Ireland's newest offshore race, the Fastnet 450, looks like getting its full quota of 25 boats even though details of the 270-mile fixture were announced less than a fortnight ago.
19 race-boats - drawn from as many clubs - are now entered with a cap on entries now in place and eight days to go to the first gun.
The Dun Laoghaire Harbour to Cork Harbour race that incorporates the Fastnet Rock as part of the course, sets sail next Saturday lunchtime, August 22nd.
The 'pop-up' race commemorates the 150th anniversary of the National Yacht Club and the 300th anniversary of the Royal Cork Yacht Club and has been arranged in jig time by the South Coast of Ireland Offshore Racing Association (SCORA) as Afloat's WM Nixon's describes here.
According to the skipper of the latest entry, Chris Power Smith's J122 Aurelia, "the allure of any race around yacht racing’s iconic Fastnet Rock is always hard to resist". The Dublin Bay skipper explained why the new race was an easy choice for him and his Royal St. George Yacht Club crew here.
The Race Officer will be the National Yacht Club's Larry Power who is also in charge of the regular ISORA starts. The Warning Signal is 12.55 hrs on August 22.
The closing date for entries is next Monday, August 17th. The Notice of Race is here
Fastnet 450 Entry List at August 13
James | Tyrrell | Arklow Sailing club | Aquelina | J-112E |
John | Harrington | RUYC and BYC | eXcession | IMX38 |
John | O'Gorman | NYC | Hot Cookie | Sunfast 3600 |
Brendan | Coghlan | George | YOYO | Sunfast3600 |
Rónán | Ó Siochrú | Irish Offshore Sailing | Desert Star Irish Offshore Sailing | Sunfast 37 |
Cian | McCarthy | Kinsale yacht club | cinnamon girl | Sunfast 3300 |
Robert | Rendell | Howth | Samatom | XC45 |
Simon | Knowles | Howth Yacht club | Indian | J109 |
Derek | Dillon | Foynes Yacht Club | Big Deal | Dehler 34 |
Grzegorz | Kalinecki | ISA | More Mischief | first 310 |
Peter | Coad | Waterford Harbour Sailing Club | Blackjack | Pocock 37 |
Andrew | Algeo | RIYC / BSC | Juggerknot 2 | J/99 |
Rupert | Barry | Greystones Sailing Club | Red Alert | JOD35 |
Flynn | Kinsman | NYC | A Plus | Archambault 31 |
John | Conlon | Arklow | Humdinger | sunfast 37 |
Coleman/Coleman | David/Noel | RCYC | Blue Oyster | Oyster 37 |
Denis & Annamarie | Murphy | Royal Cork Yacht Club | Nieulargo | Grand Soleil 40 B+C |
Riome (skipper)/ co Leonard | David/ Mark | Kinsale Yacht Club | Valfreya | Sigma 33 |
Power Smith | Chris | Aurelia | J122 |