Fastnet 450 Race capped at 25 boat limit

Ireland’s newest offshore race, the Fastnet 450, looks like it’s getting near its full quota of 25 boats even though details of the 270-mile fixture were announced a fortnight ago, according to Afloat.

Twenty race-boats, drawn from nearly as many clubs, are now entered with a cap on entries now in place and less than a week to go to the first gun.

The Dun Laoghaire Harbour to Cork Harbour race that incorporates the Fastnet Rock as part of the course, sets sail next Saturday lunchtime, August 22nd.

The ‘pop-up’ race commemorates the 150th anniversary of the National Yacht Club and the 300th anniversary of the Royal Cork Yacht Club, and has been arranged in jig time by the South Coast of Ireland Offshore Racing Association, according to Afloat.

The skipper of the one of the latest entries, Chris Power Smith’s J122 Aurelia, says “the allure of any race around yacht racing’s iconic Fastnet Rock is always hard to resist”.

The Race Officer will be the National Yacht Club’s Larry Power who is also in charge of the regular ISORA starts. The Warning Signal is 12:55 hrs on August 22nd.

The closing date for entries is today, Monday, August 17th.