The 40th entry to the SSE Renewables Round Ireland Race is Ross Farrow’s Jeanneau Sunfast 3300 Asgard from the Hamble.
The milestone was reached this week with just over eight weeks to go to the 700-mile race starting off Wicklow.
Farrow's entry follows the high-quality entry of Mike and Ritchie Evans Sovereign's Cup Champion J/99 Snapshot from Howth Yacht Club.
As Afloat's WM Nixon reported previously, entries doubled in late March as competitors availed of the early bird entry fee discount and now this week the fleet has hit the big Four O.
But it's not only the quantity of boats assembling off Wicklow on June 18 but also the quality with Mark Emerson's, Archambault A13, Phosphorus II, from the RStGYC also in the lineup.
There are two ex-Volvo Racers, as the gallant warhorse Green Dragon (Conor Ferguson/Enda O Coineen, GBSC/RIYC) will be lining up against Lance Shepherd’s Volvo 70 Telefonica Black. And two ICRA “Boats of the Year” have joined the hunt, with current title-holder Nieulargo (Grand Soleil 40, Denis & Annamarie Murphy, Royal Cork YC) up against, Paul O’Higgins’ well-proven JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI (RIYC).
See the current entries here.