With the news that the Volvo 70 Wizard has already entered June's Volvo Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race, organiser Adam Winkelmann of the National Yacht Club told this morning's ICRA Conference in Dun Laoghaire that the biennial offshore race has 20 entries to date.
Entered by well-known Irish offshore sailor Johnny Mordaunt, the 2016 winner of the Sydney-Hobart Race will add extra spice to the 270-mile race to Europe's most westerly harbour.
As Afloat reported, Mordaunt, who most recently campaigned the Fast40+ Tschuss at 2022 Antigua Sailing Week, will undoubtedly make a splash when the VO70 starts off Dun Laoghaire Harbour on the 30th anniversary of the race.
The race starts from Dun Laoghaire on June 7th and is scheduled to arrive in Dingle Harbour on June 9th and 10th.
Wizard won't be the only New York entry on the D2D startline either, with Ron O'Hanley's Cookson 50 Privateer heading to County Kerry.
As Afloat reported in January, Royal Cork Grand Soleil 40 'Nieulargo' will defend her Dun Laoghaire-Dingle Race title, and the 20 boats entered so far are drawn from across the Irish Sea, including Cardiff Bay, Belfast Lough and Strangford Lough.
At the ICRA event, Winkelmann made a special appeal to competitors to arrange accommodation in Dingle as soon as possible.
The NYC organiser also explained that a competitor's berthing plan for Dingle Harbour would be announced shortly as the County Kerry marina was damaged last year, and space is expected to be limited.