Online entry has opened for May's 2024 Inishtearaght Race, and Kinsale Yacht Club is reporting a strong south coast entry for the 240-miler.
As well as the defending champion, Cinnamon Girl, the Sunfast 3300 was sailed by Cian McCarthy and Sam Hunt. Four other host club boats were early sign-ups. Finbarr O'Regan's J109 Artful DodJer, Tom Roche's Salona 45 Meridian, Tony O’Brien's First 44.7 White Tiger, and the Carroll Brothers Elan 40, Chancer are all entered.
Following a successful inaugural race in 2022, the date for the 2024 offshore fixture has been set to start on Friday, 24th May 2024.
The eight-boat entry received for the 2024 races already eclipses the seven boats that sailed in 2022's first race.
The date has been fixed to be one month before the Round Ireland Race 2024 to allow those competitors to take part in a shorter shake-down race before the 700-mile circumnavigation on 22nd June.
"We are seeing strong interest in the race this year, with eight entries received in the first 24 hours of entries being taken", Kinsale Yacht Club's Rear-Commodore, Dave Cullinane, told Afloat.
Inishtearaght is the westernmost of the Blasket Islands off the County Kerry coast.
Cullinane says the race "should be an ideal preparation race for any boats taking part in June's Round Ireland Race".
Schull Harbour Sailing Club's J109 Tighey Boy (Tony OBrien) is also entered, as is Round Ireland entrant Noel Coleman's Blue Oyster from Royal Cork. Kenneth Cunnane's Swan 46 Mynx from Tralee Bay Sailing Club completes the entries received to date.
This year, yellowbrick onboard GPS tracker units have been ordered for the fleet to add an extra dimension for competitors and supporters.
Online entry is here for the Matthews of Cork sponsored race
