Offshore entries are building nicely for Saturday's first ISORA race of the season climbing from ten boats on Monday to 18 on Wednesday, indicating a fleet of 20 plus is possible for the weekend's outing.
It looks like quite a few of the offshore boats will be using the Dun Laoghaire Harbour opener as a shakedown for the season ahead including August's Round Ireland Race.
The first race in the 12-race ISORA series is also the first race in the Viking Marine Irish Coastal Series, a mini-series of four races.
Paul O'Higgins' Rockabill VI from the Royal Irish Yacht Club: The championship-winning JPK10.80 has already been out testing on the Bay race track
Some decent battles are already in prospect with reigning champion Paul O'Higgins' Rockabill VI from the Royal Irish Yacht Club up against some powerful J109s including Howth's Indian.
Brendan Coghlan's Sunfast 3600 Yoyo (above) will be up against sistership John O'Gorman's Hot Cookie (below) from the National Yacht Club
Another Royal Irish entry Andrew Algeo's J99, Juggerknot II is also entered as is the Sunfast 3600s Yoyo owned by Brendan Coughlan of the Royal St George and Hot Cookie, skippered by John O'Gorman from the National Yacht Club.
In the smaller sizes, the ever-competitive J97 Windjammer will be testing herself against the new (to Dublin) A31, A-plus, from the NYC. Both of these are similar in rating so it will be interesting to see how they go on Saturday once the cobwebs are blown away.
J97 Windjammer
Slightly bigger, but with only a slightly higher rating will be the Beneteau 34.7 Black Velvet, skippered by Leslie Parnell of the Royal Irish.
The Beneteau 34.7 Black Velvet, skippered by Leslie Parnell
Nice medium air westerlies are forecasted in 18-degree temperatures.
The course for Race 1 will be published before 12.00hrs on Friday 3rd July.
Check out the latest ISORA entries here
