Round Ireland entry list grows by one boat

12th June 2008

One boat was added to the Round Ireland entry list today - hardly worth a mention, you might think.

Bringing the total entry from 45 to 46 is no major milestone for the race, but it has huge importance for Irish sailing as a whole. It's a VO 70.

Tacked on the entry list in number 46 sits: 'McConnell Chieftain - VO 70 - Western Yacht Club.'

The unmistakable handiwork of Ger O'Rourke.

The Limerick sailor earned headlines the last time around when he brought his new canting keel Cookson 50 to the startline, but this time his entry means a whole lot more. It will be the first Irish Round-the-World entry sailing in Irish waters since NCB Ireland in 1989, the first Irish-owned VO 70 in action, and the first ever to use the Round Ireland as a part of its training.

Now the big question is whether or not he will have another VO70 to race against. Team Russia are undergoing sea trials off Portsmouth, and are still unconfirmed for the race, just nine days away.

More news as we have it.

Published in News From the Afloat.ie Archive

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