52 boats have so far registered for the four-day Calves Week at Schull event in West Cork beginning on Tuesday, August 5.
Schull Harbour Sailing Club is expecting the total fleet to reach the mid-70s.
Race Officer for the Week is Alan Crosbie.
Racing will be for five spinnaker and two white sail classes on a variety of inter-island courses, using both laid and natural marks in the greater Roaring Water Bay area.
Nobby Reilly's Howth-based Ghost Raider II competing in last year's Calves Week Regatta in Schull Photo: Bob Bateman
Following representation from the Zero and Class 1 fleets, a mark will once again be laid off the mouth of Crookhaven harbour, SHSC has announced. “The large increase in White Sail entries will result in a bigger White Sail 2 fleet, which will for the first time, include an IRC result, as they have traditionally raced Echo only,” says SHSC.
A newcomer to the class Zero fleet will be Ken Burke's X43 Vixen, which is expected to arrive in Schull direct from Denmark, where she will be joined by Leslie Parnell and some of the Black Velvet crew.
Making an interesting return to class one will be the ex-Anthony O Leary modified 1720, now owned by Ronan Goggin and renamed CC, with a bright red painted hull, while the largest in the class will be English visitor, Ben Morris with his 55ft Swan, Lulotte.
Schull Harbour Hotel sponsors Calves Week. The formal opening will be on August Monday.
