Royal St George Yacht Club organisers expect up to 200 entries for this year's bumper Irish Optimist National Championships at Dun Laoghaire Harbour from 11-14 August.
Over 190 entries have been received, with several dozen boats coming from the UK.
The Main Fleet is now at capacity at 130 entries, with a further 20 Regatta Fleet entries expected between now and the close of entry.
The event is sponsored by Avolon, Grant Thornton and Seachange Now.
This year, IODAI are breaking from the traditional format for the Regatta Fleet and introducing a coached and non-coached racing event for these participants. Coached Regatta Fleet sailors will remain in the confines of Dun Laoghaire harbour, while non-coached Racing Regatta Fleet sailors will sail outside the harbour, weather permitting. This will enable those sailors to experience something closer to Main Fleet racing on a slightly larger race course than they are typically used to while remaining with their peers. The idea is that these sailors will look to progress to Main Fleet in the distant future.
As well as a superb racing format, under the watchful and experienced eye of chief race officers David Lovegrove and David Bolger, the Royal St George has laid on a complete social itinerary to keep sailors and families entertained for the duration of the four-day event. One hotly anticipated item is a Q&A session with past national champions.
Event information can be found here
