A third canting keel 60-footer is set to contest June's Volvo Dun Laoghaire to Dingle offshore yacht race, according to sources at Dun Laoghaire Harbour.
The Reichel-Pugh designed 'Wild Joe' has been bought by a Dun Laoghaire sailor, according to the Afloat source, who says the carbon-built mini-maxi will arrive here in time for the June offshore fixture, a highlight of the offshore year.
The Dun Laoghaire waterfront rumour mill was already on high alert after the news broke of an Elliott 57 canting keeler coming to the Irish east coast, but the news of a third yacht of this type adds extra spice for race enthusiasts.
One of the world’s fastest 60-footers, Wild Joe' was built by the Australian Azzura Marine boat factory in 2002.
Wild Oats IX (her original name) is part of a 'legendary' line of Australian racing boats crewed by the Oatley family. The name and ownership change did not interrupt the boat’s success series, and up to now, it holds the record at the Pittwater Coffs Harbour Race, a regatta at which it captured four IRC victories.
She has been transformed from her original Admiral’s Cup-winning design to a DSS foiling boat using the latest foil and sail technology to take her performance to new levels, according to yacht broker Michael Schmidt.
More on Wild Joe here
Meanwhile, it is understood the Elliott will arrive here in Mid May and will contest not only the 280-mile D2D but also the coastal divisions of the Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup in Kinsale, also in June, and July's Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta, but there is no new yet of the Wild Joe Irish programme.
The Elliott 57, currently named Opal, and Wild Joe will be strong competition for the New York-based Cookson 50 Privateer, already entered into Ireland's major offshore summer series.