22 Boats Set for Kinsale’s Inishtearaght Race on Friday

26th May 2026

Tom MacSweeney

Title Defence — Defending champion Chris Power Smith’s J/122 Aurelia of the Royal St George Yacht Club powers along the south coast ahead of the 22-boat Inishtearaght Race start off Kinsale. Credit: Afloat

Twenty-two boats are entered for this Friday’s Inishtearaght/Skelligs Race, organised by Kinsale Yacht Club and SCORA.

The fleet includes defending champion Aurelia (J122), Cristina (NMD43), Blue Oyster (Oyster 37) and double-handed entries such as Katanca, Cinnamon Girl, Valfreya and Mach2.

Aurleai has been in early aseason form on Dublin Bay with skipper Chris Power Smith winning April's Viking Marine ISORA Coastal opener.

Earlier this week, organisers proposed an earlier harbour start to avoid local racing.

In a statement to entrants, KYC said: “We’ve been asked by KYC management to start the race a small bit earlier… The proposed first gun is 18:40 for an 18:45 start.”

However, the club has since reversed that decision.

“Please ignore post about the earlier start in the harbour,” KYC said. “Given the size of the fleet we have decided that we will stick with the original plan of a 19:25 first gun outside the harbour in the vicinity of the Bulman Buoy.”

The revised plan confirms a 19:25 first gun off Kinsale, with the 22-boat fleet set for an offshore test along the south coast.

Inishtearaght/Skelligs Race Entry List 2026

Boat Name	Sail No	Boat Type	Club	Double-Handed
Aurelia	IRL35950	J122	RSTGYC / RORC	No
Prime Suspect	IRL5991	Mills 36 Custom	KQBC	No
White Tiger	IRL4477	Beneteau First 44.7	KYC	No
Katanca	31310	Elan 31	RIYC	Yes
Jalapeno	IRL5109	J109	RCYC	No
Artful DodJer	IRL1713	J109	KYC	No
Chancer	IRL1583	Elan 41	KYC	No
Meridian	IRL4076	Salona 45	KYC	No
Cinnamon Girl	IRL1627	Sunfast 3300	KYC	Yes
Reavra Too	IRL3300	Elan 333	KYC	No
Blue Oyster	IRL3852	Oyster 37	RCYC	No
Cristina	IRL7887	NMD43	RIYC / NYC	No
Loinnir	IRL53308	JPK 1030	Lough Ree YC	No
Piper Sound	IRL950	Sovereign 400	BBSC	No
Bateleur88	IRL5693	Castro 3/4 Ton	RCYC	No
Pillaban	IRL5880	Archambault A35	RIYC / Baltimore SC	No
Incorrect 2.0	IRL2025	Sunfast 3300	SHSC	No
Magnet	IRL9896	MG335	RCYC	No
Valfreya	IRL4297	Sigma 33	KYC	Yes
Mach2	IRL13200	Jeanneau Sunfast 3200	RCYC	Yes
Cavatina	IRL3861	Granada 38	RCYC	No
Shindig	IRL6885	Nautor Swan 40	KYC	No

Published in Inistearaght Race

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Inishtearaght Race

About The Author

Tom MacSweeney

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Tom MacSweeney writes a column for Afloat.ie. He is former RTE Marine Correspondent/Presenter of Seascapes and has a monthly Seascapes Podcast on the Community Radio Network and Podcast services

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