Kinsale Yacht Club has confirmed nine early entries for the 2026 Inishtearaght Skelligs Race and announced a new title sponsor.
The biennial offshore race will take place over the June Bank Holiday weekend in partnership with SCORA.
As previously reported, defending champion Chris Power-Smith will return aboard Aurelia, representing Royal St George Yacht Club.
The race will start at 19:30 on Friday, 29 May.
Depending on conditions, the fleet will sail either a 240-nautical-mile course around Inishtearaght Island or a shorter 190-mile route rounding the Great Skellig before finishing in Kinsale.
The Great Skellig, also known as Skellig Michael, is a new turning mark for the renamed race.
The early entry list includes Aurelia (J/122), Prime Suspect (Mills 36), White Tiger (First 44.7), Katanca (Elan 31), Jalapeno (J/109), Artful DodJer (J/109), Chancer (Elan 41), Meridian (Salona 45) and Cinnamon Girl (Sun Fast 3300).
Veteran Kinsale sailors Cian McCarthy and Sam Hunt will race Cinnamon Girl, a former IRC winner of the event.
The course follows the exposed coastline of West Cork and Kerry and is regarded as a demanding offshore test.
The race continues to attract crews using the event as preparation for the Round Ireland Race, which starts on 20 June.
Kinsale Yacht Club's newly elected Commodore, Anthony O’Neill, said the initiative supports the club’s objective of promoting coastal racing.
The Notice of Race and entry forms will be published shortly on the club website.
