora.org

07 Nov, 2025 | 1 min read

D12 Mini Transat : Crossing the Atlantic

D12 Mini Transat : Crossing the Atlantic

 

760 milles left to Guadeloupe
Mark is now 760 miles from Guadeloupe, with 70% of the course behind him.
Just a few more days at sea. He’s expected to arrive early next week, most likely between Monday and Tuesday.

 

He’s been sailing fast over the past few days, with stronger trade winds helping the miles fly by. That must have been good for morale, even if not exactly restful.

 

At the front of the fleet, the first prototype boats are expected to arrive this Saturday, with the leading serie boats following on Sunday evening or Monday morning.
 

Life on board
Temperatures, both air and water, have continued to rise over the past few days, making life on board anything but easy. The salty humidity takes a toll on the skin, and the body must be feeling the strain.

 

Speaking of strain
 let’s talk about sleep.

At night, the race doesn’t stop. The wind and waves make no distinction, carrying the boat forward mile after mile. 

 

So, no chance for a full 8-hour night. Mark has to rely on short naps : 20 to 40 minutes at a time, waking regularly to check that everything is in order on deck, that no other boats are on a collision course, that the wind hasn’t shifted, and that the boat is still properly trimmed.

 

Sometimes, conditions are too unstable or demanding for the autopilot, so naps have to wait. Finding the right balance between rest and performance is essential. When lucidity fades, mistakes can happen—and in offshore racing, they can be serious. Most skippers have experienced hallucinations during long races, simply due to exhaustion.

 

Since the start of the crossing, Mark seems to be in his element at sea, managing his fatigue with skill and composure.
 

Current Standings and Strategic Moves 
Mark is currently positioned toward the northern edge of the fleet.
With the wind now coming from due east, he’s having to alternate gybes to make progress toward Guadeloupe.

 

He’s maintained the strong pace of recent days and is holding his place in the top 25!

 

According to the latest reports, the wind remains quite unstable, especially in strength, which makes conditions on board particularly demanding. Mark has to adjust the sails frequently and stay alert to take over from the autopilot whenever the changes become too abrupt.

 

We don’t have precise details, but a nearby competitor dismasted yesterday morning. Fortunately, all is well on board, and he’s continuing toward Guadeloupe with a jury rig. It’s a clear sign that conditions out there are intense!
 

Upcoming Weather and Tactical Choices
In these final days of racing, the wind is expected to remain in the same general pattern.
Mark will need to keep playing with its instability to find the best angles and make the most of each tack.

 

As he gets closer to Guadeloupe, he’ll start encountering squalls, cloud formations packed with strong winds and often heavy rain. Anticipating these squalls is key, as they can be violent and cause damage on board.

 

Focus will be essential all the way to the finish
 
Follow the entire race via the live tracking map :
Just look for boat number 946 – MINI SKIPPY in the “SERIE” ranking.
TRACKER LINK
 
 
  ­
 

 

07 Nov, 2025 | 3 min read

Mini Transat Report 6 November

Mini Transat Report 6 November

The end is looming in sight with the Prototype  leaders expected to finish late Friday / early Saturday morning   For the rest of the fleet with 1/2 seeing the miles turn to under 1000 nm tactics will be foremost on their minds. 

While the prevailing wind direction is generally favourable to get to St Francis there are still variations in pressure and wind speed which each skipper must work out to determine their own strategy and tactics. 

This is most evident in a pack of 6 boats which Mark O’Connor is part of. Over the past 36 hours Mark has been both leading and at the back of this pack (position 18)  and all points in between. Currently he is ranked 24th at the back having taken an early decision to turn south to reach a more favourable wind stream. At time of writing the boats ahead could be considered to have consolidated their position ahead with Mark trailing 18th place by 25 miles. However with at least another 4 days to get to the finish there is plenty of time for lots of changes in the leader board. Mark has a clean passage of good pressure and winds in his path while the boats at 18th - 21st place ae facing into a soft patch in the near term. plenty to play for. 

Just to remind you all skippers have very limited real time information on board. While we can log into our favourite weather source and get excellent visuals for up to a week ahead, The Mini skippers however have no such luxury and rely solely on a broadcast by the race organisation daily, in French. giving the weather situation, the 48-hour forecast and the distance to the finish for each competitor. From this each Skipper must work out where the variations in pressure and wind speed is in relation to their current position and from that work out how best to use to advantage. 

 They can use a VHF to communicate with the boats close to them but this has a limited range of approx. 15 miles.  

At current rate of speed and forecast weather conditions we would expect Mark to finish sometime on Monday.

The other Irish Interest Grainne Costigan is approx. 140 miles behind Mark in 48 place. However it is important to remember that this is not strictly a race but more  a test of personal endurance and skill to navigate a tiny vessel across the Atlantic. All who achieve that are winners and worthy of every accolade and celebration !

Life on board

The air is warm, the water is warm, and the fast downwind surfs under spinnaker are back. But after 15 days at sea, the heat and salty humidity are making life on board increasingly challenging. To find a bit of comfort in these conditions, Mark brought along a small fan. According to past experience, it can become essential for getting any sleep in this sticky atmosphere.

Here’s a quick look at some of the must-haves aboard Mark’s boat!

Follow the entire race via the live tracking map :
Just look for boat number 946 – MINI SKIPPY in the “SERIE” ranking.
TRACKER LINK

 

Sean Doyle.

06 Nov, 2025 | 3 min read

Pat Lawless – Speaker Supper

Pat Lawless – Speaker Supper

The start of the NYC CRUISING GROUP's 2025/2026 speakers supper series commences on Thursday, November 6th at 19:30.

We are delighted to welcome back Pat Lawless who kicked off the rejuvenation of the cruising group two years ago. Pat will join us again to talk about his adventures and the build up to his participation in the 2026 Golden Globe Race.

Book Here

01 Nov, 2025 | 1 min read

Lake Garda 2.4 mR World Championships 2025

Lake Garda 2.4 mR World Championships 2025

The 2.4mR World Championship was held at Malcesine, Lake Garda from 9-12 October with 55 competitors.

For the first 3 days racing was held in the afternoon after the southerly wind filled in with the wind still very light for most of the racing. The most number of races and the overall event was won by Jeff Linton from USA, despite receiving a black flag disqualification (along with myself and a big chunk of the fleet) on the seventh race.

Megan and Urs finished second and third. On the final day of racing we started at 9am to catch the wind before it died as it always does at midday.

The wind was a good bit stronger and it was a lot choppier. Someone remarked to me afterwards that was the Garda everyone is always talking about.

Megan got a second and a first and ended up tied on points with Jeff, but Jeff won the event as he had more first places.

I finished 41st with my best races being 22, 23, 25 and 27. It was a great event to be part of and a great learning experience and I am looking forward to next year.

Patrick Hassett

21 Oct, 2025 | 1 min read

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