National Yacht Club Race Chairman Adam Winkelmann has confirmed June's Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race is 'most definitely on' and crews will begin preparing for the 320-mile offshore race next week.
Winklemann told Afloat, "we are greatly encouraged by the recent government announcements and timelines for re-opening / back to sport".
The race will be sponsored this year by the National Yacht Club itself and by long term race partner The Dingle Skellig Hotel.
Assuming there are no changes to those plans in the coming month the D2D Race will start as planned on June 9th from the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire Harbour.
As Afloat reported earlier, boats can train from May 10th and after June 7th race with crews in pods of up to 15 maximum and ISORA and DBSC are both planning on the water training from next week.
Adam Winkelmann - June's D2D Race is 'most definitely on'
Based on the current travel restrictions in force, Winkelmann says the race will be restricted to boats and crews normally based on the island of Ireland or those in compliance with quarantine guidance and port entry restrictions. "This means our entries from the UK (other than Northern Ireland) will be refunded their entry fees paid," he says.
All boats on the waiting list will be accommodated and we will accept additional entries up to the closing date as per the NOR.
Defending Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race champion Paul O’Higgin’s Rockabill VI from the Royal Irish Yacht Club
In the coming weeks the National Yacht Club will finalise sailing instructions (SIs) and arrangements to minimise contact and wherever possible to ensure safe operations for volunteers and competitors.
"We will look at pre-race berthing in DL harbour to ensure that we have safe berthing for visitors. We will also be making arrangements for the Dingle Marina and finishing operations that seek to comply with all advice and again minimise risk for all involved" he says.
There will be virtual declarations both pre and post-race and use the virtual finish line at Dingle. This will include plans for giving out and recovering YB trackers and handing out prizes.
Finally, Winklemann says "As you might expect we cannot organise any shore events at either end of the race and we ask that people make arrangements in advance and behave sensibly to avoid any gatherings other than those that comply with government guidance. We want to provide you all with a great race and a safe race - that is the priority for us".
• Accommodation is to re-open from June 2nd and outdoor dining from June 7th for groups of up to six people, indoor dining for residents at their accommodation. The organisers are asking competitors to book accommodation in Dingle as soon as possible using the booking form on the race website.
